Ditched at Our Seventh Engagement

I'd always hated seeing Sawyer cry.

It broke my heart, and this time was no different. Despite the pain, I still loved him.

As I reached to wipe his tears, his phone rang on the table.

I knew that ringtone all too well. Sawyer had set a special ringtone for Mathilde so that he'd never miss her calls.

My hand froze mid-air.

After taking the call, Sawyer grabbed his bag and rushed to put on his shoes.

"The doctor says Mathilde's fever spiked again," he said. "I gotta check on her. Be good and wait for me at home. I'm already exhausted from taking care of her."

He leaned in to kiss my cheek, but I dodged.

He wanted to say more, but his phone kept ringing. He glanced at me and left.

The scene was all too familiar, etched in my memory.

I'd planned to head to my apartment to catch up on work delayed by the engagement. Then my mom, Celeste O'Connor, called, insisting I come home.

They must have heard about the failed engagement party. They'd practically disowned me for embarrassing them. I didn't know why they suddenly wanted me back.

At the villa, my parents sat on the couch, as loving as ever.

Seeing them made my heart ache. Their happy marriage had once convinced me that if I gave enough, I'd have that happiness, too.

I'd given ten years and got nothing but heartbreak.

As I went to greet them, a sharp voice interrupted. It was Sawyer's mom, Linda Patterson.

She was dressed to the nines, her bright red nails gripping a cup.

"Elsie, did you upset Sawyer again?" she asked. "You grew up together. Knowing his temper, you should be more understanding."

Robert Patterson cleared his throat, seemingly to rein in his wife, but everyone knew they were two peas in a pod. They were playing good cop, bad cop.

Logically, our family's business was thriving. Without our support, the Pattersons would have gone under long ago.

But because I'd been so hung up on Sawyer, they thought they could walk all over us.

I knew they had been siphoning off our resources and stealing our deals behind our backs. My parents, though frustrated with me, couldn't just cut off their support, especially since I was dead set on marrying Sawyer. They had just turned a blind eye.

I figured this visit wasn't just about Sawyer. It was about money, too.

"Forget it. I'm not getting involved in your drama," Linda said, turning to my parents. "Actually, we're here about the company. We're strapped for cash. Since we'll be in-laws someday, a little help would benefit us all."

This wasn't the first time Sawyer's parents had come asking for money. They'd been addicted to gambling ever since they were sure Sawyer and I would marry.

My dad glanced at me, waiting for my stance.

Linda and Robert looked smug, but they were bound to be disappointed this time.