Clearly, Vito’s friends hadn’t expected me to show up so quickly. One of them rushed over to pull him away from Lula, but Vito didn’t budge. He was dozing off, muttering through his drunken haze, “Don’t touch me. Just leave me alone.”

It was the first time I had ever seen him this drunk. His friend leaned in closer, whispering into Vito’s ear, “Constance is here to pick you up. Come on, man, you need to get up. And you’re gonna get married in three days, remember?”

The others moved in to help, prying Vito’s fingers away from Lula’s arm. With considerable effort, they finally managed to peel him off her. He slumped heavily into the couch, his face flushed.

His friend seemed relieved, then turned to me. “We need time to get him up, haha,” he said, rubbing his nape as if it could shake off the awkwardness. “Oh, this is Lula Wallace, one of our friends from college. She left the country during our second year, and she just got back today. It was just a coincidence that she could join us. Vito just had too much to drink… Don’t worry about it.”

If this had been in the past, I probably would’ve lost my temper right then and there—demanding to know why, knowing Vito and I were getting married, they’d invite Lula along, or why no one tried to stop him. But now, all I could muster was a tired, indifferent smile.

Lula’s eyes, however, were sharp, as though studying me with quiet amusement. Then Vito’s friend, clearly uncomfortable with the tension in the room, attempted to clarify my role in the night’s mess.

“This is Constance, Vito’s…” He paused before continuing, “…fiancée.”

“She’s just a friend!” Vito shouted abruptly. He, who was looking like a wet tablecloth and barely able to say coherent words, shouted that clearly.

Instantly, my fingers curled into the fabric of my sleeve, gripping so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. The pain was barely enough to steady the trembling in my hands. The room went dead silent. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, avoiding my eyes.

This wasn’t the first time Vito had refused to acknowledge me publicly. I had already seen the signs—his refusal to post about us on social media, his reluctance to be seen together at work, and even his insistence on a private, low-key wedding without our families. Deep down, I had always known where we were headed. But I had been too stubborn, too unwilling to accept it, hoping that eight years of love would be enough to change his heart. Clearly, I’d lost that bet.

Keeping the smile plastered on my face, I turned to Lula and nodded politely. “Nice to meet you, I’m Constance Freeman, Vito’s friend. You’re even prettier in person than in the photos.” I tried to make my voice sound as casual as possible.

However, the tension in the room thickened, and no one dared say a word. Everyone exchanged uneasy looks.

Lula didn’t seem fazed, though. She simply smiled back, reaching for a piece of fruit from the table. But before her hand could close around it, Vito suddenly shot up from the couch, his voice filled with concern.

“Don’t eat that, Lula! You’re allergic to mango!”

Lula froze for a moment, staring at him, then chuckled softly. “My, my, aren’t just the same as you were ten years ago? It’s watermelon, silly. Why don’t you let her take you home? You’re so wasted.”

At that moment, it felt like something inside my heart shattered into pieces, jagged and painful. He remembered something as small as her mango allergy, even after a decade. But for eight years, no matter how many times I reminded him, he never remembered that I was allergic to seafood.

We had gone to seafood restaurants on countless dates. At first, I had been angry. Eventually, I gave in and compromised, convincing myself he was just too overworked to remember these things. But now I knew the truth—he wasn’t forgetful. He just didn’t care.

Every small detail tonight exposed just how little he had loved me all this time. With no expression on my face, I pulled Vito to his feet and helped him outside to catch a cab.

As we reached the lobby, Lula followed us out, her gaze soft as she looked at Vito, her lips curling into a gentle smile. She spoke to me, her voice sweet, as if offering helpful advice.

“Vito doesn’t handle alcohol well, and he’s allergic to the ingredients in most hangover pills. You should make him a cup of honey water when you get home. But don’t let the water temperature go above sixty degrees, or it won’t work. He’ll feel better after that. I’m afraid if you don’t deal with his hangover, he’ll wake up with a splitting headache tomorrow.”

Vito had never told me any of this—what he preferred or how to deal with a hangover. I gritted my teeth and turned to open the car door. But she wasn’t finished.

“Oh, and how about we exchange numbers?” she added. “So that you can ask me what to do if he feels unwell in the middle of the night. You’ll need to keep an eye on him—Vito tends to toss and turn a lot when he sleeps after drinking. If he kicks off the covers, make sure to put them back on him right away. Otherwise, he’ll catch a fever by morning.”

My nails dug so hard into my palm I thought they might draw blood, and my eyelids fluttered as I fought back the tears threatening to spill over. I stared at her innocent, wide-eyed face for a long moment before I finally nodded.

We exchanged numbers, and when I opened her profile, the background photo was a picture of her and Vito. It was from ten years ago—two young faces, eyes full of hope and determination, their fingers intertwined.

As the car door shut and the engine roared to life, the first tear slipped down my cheek. I had always scoffed at the idea of someone being another’s “first love,” that one unattainable love who lingers in their heart forever. I believed in the power of real love, the kind that could overcome anything.

But tonight, that belief wavered.

On the way home, Vito’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Lula was blowing up his inbox, asking if he’d made it home safely. I unlocked his phone, planning to reply politely, but then something caught my eye—a string of messages between him and his friends. I couldn’t help but read them.

[This is my last shot. If she doesn’t come back after hearing I’m getting married, I’m really giving up. You can post about it in our school group chat, but don’t tell them that it’s fake.]

I froze, my fingers gripping the phone tightly. My heart pounded in my chest as I locked the screen, trying to process what I’d just seen. It felt like someone had knocked the air out of me. No matter how hard I tried to breathe, my chest stayed tight, the oxygen refusing to fill my lungs. Tears blurred my vision, spilling down my cheeks.

It all made sense now. His sudden proposal three days ago, without any talk about a home, a future, or anything substantial. No ring, no conversation about a venue or even the simplest details like a dowry. His only request was that I keep everything a secret from my family.

I’d assumed it was because he was finally feeling guilty for not showing enough attention, that maybe my patience had finally gotten through to him after all these years. But I was wrong. 

The proposal, something I had longed for after eight years of dating, wasn’t out of love. It was bait—nothing more than a lure to get Lula to come back from wherever she was. The trust I had clung to for so long had finally run dry. All the doubts I’d had about us, about him, were now glaring truths. I was shattered, but there was nothing I could do but comfort myself with the decision I had already made. I was leaving, and once I walked away, nothing about them—about this—would ever bother me again.

When we got home, Vito, still a little drunk, headed straight for the shower without saying a word. I went to the kitchen and made some honey water for him, just the way Lula had told me. Three more days. That’s all I had left to endure—just three more days. I wasn’t going to leave this relationship with any regrets.

I carried the honey water over to the couch and sat down, letting out a long breath. Not long after, my phone rang. It was Mr. Greer, my boss. He asked if I could finish up the remaining work before my departure and I agreed, hanging up quickly.

“Where are you going?” Vito’s voice came from behind me, sounding annoyed. He was rubbing a towel through his wet hair, watching me with a cold, blank expression.

“Just… business trip,” I replied calmly, handing him the honey water.

He didn’t respond, just took the cup from me. He didn’t seem interested in why I was leaving or where I was going. Either he didn’t think it mattered, or maybe, deep down, he really just didn’t care at all. He took one sip of the honey water and immediately spat it back out, glaring at me.

“Honey water? Seriously? Do you really think that’s good for a hangover? You probably read that online, didn’t you? Just because a lot of people say it works doesn’t mean everyone likes it.” He grumbled, slamming the cup down on the table and storming off to the bedroom, looking irritated. I let out a bitter laugh. Constance, you’re an idiot! How stupid could I be, trusting advice from the woman who once had been his lover?

The next morning was our pre-wedding photoshoot. Vito woke up like nothing had happened, treating me with the same cold indifference as always. After seeing how affectionate he’d been toward Lula last night, I could no longer believe that it was his nature. I just couldn’t understand how I had put up with it for so long.

As we finished breakfast, he glanced at his phone. “Let’s take the photos at the old school instead of the park. School-themed shoots are really popular lately,” he said abruptly. 

I paused, mid-way through clearing the table. “Your call,” I replied flatly. “I’m fine with anything. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

I knew why he had changed his mind so suddenly. That morning, Lula had posted a photo on WhatsApp, saying she missed our old school and was thinking about visiting it. The connection was obvious. But I didn’t bother arguing or pointing out the obvious lie he was weaving right in front of my face. I wasn’t going to humiliate myself, especially with the relationship about to end. Only a day and a half left before I left the country, and I wanted to leave with my dignity intact.

Before we left the house, I already knew how the day was going to play out, so I deliberately chose a simple wedding dress, something that would make it easier to move around in.

The photographer took us to the playground area. Throughout the shoot, the photographer kept directing us on how to pose, but Vito wasn’t paying attention. He kept glancing around like he was searching for something—or someone. It wasn’t long before I saw the familiar figure emerge from the other side of the trees.

Without a word, without even glancing back at me, Vito rushed over to her, leaving me standing there, forgotten. The photographer looked bewildered, unsure of what to do. I forced a small, awkward smile, turning to him with a resigned sigh.

Without a word, without even glancing back at me, Vito rushed over to her, leaving me standing there, forgotten. The photographer looked bewildered, unsure of what to do. I forced a small, awkward smile.

“I’m really sorry for the trouble. Let’s wrap it up. We’ll still pay you as agreed,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, polite.

The photographer hesitated, looking between me and Vito disappearing into the distance with Lula, clearly unsure of how to handle the situation. But I didn’t wait for him to respond. I simply gathered the train of my dress and walked to them.

Even though I had picked a wedding dress that was supposed to be easy to move in, walking in heels on a sports field was still nearly impossible. Every step felt like a struggle. After what seemed like forever, I finally reached Vito, who was standing with Lula, chatting away like they hadn’t seen each other in years. His face lit up as he spoke to her, but the moment his eyes landed on me, everything changed. His expression tightened, brows knitting together like I’d just walked in on something I shouldn’t have.

“Why’d you catch up?” he almost snapped, like he was annoyed by my presence. “We’re just talking. She’s my old classmate.”

I froze at his tone. A smile tugged at my lips, a forced smile.

“I just wanted to tell you I’ve got some work to finish, so I’ll be going to the office,” I said, keeping my voice steady even though my chest ached. “I didn’t bring my phone, so I had to come find you to let you know.”

He looked a little taken aback by that, but I didn’t wait for a response. In the past, I might’ve shown how hurt I was. I would’ve probably gotten upset, throwing a fit here and there, but now? I just didn’t care. Apart from the dead heart, I wasn’t interested in causing a scene. I didn’t want to be an inconvenience to him.

His features softened when he realized I wasn’t going to cause any drama. He nodded in response and turned back to Lula.

I turned away, limping just as I had when I arrived. My heels were digging into the ground with each step. As I left, I could still hear their voices distinct in the background, but I caught Vito’s words floating toward me: “Oh, it’s nothing. I’m just doing some promotional thing for a bridal shop. She’s my co-model.”

I wasn’t lying when I said I had work to finish. I spent the rest of the day at the office, wrapping up loose ends and preparing for the handover. By the time I returned home that evening, I was exhausted and emotionally drained. To my surprise, when I opened the door, Vito was already there. He had the table set, dinner was laid out and waiting.

“You're back so late. What took you so long?” He looked up from his phone as I entered, his expression stiff and unnatural. “I made dinner. I noticed you looked... thinner in your wedding dress this morning. Don’t you feel it? You’ve lost some weight.”

I stopped in my tracks for a moment, caught off guard. I looked thinner? I hadn’t even noticed. Maybe it was because I’d barely eaten since seeing those photos of him and Lula. Now, looking at the greasy dishes on the table, my stomach turned.

“I’m not hungry,” I said quietly. “You can have it. I’ll head to the bedroom.”

As I turned to head toward the bedroom, I finally felt it. My ankle throbbed with pain. The blisters from my heels were raw, the skin broken. I had just reached the bedroom when he came in, carrying a first aid kit. He probably noticed it when I walked up the stairs.

It struck me then—it was the first time in eight years that he’d shown me any concern. It was pointless at this stage. The wounds had already started healing on their own, and I didn’t need him anymore.

“I’m fine.” I shook my head, declining his offer to help.

He frowned, clearly annoyed by my rejection, and walked out without a word. A few minutes later, he came back with a slice of cake and placed it on the nightstand.

“I’m sorry,” he began awkwardly. “I didn’t know she’d be at the school this morning. We’ve known each other for so long, and I couldn’t just ignore her. I was just acting out of politeness. You shouldn’t think too much about it, I—”

“I’ve been off sugar for weeks,” I cut in, my gaze shifting to the cake, voice dripping with sarcasm. “And I only eat steamed vegetables. Maybe you forgot?”

For the past week, I’d been living like a monk, sticking to a strict diet so I’d be in perfect shape for our wedding. But he hadn’t noticed. He never seemed to care.

His expression darkened as I rejected him again. This time, he didn’t hide his irritation. His usual coldness returned to his face, and without another word, he left the room. He didn’t bother me again that night.

Later that night, my stomach grumbled loudly in protest. I got out of bed as quietly as I could to get a glass of water. That’s when I saw the faint glow of Vito’s phone lighting up the living room. He was still awake, typing furiously, his face lit with a smile—one I hadn’t seen him wear in a long time.

I remembered how he’d always told me he couldn’t stay up late—that he hated losing sleep, which was why he refused to stay up with me on New Year’s Eve. But here he was, smiling at his phone screen in the dead of night. The coldness in my chest deepened. I turned away without getting the water and went back to bed.

The next day was supposed to be the day we were going to get our marriage license. I stepped out of the bedroom in the morning, only to find that Vito was already gone. There was no explanation, no note, no message.

Out of habit, I opened Lula’s Instagram. And, of course, there it was—a post she made from the hospital.

[When will I ever learn to take care of myself? Even after ten years, I still need you by my side.]

A full-grown woman—how could she end up in the hospital knowing full well what she was allergic to? I had no idea, and frankly, I didn’t care anymore. I wasn’t going to waste my time figuring it out.

I spent the entire day packing my things. By the time evening rolled around, Vito still hadn’t come home. The only message he sent was a lame excuse. Working late.

I stared at the words on my screen, feeling a sharp, bitter anger bubble up inside me. I let out a dry laugh. He didn’t even bother to come up with a convincing lie. When I’d called his boss the other day, the team leader had gone out of his way to assure me that Vito wouldn’t have any work during his wedding leave. He was not working overtime. He must have been at the hospital.

At midnight, the countdown on my phone’s wallpaper finally hit zero. I spent the night on the couch, barely getting any sleep. The next morning, I woke up early, washed up, and headed straight for the airport.

As I sat in the back of the cab, a sense of relief washed over me. The wedding wasn’t real, and I was glad he made me promise not to tell our families; that way, I wouldn’t have to deal with the mess of explaining it to my parents.

Once I arrived at the airport, I decided to call Vito one last time to officially end things. The phone rang only once before he rejected the call. A second later, he sent me a voice message.

“I’m on my way, can’t you wait? Why are you in such a hurry? I told you I’m not going to run away from the wedding, didn’t I? Lula even checked out of the hospital early just to come, but she got into a car accident on the way. Can’t you be more understanding for once? Just keep my friends entertained until I get there. Figure something out. We have to talk about your behavior.”

I listened to his message with a blank face, then calmly typed out a response，I hit send: [Let’s break up. You can have the wedding with Lula.]