Loving and Letting Go Without Regret

As Alba passed me, she whispered, "You lost."

I grabbed her arm. "Say that again."

She gave me an innocent look, and Ivan barked, "Enough!"

A sharp pain stabbed my abdomen, as if my baby was protesting, too, but I knew I couldn't break their bond.

In the end, I fled the hotel, humiliated.

My best friend, who arrived late, rushed to my side, steadying me as I stumbled.

From my dazed expression, Savannah Hart could tell the engagement had crashed and burned.

"I knew you'd get hurt," she sighed. "I should have done anything to break you two up. That jerk doesn't deserve you."

"Yeah, he doesn't," I murmured.

...

Savannah drove me home.

She wanted to keep me company, but I needed to be alone.

After she left, I sank into my bed. The faint scent of Ivan's cologne lingered in the air, bringing tears to my eyes.

I recalled our seven years together. He used to love me wholeheartedly.

After my parents passed away, enemies came after me. Ivan stepped in, fighting them off alone and collapsing only after the police arrived and made sure I was safe.

At the hospital, I learned he'd been stabbed in the stomach. An inch deeper, and he would have died.

His love for me back then was undeniable. His actions were worth more than any words. But now, that love had soured.

My phone buzzed, interrupting my thoughts. It was a message from Alba.

[I heard you love bitter orange perfume, so I wore it today at the party. It was a gift from Mr. Knowles. I don't usually use it, but I thought you'd like it.]

I threw my phone aside, trembling with anger.

For our last anniversary, I wanted bitter orange perfume. Ivan brushed me off. "It's too sweet for you. I'll get you sandalwood instead. It will help you relax."

I waited, but the perfume never came.

...

I kept crying until I almost drifted off to sleep. Ivan finally came back.

He slipped into bed beside me, wiping tears from my lashes.

"I'm sorry, honey," he cooed. "What happened today was my fault. I should've been more careful. After our baby is born, I'll throw you a big wedding to make up for it."

I pushed against his chest and moved away from him. My resistance unnerved him.

He pleaded, "Don't be mad at me, alright? I visited Alba in the hospital only because I felt sorry for her as a single mom."

He pulled out a red velvet box and added, "You didn't like the engagement ring, so I got this one for you. It's unique, designed by a master. Happy?"

I glanced at the ring and smiled bitterly. 'Unique?'

I'd seen Alba wearing the same one in a selfie she posted. Ivan had even liked it. He just didn't remember.

I looked up at him. For a moment, I started to wonder if he had ever truly loved me.

"I'm serious," I said. "We're done. I'll move out soon to make room for Alba and her daughter."

"Enough!" He threw the box down, the ring rolling under the bed. "I've apologized. What else do you want? This is a small thing, and you're holding it against me."

With a bitter laugh, I got out of bed.

When I didn't back down like I usually did, his anger flared. He threw a pillow across the room, knocking everything off the nightstand.

Glass shattered, and then Alba's voice came through his phone. "Mr. Knowles, it's pouring outside. Nettie won't stop crying. Can you come help me?"

I paused, turning to look at him.