The Heart That He Stole

The Woman They Chose

As dawn crept in, the bedroom door opened almost soundlessly.

Ryan stepped inside and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, offering me the same effortless tenderness he had given me for the past three years.

"Today is your mom's memorial day. I already prepared everything."

His voice was low and gentle, his words wrapping around me like every peaceful morning he had ever given me.

I nodded but said nothing.

When we were about to leave, his phone rang.

The screen lit up. It was Olivia.

Just seeing her name felt like a blade cutting through me.

Ryan's eyes narrowed. Almost instantly, he let go of my hand. "Give me a minute."

He hurried out to the balcony.

…

Ten minutes later, he returned, panic etched across his face. "Emma, something urgent came up at work. I cannot go with you today."

He turned away without meeting my eyes.

I reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Ryan, can you come with me today? Just today."

My voice barely rose above a whisper, but those words drained every bit of strength I had left.

Silently, I promised myself that if he stayed, if he chose me, I could believe last night's revelations were nothing but a bad dream.

He paused for one second.

Then, gently but firmly, he uncurled my fingers from his sleeve, one at a time. "Do not make this difficult. This is really urgent. I already arranged a driver to take you there. I will come back as soon as I can."

He walked out, never glancing back.

The door clicked shut behind him, sealing away the last flicker of hope I had.

My fingers stayed curled, frozen in the shape he had left them. I thought, 'Ryan, I gave you one last chance. You were the one who threw it away.'

I took out my phone and called my father, the richest man in the country. "I am ready to come home and take over the family business."

Shock and joy filled his voice from the other end. "You are really willing to give up everything there?"

I looked out the window at the pale gray sky. "Send someone to pick me up in three days."

…

The car rolled silently toward the cemetery.

My phone buzzed.

A photo came in from an unknown number.

In the picture, Olivia stood smiling at the center, radiant and carefree.

On her left stood my ex-husband, Caleb.

On her right stood Ryan, the man who had just left me behind.

Both men gazed at her with the unwavering devotion of loyal knights.

The tenderness in Ryan's eyes for Olivia was something he had never shown me.

No wonder I had always sensed his love was never truly mine. His heart had always belonged to someone else.

Olivia's message came right after the photo.

'Whether it was five years ago or now, you will never beat me. As long as I need them, they will drop everything and come to me.'

I did not reply.

I simply blocked her.

Ryan and I had grown up together.

However, after we started college, he went north while I went south.

In that new city, I met Olivia and Caleb.

After Caleb and I started dating, I was the one who excitedly introduced Ryan to Olivia, hoping the two of them might end up together.

Later, the four of us often spent time together.

Ryan and Caleb would both scold me whenever Olivia was upset.

A sudden gust of wind jolted me from my memories.

The car stopped.

I had arrived at the cemetery.