Chapter 2

The third day of his one-week deadline happened to be my birthday. It was also the night of the annual Mitchell Foundation Charity Gala.

The guest list was packed with our mutual friends and business partners.

In previous years, it was a given that Ethan and I would lead the first dance.

"Charlie, where's Ethan?" my mother asked, her voice tight with worry.

"He's on his way," I smiled, taking a slow sip of champagne.

Right on cue, he walked through the doors.

He looked sharp, but he couldn't hide the exhaustion etched around his eyes. He hurried over and reached for my hand.

"Sorry. Something came up at the office."

"It's fine."

I pulled my hand back instinctively, forcing a smile.

A friend wandered over, raising a glass. "Charlie! When are you two finally tying the knot?"

I stayed silent.

Ethan's smile stiffened. "Soon. Just waiting for Charlie to give the word."

I spoke up, my voice carrying a chill even I hadn't anticipated.

"We haven't set a date."

As the banquet drew to a close, the emcee took the stage with a bright smile.

"As is tradition, it's time for our engaged couple to lead the first dance!"

Ethan smiled in acknowledgment, but his eyes kept darting down to his phone.

Standing next to him, I caught a glimpse of the screen. The contact name: Isabella.

The texts were coming in back-to-back.

Ethan's thumb hovered over the screen, but he didn't reply. Still, he was visibly distracted.

The music started.

I offered my hand. He didn't even see it. His eyes were glued to his screen, and suddenly, the color drained from his face.

"Charlie, it's an emergency. I have to go."

He looked up, panic in his eyes.

"Isabella's not feeling well. It might be a breakdown. She's alone, and I can't leave her like this."

I looked at him, my voice dead calm.

"Ethan. Today is my birthday."

"The first dance is starting."

He hesitated for two agonizing seconds.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. I'm terrified she'll do something drastic. Just wait for me. I'll be back soon."

With that, he turned and bolted out the door.

I stood frozen, watching his back disappear into the night.

The air in the ballroom evaporated. Hundreds of eyes locked onto me.

People were whispering. Some pretended to look away, sipping their champagne, while others in the corners were outright smirking.

I could feel my mother's horrified stare, and I could hear the low murmurs of the crowd.

I walked onto the dance floor.

The music was still playing. Everyone was waiting.

I picked up the microphone and smiled flawlessly.

"Ethan had a sudden emergency. We'll be skipping the first dance tonight. Please, enjoy yourselves."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

I set the mic down and walked out of the hall.

The corridor was dead silent.

I leaned against the wall, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.

My phone buzzed.

A text from Ethan:

Charlie, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

Please don't be mad. I'll arrange for her to leave tomorrow, I swear. No more delays.

I stared at the screen and actually laughed.

He had asked for a week. Today was day three.

And with a single text from Isabella, he had abandoned me in front of a room full of New York's elite.

I was done believing him.

I had heard the word "wait" enough for one lifetime.

By the time the gala ended and I got home, it was nearly midnight.

My mother was waiting in the living room, beside herself.

"What on earth is going on with Ethan? With all those people watching, he just left you standing there?"

I sat down and poured myself a glass of water.

"Mom. I'm calling off the engagement with the Harrisons."

She froze.

I met her eyes, feeling nothing but absolute clarity.

"The Andersons reached out before about an alliance. The joint family trust agreement and the seats on the board of directors have been agreed upon. I accepted."

My mother stared at me for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You waited for him for so many years. Are you really ready to walk away?"

I held my glass, my voice perfectly steady. "I brought up marriage seven times in the last three years. Every single time, I was the one waiting. Seven times is enough. It's over."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

My phone buzzed again. A flood of texts from Ethan. I didn't even open them.

The name that used to make my heart skip a beat was now just another stranger in my contacts.

Seven years. It was time to wake up.

Chapter 2

The third day of his one-week deadline happened to be my birthday. It was also the night of the annual Mitchell Foundation Charity Gala.

The guest list was packed with our mutual friends and business partners.

In previous years, it was a given that Ethan and I would lead the first dance.

"Charlie, where's Ethan?" my mother asked, her voice tight with worry.

"He's on his way," I smiled, taking a slow sip of champagne.

Right on cue, he walked through the doors.

He looked sharp, but he couldn't hide the exhaustion etched around his eyes. He hurried over and reached for my hand.

"Sorry. Something came up at the office."

"It's fine."

I pulled my hand back instinctively, forcing a smile.

A friend wandered over, raising a glass. "Charlie! When are you two finally tying the knot?"

I stayed silent.

Ethan's smile stiffened. "Soon. Just waiting for Charlie to give the word."

I spoke up, my voice carrying a chill even I hadn't anticipated.

"We haven't set a date."

As the banquet drew to a close, the emcee took the stage with a bright smile.

"As is tradition, it's time for our engaged couple to lead the first dance!"

Ethan smiled in acknowledgment, but his eyes kept darting down to his phone.

Standing next to him, I caught a glimpse of the screen. The contact name: Isabella.

The texts were coming in back-to-back.

Ethan's thumb hovered over the screen, but he didn't reply. Still, he was visibly distracted.

The music started.

I offered my hand. He didn't even see it. His eyes were glued to his screen, and suddenly, the color drained from his face.

"Charlie, it's an emergency. I have to go."

He looked up, panic in his eyes.

"Isabella's not feeling well. It might be a breakdown. She's alone, and I can't leave her like this."

I looked at him, my voice dead calm.

"Ethan. Today is my birthday."

"The first dance is starting."

He hesitated for two agonizing seconds.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. I'm terrified she'll do something drastic. Just wait for me. I'll be back soon."

With that, he turned and bolted out the door.

I stood frozen, watching his back disappear into the night.

The air in the ballroom evaporated. Hundreds of eyes locked onto me.

People were whispering. Some pretended to look away, sipping their champagne, while others in the corners were outright smirking.

I could feel my mother's horrified stare, and I could hear the low murmurs of the crowd.

I walked onto the dance floor.

The music was still playing. Everyone was waiting.

I picked up the microphone and smiled flawlessly.

"Ethan had a sudden emergency. We'll be skipping the first dance tonight. Please, enjoy yourselves."

A murmur swept through the crowd.

I set the mic down and walked out of the hall.

The corridor was dead silent.

I leaned against the wall, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath.

My phone buzzed.

A text from Ethan:

Charlie, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

Please don't be mad. I'll arrange for her to leave tomorrow, I swear. No more delays.

I stared at the screen and actually laughed.

He had asked for a week. Today was day three.

And with a single text from Isabella, he had abandoned me in front of a room full of New York's elite.

I was done believing him.

I had heard the word "wait" enough for one lifetime.

By the time the gala ended and I got home, it was nearly midnight.

My mother was waiting in the living room, beside herself.

"What on earth is going on with Ethan? With all those people watching, he just left you standing there?"

I sat down and poured myself a glass of water.

"Mom. I'm calling off the engagement with the Harrisons."

She froze.

I met her eyes, feeling nothing but absolute clarity.

"The Andersons reached out before about an alliance. The joint family trust agreement and the seats on the board of directors have been agreed upon. I accepted."

My mother stared at me for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh.

"You waited for him for so many years. Are you really ready to walk away?"

I held my glass, my voice perfectly steady. "I brought up marriage seven times in the last three years. Every single time, I was the one waiting. Seven times is enough. It's over."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

My phone buzzed again. A flood of texts from Ethan. I didn't even open them.

The name that used to make my heart skip a beat was now just another stranger in my contacts.

Seven years. It was time to wake up.