That was the year Connor Hayes loved me the most. Late one night during study hall, I got locked in the pitch-black dorm building. He stood outside my window and sang songs all night to comfort me. Later, on our engagement day, he abandoned me and rented a bar to host a private concert for his childhood sweetheart, Madison Carter. He even sang the love song he’d written just for me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to that night when I was trapped. I poured a basin of cold water down from the window. “Shut up! Your singing is awful.” Today was supposed to be my engagement day with Connor. We’d invited only our closest friends and family. I smiled faintly, squeezed into a too-tight dress and uncomfortable heels, and rushed around for two hours straight. Despite downing countless glasses of champagne, I hadn’t even had a chance to take a sip of water. I overheard someone whispering, “Jeez, the ceremony’s almost over, and still no sign of the groom. I feel so embarrassed for the Fosters.” “Well, he is a celebrity. It’s normal for her to be the one making all the sacrifices.” “But this is just disrespectful. Who misses their own engagement party?” They were right. This was an engagement party without a groom because Connor never showed up at all. Fighting the churning in my stomach, palms slick with sweat, I kept calling Connor again and again. Usually, even if he had work, he’d have his manager contact me beforehand. Instead of being completely silent all day like he was today. More than anything, I was terrified something had happened to him. When it was all over, my parents couldn’t hide their disappointment. My family had always cared deeply about reputation, which was precisely why they never approved of my marriage to Connor. “I honestly don’t understand what you’re thinking, choosing someone like him. You’ve embarrassed the entire Foster family.” Before leaving, my mother squeezed my hand and said with painful sincerity, “Amelia, you’re the only one who truly knows how this relationship feels. It’s not too late to walk away.” My eyes welled up with tears, but I smiled faintly. “Mom, Dad, Connor just had an emergency. I’ll bring him home another day, and you can scold him all you want.” After the last guest left, I called Connor’s manager while absently stuffing leftover food into my mouth. The call went unanswered and disconnected again. I took a deep breath, staring blankly at the dark phone screen, my heart sinking heavily. My best friend, Ella Reed, stormed over and thrust her phone into my hands. “Look at this.”
It was a recording of a live stream. In the dimly lit center stage, Connor sang with deep emotion while the otherwise empty booths held only one person, someone I knew all too well. Ella’s voice crackled with fury, her hair practically standing on end with anger. “This livestream is trending everywhere. Now the whole world knows your fiancé has another girlfriend. “Amelia, we should go there right now.” “Ella.” I interrupted her abruptly, my eyes fixed on the replaying video, my voice barely above a whisper. “Did you know? “I was the first person to ever hear this song.” That was why I’d been able to overlook Connor’s screw-ups time and time again because he swore he wrote this song just for me. Back when he was a nobody, he told me I was the only listener he ever wanted to keep. Ella fell silent, gently taking back the phone I’d been clutching too tightly. “So what are you going to do now? The engagement party’s over. Are you planning to walk down the aisle alone at the wedding too?” She shook my shoulders in frustration. “Wake up! How long are you going to keep performing this one-woman show?” I didn’t answer. I just forced myself to stand. The day’s anxiety finally ebbed away, leaving only one thought. “At least he wasn’t hurt or in danger.” Wrapped in a cocoon of exhaustion and discomfort, I had no room for other emotions. I closed my eyes to steady myself, then sent Connor a simple message. [What time will you be home?]
It was already late by the time I finished handling everything. I was packing my clothes backstage when a hotel employee hurried over and handed me a gift with a card. He explained that a gentleman had left it along with a plastic bag containing stomach medicine. I glanced at it. The card on the gift said “Happy Engagement” and was signed simply with “Mr. Blake.” I froze for a few seconds, my throat tightening as my stomach seemed to clench in response. Before I could process this, Ella rolled down her car window and called for me. “Going to confront Connor?” I closed the car door and shook my head. “Go home.” From booking the venue to arranging the catering, I handled everything myself. Now, I just didn’t have the energy for a confrontation. I swallowed a stomach pill and drifted into an uneasy sleep. It was nearly ten when I got home. The apartment was completely dark. Clearly, no one had been back. I poured myself a glass of wine, sat by the window, and waited with uncharacteristic patience, minute by dragging minute. We’d moved in two years ago. Back then, Connor had just gained some recognition with his new album. Persistent stalker fans kept showing up at our door, forcing us to relocate to this more private, upscale, clean, and orderly neighborhood. Even the people here kept a cold, polite distance from each other. Nothing like the cozy place we’d once created together. And the apartment wasn’t the only thing we couldn’t go back to.
At two in the morning, the sound of someone entering the door code finally broke the silence. Connor was visibly startled when he saw me sitting by the window, dropping what he was holding. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” He knew my habits well. Usually, even when he came home late, I’d only wait until midnight before giving up, not like tonight. I set down my wine glasses, walked past him, and switched on the living room light. Instantly, the quiet space became as bright as day. Connor loosened his tie, carelessly tossed his suit jacket on the sofa, and strode over to embrace me. For a moment, I felt disoriented. Even the engagement suit he wore today, I was the one who had chosen it. Yet he’d worn it while running to someone else. “Tired?” he asked placatingly, treating serious matters with his usual casual air. I quietly inhaled the alcohol on him and raised my hands to push him away. Connor didn’t let go, explaining with complete confidence, “I had a last-minute emergency today. I didn’t mean to skip it. Besides, our families have already met. These ceremonies don’t really matter, right? “It’s late. Let’s not fight, okay?” When I remained silent, he suddenly remembered something and turned to pick up the paper bag he’d dropped. “I brought you a little cake from that place you mentioned you wanted to try. I stood in line specially for you.” He affectionately took my hand. But when he opened the box, the cake was completely smashed, its filling spilled throughout. Only then did I let out a bitter laugh. Connor, seeing my expression soften, immediately relaxed. “It’s okay. I’ll get you another one later.” Then I asked quietly, “Does she like this bakery too?” Connor froze. “Who?” I looked him in the eyes. “Madison.” “You… found out?” Connor’s voice instantly dropped, then sharpened with irritation. “Her mother passed away recently, and she was really upset today. I was worried something might happen to her, so I went to keep her company. You know she doesn’t have many relatives. We grew up…” I calmly finished his sentence. “You grew up together, practically like siblings.” Connor choked and then continued, after a moment, “I’ve already had the trending topic removed, and we’ll release a statement tomorrow.” I just said, “Oh,” and slowly started clearing the cake off the table. “Maybe you should just issue a statement saying you’re single.” He frowned, genuinely confused, “What do you mean?” “Connor.” The bitterness I’d been holding back finally reached my eyes. I blinked, trying hard not to lose composure, but my voice trembled uncontrollably. “I’m allergic to mango.”
It took Connor a moment to process what I’d said. Then, he became flustered. “I’m sorry. I completely forgot.” He took the fork from my hand and shoved the entire cake into the trash can as if venting his frustration. “Madison mentioned this flavor was good. That was why I specially…” I interrupted him abruptly, my voice drained, “I’m not interested in things other people like.” The engagement ring felt suffocating on my finger. I thought, “So this is how heartbreak travels, starting at the fingertips.” I twisted the ring until my finger turned red before finally managing to pull it off. Then, I casually dropped it into the wine glass on the table. Connor grabbed my wrist, his brow furrowed. “You’re upset over this?” He sighed with exasperation. “You know how packed my schedule is every day. It’s perfectly normal to forget little details sometimes. “You’re not seriously going to hold this against me, are you?” I thought, “You’ve forgotten far too much. It was like talking to a brick wall.” Connor started to say something else when his phone rang. I saw the name lighting up his screen with perfect clarity. After a moment’s hesitation, he released my hand. “You need to calm down. We’ll talk when you’re thinking straight.” Then he grabbed his coat and left. I stood motionless for a while, then started messaging Ella before heading to the bedroom to pack. From graduation until now, we’d accumulated countless shared memories. Most of our everyday items came in matching pairs: couple’s slippers, gaming consoles, throw pillows… Even the paintings on the wall were custom-made from our photos. Traces of our life together surrounded me completely. Facing the overwhelming mess, I took a deep breath and packed only a few clothes and valuables. It wasn’t until I was sitting in a late-night taxi, the night wind blowing against my face, that the day finally seemed to end. The alcohol amplified my emotions as I leaned dizzily against the window. From school uniforms to wedding dresses, our once-enviable young love. My thoughts drifted back to graduation year. The night Connor rushed to my house clutching his college acceptance letter, he was eager to tell the whole world we’d be together for many more years, long enough to grow numb, long enough for one to propose engagement out of fear of losing the relationship. In the end, it became a joke. My chest ached so intensely I could barely breathe. Suddenly, I opened my eyes in the darkness, hearing someone desperately calling my name. “Amelia, come to the window.”
My legs had lost feeling from being curled up too long. The slightest movement nearly sent me tumbling off the bed. In the moonlight, the school uniform on his body felt both intimately familiar and utterly foreign. I tugged at the collar, stunned for a long while, struggling to accept the impossible truth that I seemed to have truly returned to the past. “Amelia…” The calling voice faded in and out. I closed my eyes, steadied myself, and slowly moved to the window. The man below, separated by just an hour in my time but now ten years younger, suddenly appeared, momentarily disorienting me. The dormitory was on the second floor. Seeing me appear, Connor looked up and waved. “You begged me to come, remember? “How is it? Scared of being all alone in there?” He wore that cocky smile, his tone distinctly more arrogant than I remembered. Under the streetlight, his eyes looked sincere and bright, like freshly polished glass. I stared down at him, my breathing unconsciously quickening. My fingertips silently traced where the ring had been, but there was no mark, no indentation from years of wear. Everything was brand new. “The teachers are all in a meeting. I specifically skipped class to come keep you company. “If you hadn’t kept calling, I wouldn’t have bothered coming. “Want to hear a song?” ***** Too many years had passed. I’d almost forgotten. So many things I thought were gifts had actually been things I’d begged for from the start. Connor had a naturally good voice. After graduation, he signed with a company smoothly. During countless nights when I couldn’t see him, I fell asleep listening to his songs. Now, they sounded more like an enchanting curse. After so long, complex emotions tangled in my chest, leaving me utterly speechless. Perhaps thinking I was entranced, Connor sang with increasing enthusiasm. The streetlight hit him like a spotlight, creating a stage seemingly just for me. Then my phone rang unexpectedly. I snapped back to reality. On the other end was an anxious male voice accompanied by hurried footsteps. “I’m almost there, Amelia. Just wait for me. The dorm building lost power for maintenance. How did you get locked in?” I pulled the phone away to check the caller ID: Class President Logan Blake. I had no memory of him appearing during this night the first time around. The call fell silent for a long moment. Finally, breathing heavily, Logan asked, “Amelia, are you afraid of the dark?” Connor’s singing continued below. I stepped away from the window, turned the faucet on full blast, watched the basin slowly fill under the moonlight, and asked softly, “Logan, are you afraid of ghosts?” “What?” I chuckled softly, suddenly threw open the window, lifted that basin of freezing water, and mercilessly dumped it down. The singing below abruptly drowned in spluttering silence. I looked down, my slightly trembling fingers bracing the windowsill, and sneered at the drenched figure below, “Shut up! Your singing is awful.”
By the time Logan arrived to rescue me, Connor was long gone from downstairs. The next day, during the break period, Connor was called to the office for skipping evening study. With Logan vouching for me, not only did I avoid a scolding, but the homeroom teacher patted my shoulder sympathetically, comforting me by saying I must have been frightened and that it was the dorm manager’s mistake. Instead, it was Madison who walked over and blocked my path. “Connor got in trouble because of you, and here you are acting like nothing happened. You should tell the teacher the truth.” “Are you sure you want me to tell the truth?” I stared directly into her eyes, emphasizing each word, “Because we can start with exactly how I got locked in the dormitory.” Madison nervously released my arm. My past self would have been incredibly moved, rushing into the office without a second thought, eager to face punishment alongside Connor. So much so that in the many arguments and silent treatments years later, I would always be the first to back down because of his appearance that night. Now, it felt like another lifetime entirely. It was my affection that had given Connor too many free passes. Noticing my unusual demeanor, Madison softened her voice. “I was just worried. You know, we grew up together…” I frowned in irritation, having no patience for their oft-repeated childhood bond. Looking around, I realized Logan was nowhere in sight. Someone burst through the classroom door, shouting, “Connor fainted, and they took him to the infirmary!” “Probably fainted from getting chewed out.” “I heard he has a fever.” ***** Everyone started talking at once. My heart instinctively tightened, then I inwardly mocked myself. I thought, “Amelia, you really never learn, do you? Some habits needed to change starting now. This second chance wasn’t meant for me to make the same mistakes all over again.” Madison rushed out, pulling me along. She ran so fast that we accidentally bumped into someone at the infirmary corner. I rubbed my sore nose and crouched down to help Logan pick up the scattered papers. “Did you come to see Connor?” A voice sounded beside my ear. “Um…” I hesitated briefly. “Sort of.” Even though I was dragged here, I was partly responsible. Connor peeked his head out from the doorway, looking weak and sick, his voice feeble. “I knew you’d worry about me.” I glanced up at him. Connor’s lips were pale, his fever making it difficult to keep his eyes open, yet he still insisted on walking toward me while leaning against the wall. I looked down indifferently, quickly scanning the papers in my hands. The next second, I froze abruptly. Noticing my reaction, Logan took the papers from me. “Thank you.” I thought, “Maybe it was my imagination, but his voice seemed colder than before.” Connor reached for me, his voice hoarse. “Help me up. I can barely stand.” I hastily pushed his hand away, completely ignoring his shocked expression, and instead grabbed Logan’s sleeve, calling out instinctively, “Logan!” He slowly looked down at me. “Is there something else?” I thought, “Were you at my engagement party?”
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296203”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance
Leave a Reply