My calm indifference and bothered attitude seemed to catch Darrel off guard, leaving him momentarily dazed.
As I walked away, his expression grew complicated, but I did not look back.
Instead, I hailed a taxi and went straight home, letting the distance between us grow both physically and emotionally.
The next day, I went to the city’s most prestigious jewelry store.
After Darrel’s proposal, I had spent hours carefully choosing a set of jewelry that perfectly suited my style and personality.
If I was not going to marry him, I decided I would at least reclaim what was mine.
But the store owner’s hesitant expression unsettled me.
“Ms. Lynch,” he began awkwardly, “your set of jewelry was picked up a few days ago by Mr. Gonzalez. I assumed he was collecting it for you.”
A sharp pang hit my chest.
It was as if not enough for him to take my love and my patience, the jewelry I had chosen with so much care, meant to symbolize the life we were supposed to build together, was gone too.
All for Ashley.
It was just an engagement, yet Darrel had given her the jewelry he knew was my favorite.
In that moment, I realized that my place in his heart was not even a fraction of hers.