Dinnertime arrived.

Mrs. Louis, ever the attentive host, worried about my comfort. She even asked her son, Lucian, to peel some crayfish for me.

Lucian's frown said it all.

He despised these crustaceans, finding them both troublesome to eat and unappetizing.

I remembered a similar scene from a previous visit when he had asked, bewildered, Why would anyone eat these parasite-ridden things

His comment had put me off crayfish entirely.

I had lied, saying I didn't like them.

Clearly, Lucian's opinion hadn't changed, as he eyed the crayfish with disgust.

Smiling weakly, I reached for a disposable glove.

It's okay, Mrs. Louis. I can manage.

Mrs. Louis's smile faltered as she shot Lucian a disapproving look before turning back to me with forced cheerfulness.

Liana, perhaps sensing the tension, chimed in. Wendy, you're so good at peeling them! I love crayfish but never learned how.

I calmly popped a peeled crayfish into my mouth.

Really There are plenty of online tutorials you could check out.

Lucian, looking annoyed, slowly put on a glove and began peeling crayfish for Liana, gently explaining the technique.

The irony of the situation almost made me laugh.

If his parents weren't present, I might have said something I'd regret.

Mrs. Louis, clearly uncomfortable, coughed and said, Don't play favorites, Lucian. Take care of Wendy too.

Reluctantly, Lucian peeled one for me.

But by then, my appetite had vanished.

I didn't touch another crayfish for the rest of the meal,

leaving Lucian's offering conspicuously untouched in my bowl.

After the meal, that crayfish still remained in the bowl, particularly conspicuous.

As the meal ended, I smiled politely. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Louis, for your hospitality.”

“However, there's something I need to tell you. Lucian and I have broken up. I'm sorry to disappoint you.

Mr. and Mrs. Louis sat in stunned silence. Lucian clenched his fists, staring at me without a word.

Liana, her eyes brimming with tears, asked in a weak voice, Wendy, Lucian treats you so well. Why are you breaking up Can't you stay together

Her innocent act made my stomach churn.

I could barely keep my composure as I replied with a faint smile, Don't you know the reason

Wendy! Lucian cut in, his face dark with displeasure. I've told you before, Liana is like a sister to me. Stop being unreasonable.

Liana's expression faltered, her smile fading.

I looked at Lucian calmly, suddenly feeling drained.

Slowly, I stood up and addressed the confused elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Louis, thank you for your kindness. I'd love to treat you to a meal sometime. I just remembered I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now.

Mrs. Louis, sensing the tension, reluctantly stood up. Alright then. I made some mango mille-feuille. Let me pack some for you to take home.

Before I could refuse, she hurried to the kitchen.

I left Lucian's house and took a taxi home with my suitcase.

I hadn't been there for two days, and as I entered, I noticed the corridor was spotless. There was no trace of the wedding preparations that had once filled the space.

I lived in a rented house not far from Lucian's. He'd asked me to move in with him before.

But I'd always refused, not wanting to give up my place with its annual lease.

Looking back, it was one of the few good decisions I'd made.

My best friend Amanda came over with her child as soon as she heard I was back.

While playing with her kid's toy, she asked, Wendy, how did you find out about him getting a hotel room with someone else

My smile faded as I explained, I'd used his phone to book a hotel once and entered my number. I forgot to change it back.

That simple oversight had shattered my beautiful dream.

Amanda, always passionate and outspoken, didn't hold back. It's unbelievable. Lucian seemed decent, but he's worse than an animal. Good thing you found out before the wedding. Discovering this after marriage would have been like eating dirt.

Amanda has always been a passionate person, never holding back when criticizing others.

Her blunt words lifted my gloomy mood a bit.

Don't worry, she continued, there are plenty of men out there. You're a great catch yourself. You'll find someone suitable.

I smiled warmly, agreeing.

I am pretty great, after all. No need to put myself down over someone who doesn't matter.

I adjusted my mood and returned to work.

Colleagues who knew about my wedding plans congratulated me.

Their smiles warmed my heart,

though a hint of sadness followed.

Who would have thought I'd be single again before they finished the wedding candies I'd given them

During lunch, a coworker whispered.

Wendy, you're not planning to get pregnant soon, are you Everyone knows that manager position is yours. Choosing family now would be such a waste.

I'd worried about this before, torn between the promotion within reach and the small family I thought I was building.

Now, that dilemma had solved itself in the most unexpected way.

Don't worry, I told my coworker, I won't be making such plans for the next few years.

Oh Won't your husband mind she asked, surprised.

I smiled faintly. No one has the right to interfere with my decisions.

She looked stunned for a moment, then gave me a thumbs up. You're so level-headed! But you're right, it's our life. No one else should dictate how we live it.

A wave of bitterness washed over me. If I were truly level-headed, I wouldn't have let things go this far before walking away.

After that conversation, I threw myself into work, deliberately avoiding anything related to Lucian.

I discovered that when you really want to avoid someone, it's surprisingly easy.

For five straight days, I didn't see him once.

Just when I thought he'd given up, he showed up at my door.