Chapter 1

1.

Our ten-year relationship ended today.

My lawyer boyfriend, Adrian, stood me up again for one of his "important" clients.

On our 10th anniversary, the day we had planned to hold our wedding ceremony at the town hall, they let me down.

But then, I saw it on Instagram. A picture of him and his childhood sweetheart, Chloe, holding a marriage certificate.

Her caption read: "Some roads always lead you back home."

My phone immediately blew up with DMs from my and Adrian's mutual friends, all asking me what the hell was going on.

I just calmly posted a single Instagram Story: "Remember to invite me to the baby shower. I'll buy out your entire Tiffany & Co. registry."

A second later, the story was deleted. Adrian's call came through, his voice dripping with blame.

"Chloe accidentally posted it publicly instead of to 'close friends.' Did you really have to be so passive-aggressive? What will people think of her now?"

"Besides, she just got divorced. She has no idea how the remarriage process works. As her lawyer, what's wrong with me walking her through a rehearsal? It's just a piece of paper. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

"Post an apology right now. Once she's over her divorce, I'll find some time to schedule our wedding."

But he forgot. This was the sixty-seventh time he'd made me that same empty promise.

And this time, I was done.

I hung up on him and immediately submitted my digital resignation to the law firm where we both worked.

He had no idea that when he came back, he'd be coming back to an empty apartment. Our lives were about to become two parallel lines, never to cross again.

...

I ignored the dozen calls that followed from Adrian.

Finally, he sent a text, his patience gone:

"Amelia, are you serious right now? You dare to hang up on me? You're the one who was wrong, and you're acting like you have the moral high ground?"

"You have five minutes to post an apology, or we're breaking up."

In our ten years together, I had heard threats like this hundreds of times.

And every single time, I was the one who caved, the one who apologized.

This was the first time I'd ever just hung up on him.

When he got no response, Adrian started a "breakup countdown" on his own Instagram story.

He had once established a "three-day rule" with me―if we went more than seventy-two hours without speaking, we were automatically broken up.

My love for him made him fearless.

So every time we fought, he would use this countdown to pressure me.

For ten years, he used that rule to play me like a fiddle.

And every time, just as the clock was about to run out, I would be the one to break and beg him to stay.

But now, I was just so tired. I didn't want to be played for a fool anymore.

Shortly after Adrian posted his countdown, Chloe made a post of her own and made sure to tag me.

"It was just a little joke with Adrian that I accidentally made public. I didn't think Amelia would have such a big reaction. I guess I'll be too scared to talk to her from now on, in case I make her angry again."

Adrian, who rarely ever looked at social media, was the first one to like it.

He commented: "It's some people's own issue, Chloe, don't blame yourself. And why should it be 'close friends only'? If you want to post something, post it publicly."

It was obvious that "some people" meant me. Our friends, who relied on Adrian for their careers, quickly liked and supported his comment.

"Amelia is so petty. Chloe, don't feel bad because of someone like her."

"No wonder Adrian never married her. Who would marry such a small-minded woman?"

I let out a bitter laugh. He would do anything to defend Chloe, to protect her from the slightest discomfort.

But for me, his girlfriend of ten years, all he ever had was neglect and coldness.

A single sneeze from Chloe was enough for him to cancel our wedding appointment at City Hall.

But if I complained, he'd get angrier than me, accusing me of disrespecting his freedom and being narrow-minded.

And now that I was choosing to let go and congratulate them, he was the one lashing out.

Using a countdown to force me to apologize.

The truth is, there was never a right or wrong. It was just that the scales of his heart had tipped long ago.

"Ma'am, the information you've entered for the gentleman shows that he is currently in a registered marriage. Would you like to reschedule?" the clerk at City Hall asked, looking at me with pity.

I took back my ID and smiled.

"I'll think about it."

The young couple behind me cheered as I stepped aside.

Appointments for a City Hall ceremony on our anniversary were nearly impossible to get.

I had waited in line since early this morning just to get this spot.

But now, looking at the registration form I had filled out countless times, I didn't hesitate to tear it to shreds and toss it in the trash.

I had filled out that form sixty-seven times. I had given him sixty-seven chances.

Every single time, I had shown up early just like today, filled with hope, watching the other happy couples while I waited for him to arrive.

And every single time, just before our appointment, he would call and tell me an "urgent case" had come up at the firm.

When I questioned him, he'd use his clients' interests to shut me down.

"Amelia, these cases are people's entire lives. You want me to ignore their futures for the sake of a ceremony? How can you be so cold?"

He said it with such self-righteousness, looking down on me from his high horse.

He never knew that after he'd ditch me for Chloe, she would send me texts to taunt me.

"The steak Adrian cooked for me was amazing. I bet you've never had it, have you?"

"I only walked a little too much today, and Adrian felt so bad he bought me a new car. I seem to remember you still take the bike-share to work, right?"

And now, he had even gone and gotten a marriage certificate with her.

It was time for our relationship to finally end.