When my friend moved abroad and asked me to rent out their flat, I thought it would be a good opportunity for Lucy to move in.

I never expected Lucy to burst into tears, clinging to me and begging not to be kicked out.

Just as I was trying to calm her down, Gregory walked into the house. He took one look at the scene and immediately stood protectively in front of her.

"Rosalie, where’s your kindness? How dare you bully Lucy behind my back?" he snapped.

Then, turning to her, he said gently, "Don’t worry, Lucy. This is my house. No one has the right to kick you out."

I forced myself to remain calm and tried to explain. "It’s not that. I just think it’s inconvenient for Lucy to live with us all the time. My friend’s flat is nearby and she’d be more comfortable living on her own."

But instead of listening, Gregory accused me of being narrow-minded.

"Lucy is trying to make it on her own in Edinburgh. She’s still finding her way—she even gets lost at the company sometimes. How can I trust that she’ll manage alone?"

Then he looked me over suspiciously, his expression turning condescending. "Or is it that you’re jealous of Lucy? Afraid she’ll take me from you?"

I stared at him, stunned, barely able to believe the words coming out of his mouth. This was the same man who once swore he’d love only me for the rest of his life.

Suddenly, he felt like a stranger—one I didn’t recognize and was terrified to confront.

Our relationship devolved into a cold war. I moved into the bedroom and he slept in the study.

In the past, these standoffs never lasted more than half a day, Gregory would always be the first to apologize. But this time, the silence dragged on for two weeks.

One morning, I opened the door to find him coming out of Lucy’s bedroom.

He explained nonchalantly, "Lucy had a fever last night. I didn’t want to wake you, so I stayed in her room to take care of her."

It was then that I began to notice subtle shifts in our dynamic.

Lucy stopped coming to me when she needed help. Instead, she went directly to Gregory. Even for things as trivial as needing tampons, she’d ask him to run to the store for her.

Gregory, too, began withdrawing from me. He barely spoke to me and spent all his time at home hovering around her.

Last weekend, neither of them came home.

When I called, I found out Lucy’s mother had fallen ill and Gregory had rushed to the countryside with her after work.

For two days, they didn’t answer my messages or return my calls.

On the third day, when they finally came back, I opened the door to find them in a tight embrace.

Lucy was sobbing into his chest. "Gregory, my heart belongs to you. I can’t bear to lose you..."

He stroked her hair gently. "Don’t worry. I won’t let you marry someone else. I’ll marry you myself."

It wasn’t until they finally separated that they noticed me standing frozen in the doorway.

Gregory pulled me aside, his face lined with frustration.

"Lucy’s mother is gravely ill and doesn’t have much time left. Her only wish is to see Lucy married. To honor her, Lucy was planning to marry some random man," he explained.

He sighed, his voice filled with what sounded like genuine regret. "I can’t just stand by and watch that happen. What’s more, the villagers already think I’m Lucy’s boyfriend. If I don’t marry her, her reputation will be ruined."

My heart ached and tears rolled down my face. "And what about me?"

Gregory frowned, straightening his back. "Rosalie, you’re being selfish. Right now, Lucy needs me more than you do."

He continued, tone calm but dismissive, "I’m not abandoning you. I’m just giving Lucy a wedding."

I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

He betrayed me, hurt me and still had the audacity to paint me as the selfish one.

Had he forgotten why he had proposed to me so hastily earlier this year?

It was because my grandmother, nearing the end of her life, had wanted to see me in a wedding dress before she passed.

Gregory had knelt before me then, promising my grandmother that he would cherish me for the rest of my life.

The wedding date was set, the dress chosen and the invitations sent. Yet it wasn’t my wedding.

That evening, Lucy brought me tea, her expression dripping with mockery.

"Rosalie, even if your family is wealthier than mine, what does it matter? Brother Gregory still chose me."

As she spoke, the teacup in her hand tipped over, spilling scalding tea onto my leg. I jumped in pain, instinctively letting out a cry.

At the same time, Lucy shrieked dramatically, clutching her hand.

Gregory came rushing in, his attention immediately on her. He grabbed her hand with a mix of panic and tenderness, inspecting the redness from the spill. Then he turned on me, his voice filled with reproach.

"Rosalie! Lucy came to apologize to you and this is how you repay her? How could you be so cruel as to burn her like this?"

Before I could respond, he was already pulling Lucy away to treat her injury, leaving me standing there, my knee burning and the skin already broken from the scalding.

"Rosalie, do you think this wedding dress suits me?"

Lucy’s voice snapped me out of my memories. I looked at the phone she handed me.

On the screen was a photo of her wearing a stunning, luxurious wedding dress—my wedding dress.

She smiled smugly. "Brother Gregory said you’d already paid for this dress, so I thought, why waste it? I’ll take it."

Before she left, she flaunted the diamond ring on her finger, twisting her hand in the light.

"Rosalie, isn’t this ring beautiful? Brother Gregory picked it out just for me."

Watching her saunter away, my hands balled into fists at my sides. The cold metal of my own diamond ring pressed into my skin—a ring I had worn for five years.

It was the first gift Gregory had bought me when he earned his first paycheck.

His promise echoed in my mind.

"Rosalie, this ring is my commitment to you. I’ll never marry anyone else in this life. And on our wedding day, I’ll give you a bigger, shinier diamond ring."

I slipped the ring off my finger and tossed it into the trash without hesitation.

Then I packed my bags, moved into my friend's vacant flat and left the place I once called home.

The next day, Gregory finally noticed my absence.

He called me, his tone filled with frustration.

"Where are you? Lucy found the ring I gave you in the trash. What’s the meaning of this?"

He didn’t wait for me to answer.

"I’ve explained everything to you. Can you stop being so unreasonable? It’s just a wedding and a ring! Whatever Lucy has, I’ll make sure you have, too."

He paused before adding, "You’ve already waited for me for so many years—what’s two more?"

I felt a wave of clarity wash over me. My voice was steady as I said, “Gregory, we’re over."

Then I hung up, blocked his number and cut off all contact.

I submitted my resignation the same day.

A week later, I finished handing over my work. My colleagues threw me a farewell dinner and the atmosphere was surprisingly lighthearted—until a male colleague, drunk and emboldened, decided to confess to me in front of everyone.

This man was notorious for his shameless flirting and I rejected him politely but firmly.

Feeling humiliated, he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"I’ve heard all about you. Your rich boyfriend dumped you and is marrying someone else. It’s a miracle anyone would want you, so why act all high and mighty?"

His vulgar tone sent a chill down my spine. I opened my mouth, ready to shut him down, when a shadow moved past me.

In a flash, a fist connected with the man’s face, sending him sprawling to the floor.

Gregory stood over him, radiating cold fury.

"Do you think a scumbag like you has the right to insult my woman?" he said icily.

The room erupted in chaos. My colleagues whistled and cheered, their voices blending into a cacophony of gossip and excitement.

For a fleeting moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, Gregory still cared for me.

But as soon as we stepped outside, he dropped my hand, his face impatient and cold.

"Let’s end this charade already," he muttered.

"Break up with me and you’ll never find another boyfriend as good as me," Gregory declared smugly.

I stared at him coldly, my voice steady. "Why are you here?"

He smirked and handed me a wedding invitation.

"I’m here to personally invite you to my wedding with Lucy. She said you’re her only good sister in Edinburgh and hopes to have your blessing."

The audacity of his words struck me like a blow, but I maintained my composure. I forced a smile.

"Of course. I wish you a happy wedding."

Relief washed over his face, as if my response justified his betrayal.

"Now that’s more like it," he said with a self-satisfied grin. "Don’t worry, once her mother’s wish is fulfilled, I’ll give you an even grander wedding!"

I didn’t respond. Inside, my heart was filled with cold amusement.

Gregory, I don’t need anything from you anymore.

That afternoon, I boarded a flight back to London.