Ethan Parker and I have been together for ten years, but he still hasn’t decided to marry me. I couldn’t help but ask him if he ever planned to. He responded calmly, as if it were a routine conversation, dodging the question. I looked down at my phone, at the photos. His new secretary was wearing the Tiffany & Co. engagement ring, the one everyone calls the “True Love” ring, and the custom Vera Wang wedding dress—one of a kind in the world. She was smiling, snuggled up in his arms, while he gazed at her with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in years. Suddenly, I no longer wanted a future with him. The new secretary was an outgoing, bubbly girl. After work, she smiled at me and said, “Is Ethan coming to pick you up today, Emily? You two are such relationship goals—ten years together and still as sweet as ever.” Ashley Taylor, always snarky, let out a dry laugh and mocked me, “Ten years together and still no marriage? It’s pretty obvious he doesn’t plan on marrying you. Calling that love is just pathetic.” My friend, Sarah Mitchell, fired back, annoyed, “Clearly, you don’t know that Ethan just bought her that ‘True Love’ ring from Tiffany last month. And word at Parker Holdings is that he had a custom Vera Wang wedding dress made for her a year ago.” Ashley’s face turned sour, and just before she left, she spat out, “Well, let’s see if that really happens.” Sarah wanted to argue more, but I stopped her with a quiet, “Let it go.” But Ashley wasn’t wrong. It felt like Ethan really didn’t plan on marrying me. When I walked out of the office, I realized it had started snowing. The cold wind cut through my scarf and chilled me to the bone. I looked around, but I didn’t see his familiar black Porsche. I checked my phone. His messages, once flooding my screen with notifications, had dwindled to just a few formal ones. “Working late. Take a cab home.” I took a deep breath and called him back. It took several seconds before he finally picked up. “Hello? What’s up?” His voice sounded hoarse, strange. In the background, I heard a faint giggle—quickly hushed, as if someone was being warned. I pretended not to notice. “What are you doing?” I could hear the sound of clothes rustling before Ethan replied, irritation creeping into his tone. “I’m at work. If there’s nothing else, I’m gonna hang up.” “Wait,” I interrupted him. “Do you remember what today is? It’s our 10-Year Anniversary.” Silence followed on the other end. Before he could make excuses, I pressed on. “Come pick me up. I’m waiting for you at the office.” I hung up before he could refuse.
While waiting for Ethan, I watched as the new secretary waved goodbye, turning to rush into the arms of the boyfriend she always complained about. His cheeks were red from the cold, but he still smiled as he handed her a roasted sweet potato. She told me once that they didn’t have much money, but love—love doesn’t care about wealth. I remembered the lean years when Ethan and I were at our happiest. Back then, when he came to pick me up, he’d always bring me little treats—sometimes candy apples, sometimes hot dogs. I used to tease him for wasting money, but he’d just grin and say, “I saw these and thought of you. I just want you to enjoy your favorite things every day.” I rode on the back of his bike then, and even when we were broke and I had a rough day at work, I still felt so happy. Now, as Ethan’s cars got more expensive, he’d stopped bringing me anything at all. Maybe he’d forgotten. Or maybe he just didn’t care anymore. From Parker Holdings to my office, it should’ve only been a 10-minute drive. But I waited for two hours in the freezing wind. When he finally arrived and saw me waiting by the door, his first words were annoyed, his brow furrowed with frustration. “It’s freezing. Why didn’t you wait inside? What are you doing out here?” Was he worried about me? Or just upset that I’d interrupted whatever he was doing? I couldn’t tell anymore. “I just thought you’d be here sooner,” I said calmly. He froze for a second, eyes darting away with a hint of guilt before muttering, “Sorry, there was traffic. It won’t happen again.” He reached out, opening his coat, trying to pull me close. I stopped him with a raised hand. The moment he approached, I caught the scent—strange body wash mixed with sweet, cloying perfume. “Let’s just get in the car,” I said quietly. “It’s too cold out here.” I didn’t react to his hesitation, turning and slipping into the passenger seat.
When Ethan got into the car, he handed me a small box. Inside was a ruby necklace, the one he’d won at last month’s auction, along with that infamous engagement ring. “Here. Don’t be mad. I’ve had this gift ready for a while. I’ve just been so busy lately, I forgot to give it to you.” He spoke like he was pacifying a spoiled child throwing a tantrum. “Let’s eat out for our anniversary this year,” I said flatly. In the past, he’d always prepared a home-cooked meal, especially during those early years when we had very little. No matter what, he’d make sure we had a proper anniversary dinner. Staring straight ahead, he started the car, casually responding, “Sure. Where do you want to go?” He agreed too quickly—probably eager to free up more time to spend with her. “How about Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria?” The car skidded slightly. I pretended not to notice his fingers tense on the steering wheel. “It’s snowing. The roads are slippery. Drive slow,” I said. “Yeah,” he replied, trying to sound calm. Then, almost too casually, he asked, “Why there?” “The new secretary recommended it. She says it’s her favorite. Why? Is there a problem?” I asked with feigned innocence. Ethan let out a barely audible sigh of relief. “No, no problem.” The rest of the drive was quiet. I knew what was making him nervous. She was young, and she loved pizza and iced coffee. Lou Malnati’s was one of her go-to places. I’d seen it on her Facebook posts more times than I could count. In those photos, I could always make out a faint reflection in the restaurant’s window—a silhouette of a man I knew too well, someone who had been by my side through so many years. When we arrived, the place was packed, but the owner greeted Ethan warmly. When he saw me, his smile faltered for just a moment before becoming overly cheerful again. “Do you come here often?” I asked. He explained smoothly, “Some clients prefer a more casual setting for meetings.” I couldn’t help but be impressed. Business had clearly taught him how to keep his composure. If I didn’t know him so well, I might’ve missed the subtle guilt behind his calm demeanor. The waiter led us to a private booth, each room in the restaurant uniquely themed. This booth was where Jessica liked to take her photos. Ethan ordered the half BBQ chicken and half smoked ribs combo. But a mix-up happened, and they brought us the wrong dish—a spicy BBQ platter. Ethan’s face darkened, and he quickly had them change it to the one we ordered, glancing at me nervously. When he saw that I wasn’t reacting, he seemed to relax. Ethan had never been able to handle spicy food, and I always remembered to order something mild for him. In Jessica’s photos, though, every plate was drenched in spicy sauce. I remembered one of her captions: “He can’t handle spicy food, but he still came with me anyway. #TrueLove.” “I heard you recently bought a ‘True Love’ engagement ring and had a wedding dress custom-made a year ago. Are those for me?” I asked abruptly. Ethan flinched, dropping shrimp into my half of the platter by accident. “No, a client requested those,” he said, calling the waiter for another order of shrimp. I forced a weak smile, and though I could barely hold it together, I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Ethan, are you ever going to marry me?” He didn’t even look up, answering like it was a formality, “Of course. I promised you, didn’t I?” He poured me a drink, clearly trying to soothe me, sensing my mood. “Emily, don’t overthink it. Weddings take a lot of planning. I want it to be perfect—it’s something you only get to do once in a lifetime.” I stayed quiet, looking down at my phone, where Jessica had sent me photos just a few hours earlier. She was wearing the Tiffany engagement ring, the custom Vera Wang wedding dress, smiling up at him, while he gazed lovingly back at her. Ethan had said those exact same words to me years ago, back when he had nothing. His friends told him to marry me quickly so I wouldn’t leave him for someone better. He’d refused, saying I deserved more. He promised me a wedding that would make every woman in the world jealous. But now, I knew—he wasn’t going to marry me. I pulled up the photos and placed my phone in front of him. “Was your ‘client’ your secretary?” I thought the evidence would make him panic, that he’d finally admit to everything. But instead, he lit a cigarette, took several long drags, and finally muttered, “Jessica’s boyfriend died in a car accident. She said I remind her of him, so she asked me to take a photo with her. To give her closure.” “There’s nothing going on between us.” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. My eyes stung as the pain pierced through me. “Ethan, if you really loved someone, you’d notice the smallest changes in them.” “I’ve known for a while now that the person going to Lou Malnati’s with Jessica was you. Every time you came home, I could smell the barbecue sauce on you.” “And you always smell like her perfume.” Ethan sniffed his sleeve, his face growing pale. “You used to never smoke around me.” He stared at me, stunned, before quickly putting out his cigarette. Panic crept into his voice as he reached for me. “Emily, let me explain—” “Let me finish.” I cut him off, my voice steady. “I’ve been to this restaurant before. I tracked down the booth from her Facebook posts, and I asked the owner if I could reserve it.” He had laughed and told me that the booth was always kept for a special guest. The man’s girlfriend loved this spot because of the view of the river. He didn’t want her to be disappointed if she couldn’t sit here on their next visit. “Oh, and by the way, I’m allergic to shrimp.” I picked up a piece of shrimp from the spicy platter, lifting my drink. “Mango juice too.” “You’ve been mistaking me for her, haven’t you?” Ethan’s face went ghostly white. His mouth opened, but nothing came out. Tears finally spilled from my eyes as I let my voice break. “Do you really think I didn’t know what you were doing during those two hours I waited for you?” Ethan’s eyes widened, a flash of guilt crossing his face as he pulled me into his arms, begging. “I’m sorry, Emily. I’m so sorry. I’ll fire her. I’ll never let her come near us again. Just please forgive me this time.” “No.” I shoved him away, screaming, “Ethan, I’ve already forgiven you once!”
Ethan had forgotten, or maybe he chose to forget. Five years ago, during one of our usual conversations, he kept bringing up his female investor. He told me how much she had helped him, how much she believed in him. I ended up confronting him about it, and we had a huge fight. I even suggested breaking up. He panicked that night. I remember him running to her house, begging her to come over and explain everything to me. “She’s married, Emily. She has a kid. Her husband is way more successful than me. You have nothing to worry about,” he said. “Please, don’t break up with me. I’m terrified of losing you.” Back then, Ethan held me so tightly, scared that I’d walk away. What I hadn’t understood at the time was the strange, knowing smile that woman gave me before she left. Now I realize that Ethan was testing me—seeing how far he could push, seeing if I would tolerate it. If I didn’t care or chose to overlook it because I loved him, then it would have given him a green light to cheat, to go on with his life, playing around with other women. After that incident, he never mentioned another woman. So, I decided to give him another chance. Until Jessica came along. He let her post pictures of them together, wearing wedding rings and even wedding dresses. He allowed her to provoke me, to flaunt their affair. Taking a deep breath, I let out a bitter laugh. “Ethan, do you think that I can’t live without you? Is that why you treat me like this—because you think I’ll just put up with anything?” “I won’t lie, the sunk cost is huge. Ten years is a long time. I’m deeply invested in this. But no one is truly irreplaceable. I told you when we almost broke up before—if you can’t clean up your mess, I’ll take care of it for you.” Ethan broke down, tears streaming down his face. He dropped to his knees, clutching my hands tightly. “Emily, I made a mistake. I was stupid. I know I messed up, but I swear, this is the last time. You know how hard it’s been for us. We’ve been through so much together. I was distracted by something new, but I promise it won’t happen again.”
The last ten years had been a struggle for both of us. Neither Ethan nor I came from wealth. Ethan was an orphan, and my parents had remarried, leaving me with no one to rely on but my grandfather. We had been competitors since high school, always battling for the top spot in our class. People thought we were rivals, but no one knew that Ethan would leave a carton of milk on my desk every morning, or that he’d quietly follow me home after night classes, making sure I was safe. I still remember that one year when a guy from the nearby community college tried to harass me. Ethan didn’t hesitate for a second before jumping in, fighting him off like his life depended on it, leaving both of them bloody. After that, no one ever bothered me again. People knew Ethan was not someone to mess with. After we graduated high school, we naturally became a couple. And after college, we refused to settle. We were determined to make it in Chicago, this expensive, cutthroat city. We lived in a damp, cramped basement apartment and survived on ramen noodles. Ethan’s first year of business was brutal. He lost a huge chunk of money. To pay off debts, he worked three different jobs. We lived frugally, cutting back on everything. I remember a rich guy hit on me, tried to pull me away from Ethan. Ethan was so upset he told me we should break up. “What’s the point of staying with me? All I’ve done is make you suffer. You should be with someone who can give you more.” But I was stubborn. I loved him, and I refused to leave. He broke down in my arms, shaking, apologizing over and over, promising that one day he’d make sure I had a good life. Eventually, his company started to take off. When he earned his first real money, the first thing he did was take me out to buy a one-carat diamond ring. He held my hand and laughed, telling me that one day, he’d buy me an even bigger one. Now, thinking back on it, it all seems so painfully ironic. I shoved him away, tears streaming down my face. “We’ve been together for ten years, Ethan. Ten years. And this is how you repay me?” My fists pounded against his chest, my emotions overwhelming me. He took the hits without a word, just standing there, absorbing my pain. Then Jessica’s call broke the moment. I watched as Ethan’s expression darkened when he saw her name on the screen. He ignored the first call, but she called again—this time more persistent. His face grew stormy as he reached to turn off his phone. I coldly said, “Go ahead. Answer it. It could be important.” Reluctantly, Ethan put the phone on speaker. Jessica’s trembling voice filled the air. “Ethan, I’m at the bar bathroom. Some guy’s been harassing me. Can you come get me?” Ethan swore under his breath, his words sharp and cold. “What does that have to do with me? Don’t forget your place, Jessica. Starting tomorrow, you’re fired. And don’t show up in front of me ever again, or I’ll make sure you regret it.” I heard Jessica gasp, her voice choking up. “What? What are you saying? You love me, don’t you? You said you’d marry me…” “Shut up!” Ethan growled. “I’m only marrying Emily. I lied to you, Jessica. I never loved you. You were just a distraction.” There was a sharp, bitter laugh on the other end. Jessica’s voice turned venomous. “Ethan, I’m pregnant. You have thirty minutes. If you don’t show up, I’ll make sure you never see this child.” Before Ethan could respond, the call ended. Ethan stood frozen, staring at his phone, his knuckles white as he gripped it tightly. It took him several seconds to speak, and when he did, his voice was soft and pleading. “Emily…” I looked at him, my voice cold. “Are you really going to leave me to go to her?” Ethan hesitated, torn. Finally, he muttered, “It’s a life, Emily. I can’t just…” He was waiting for my permission, for me to tell him it was okay to go so he wouldn’t have to feel guilty. I didn’t say anything, just watched him as the seconds ticked by. Eventually, he stood up. “I’ll just go check on her, and then I’ll come back. You understand, right? I’ll be right back.” He didn’t wait for my answer. He rushed to the door, grabbing his phone and dialing Jessica as he walked out. As his footsteps faded down the hall, I let out a soft laugh. “Ethan, I had a secret to tell you today, too. But now, it doesn’t matter.” He was already gone, too busy to hear me. I wiped away my tears, methodically, pulling out a handkerchief from my purse. From a young age, I learned that tears were a powerful weapon—especially when they were perfectly timed. Growing up with my grandfather, kids from the neighborhood always called me an orphan, a throwaway. I’d smile through it and fight them back with my fists. But when the teachers arrived, I cried like an innocent little girl, the kind that no one could scold. Even Ethan didn’t know that I’ve always had my own way of getting even. I didn’t need anyone to fight my battles for me. I’m not one to forgive. And I never forget. So, Ethan Parker and Jessica Williams, if you think I’m going to let this go, you’re sorely mistaken.
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