Chapter 4

When the guy realized I was awake, his face brightened, and he said excitedly, "You're awake!"

My throat was burning. He immediately handed me a glass of water.

He scratched his head with a cheerful grin, his whole face lit up. "I'm your new neighbor upstairs. Name's Ryan Wood."

I thanked him.

If he hadn't shown up, I might not have made it.

Ryan gave a straightforward grin, scratching his head again, a little sheepish. "Honestly, if my advisor hadn't let me off early today, I wouldn't have been home in time. I always take the stairs when I get back early—good exercise."

Just then, my phone started ringing. Shaun's name flashed on the screen.

He'd called me over and over while I was unconscious.

I picked up without thinking.

Shaun's voice came through, sharp and impatient. "Sylvia, what are you doing now? There's a limit to how much you can act out. Do you even realize today is our engagement day? You're embarrassing me in front of everyone!"

Elaine was right there beside him, softly comforting him.

"Sylvia, could you just hold off for now?" she said gently.

I listened to his cold, heartless words. My chest ached.

I pressed my hand to my chest, just letting him criticize me.

He kept saying I never thought about the bigger picture, and that I could never be as considerate as Elaine.

Shaun said, "You've got ten minutes. If you don't show up, you're not my fiancée anymore. Don't even think about coming back to me—ever."

I gave a bitter laugh, my tone dead. "Shaun, I'm in the hospital. I can't come, even if I wanted to."

He paused for a second, then snapped coldly, "Sylvia, are you really stooping this low just to get my attention? That's honestly pathetic."

His words left me speechless for a moment.

Then I just laughed, utterly defeated.

Shaun was always like that. Once he made up his mind, nothing in the world could change it.

He always thought I was faking it. Even if I dropped dead right in front of him, he'd probably just look at me and say, "Nice act."

At some point, the love between us just vanished. I couldn't even remember when.

Now, I knew for sure—he didn't love me anymore.

And I didn't want him, either.

I hung up and sent him a text: [Shaun, let's break up. You and Elaine belong together. I'm stepping aside. You two have a nice life.]

Shaun replied: [Fine. Don't regret it.]

*****

That afternoon, the news broke—Shaun and Elaine were engaged. Then I understood what he meant by "Don't regret it."

Watching them wrapped up in each other's arms, I felt unbearably sour.

Right after, Elaine posted on social media.

She was dressed in a white gown, standing right next to Shaun. They looked like they were made for each other, their eyes full of love.

She wrote: [I've chased after you for years, and now I finally get to walk down the aisle with you. Even if this is just a dream, I'd die happily.]

Then I saw Shaun's reply.

He wrote: [Silly, I'll always be here for you.]

Something caught in my chest. I couldn't breathe.

In the days that followed, Elaine's feed was packed with photos of her and Shaun off on trips together. In those pictures, I saw a Shaun I never knew.

So he did have time for things besides work after all. Just not for me.

Bit by bit, my heart just went numb.

I knew it was time to let go.

When Ryan heard I was heading home to pack, he immediately offered to come along.