He didn’t wait for a response. Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her out, leaving me alone amidst the wreckage of a celebration that was never mine.
That evening, the party never began. No guests arrived—none I would have wanted there anyway. Over the years, Leonardo had replaced my friends with allies, loyal sycophants, and yes, her entourage. No one dared cross him, or her.
I opened the leftover cake, cut a small slice despite knowing I couldn’t eat it, and stuck a single candle into the frosting. I lit it, closed my eyes, and whispered softly,
“I hope I never see either of you again.”
The next morning, I packed the essentials into a single suitcase. On the way to the airport, I sent Leonardo one final message:
This ends here. Do not contact me again. Ever.
As the plane lifted from the tarmac, I powered off my phone, silencing the constant stream of calls and messages from a man who had once promised me the world but chose someone else instead.
