Chapter 1

On the day of my engagement party with Antony Kelsen, the hall was filled with guests.

But then he got a call, and right in front of everyone, he turned to me and said sorry.

"Irene, Jennifer's at the airport. If I don't go see her, she'll actually jump," Antony said.

"Give me five years. Wait for me, and when I come back, I'll make sure to marry you in grand style."

I watched Antony leave, his back straight and determined. In front of everyone, I slipped off my engagement ring and, with a steady voice, announced the party was over.

I didn't wait for him.

Five years later, Antony showed up at my flower shop, looking like he'd been through hell and back.

His eyes were red, his voice rough. "Irene, I'm back."

I handed a bouquet of flowers to the man at my side and gave him a gentle smile.

"Honey, let's go home."

In that moment, Antony's face went pale, and he nearly lost it, frantically demanding why I hadn't waited for him.

*****

"Antony, what the hell are you doing? This is your engagement party with Irene!" Arthur Harrison, my brother, grabbed Antony by the collar, his eyes blazing with fury.

The guests around us started whispering, their voices like a thousand tiny needles pricking at my skin.

I stood there in my custom-made white dress, my makeup flawless, feeling like a clown about to take the stage.

Antony's phone was still lit up, the name "Jennifer" glaring at me from the screen.

He pried Arthur's hand off him, his face tight with worry and frustration. He didn't even look at me, just kept his eyes glued to his phone, his voice more desperate than I'd ever heard.

"Arthur, calm down! Jennifer means it this time. She's already up on the airport's observation deck, and she said if I don't show up, she'll really jump!"

Arthur let out a sarcastic laugh. "Every time, she says she means it, right? She's pulled the river stunt four times, tried slitting her wrists six times. Did she ever actually die? Antony, if you walk out that door today, you and Irene are done for good!"

"I don't have a choice!" Antony finally lifted his head, but his gaze slid right past me, like he was already picturing Jennifer about to jump at the airport. "I can't just stand here and let her die! Irene, you're always the reasonable one. Please, tell me you understand."

He finally met my eyes, desperate, begging me to forgive him, hoping I'd say yes.

"Just five years. Jennifer says if I go abroad with her for five years, she'll let go and actually get treatment. After that, I'll come back and marry you. I'll make it up to you, more than you can imagine."

My blood boiled, then froze just as quickly.

It felt like my whole body went numb, and all I could hear was the hollow thumping of my heart echoing in my chest.

The reasonable one?

Just because I was the reasonable one, was I supposed to just stand there and let him ditch me at our engagement party to go soothe another woman's feelings?

Just because I was the reasonable one, was I supposed to endure all those weird stares from friends and family, and become the laughingstock of the entire city?

I looked at his face, so full of helplessness, and suddenly, he seemed like someone I barely knew.

Five years sounds so simple when he said it. He could pause his life for her, but why should mine have to stop just because his does?

I didn't say a word. With everyone watching, I slowly raised my hand and slipped the sparkling diamond engagement ring off my ring finger.

My movements were slow, like a scene from a movie unfolding in slow motion.

As the ring left my finger, I felt an incredible sense of relief, like a weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders.

I walked up to him and pressed the ring into his clenched fist. The cold metal bit into his palm.

"Antony," I said, my voice so calm it surprised even me. "The engagement is off."

There was no hysterics, no crying, no demands.

I just said four words, clear and final.

He was stunned, like he never saw this coming. In his mind, I was supposed to cry and plead with him to stay, or be all understanding and promise to wait for him.

"Irene, don't throw a tantrum..." he said.

"I'm not throwing a tantrum," I cut him off, my voice steady. "Go on, go to your airport, go to your Jennifer. From the moment you chose to turn away, whatever we had is finished."

With that, I didn't look at him again. I turned, grabbed the mic, and gave a slight bow to the stunned crowd.

"Sorry, everyone. Because of some personal matters, the engagement party is off. Sorry for any trouble this may have caused. Please feel free to take the small gifts prepared for you."

My voice echoed through the hall, clear and steady, without a hint of shakiness.

I felt my parents come to my side. My dad gave my back a firm, comforting pat, and my brother stood in front of me, solid as a wall, blocking out the world.

Behind me, Antony was mumbling in shock, and then I heard him rush out, his footsteps echoing in his panic.