The day after we set our wedding date for the tenth time, my fiancé reached past me to kiss his adopted sister.

He presented crimson roses to her as she descended from the stage.

"My princess, in this lifetime, I'll only ever be your protector."

I stood quietly beyond the cheering crowd, then turned and walked away without looking back.

After five years of engagement, this was the moment I finally gave up hope.

That evening, I went to see Lucas Larson with our wedding invitations from five years ago and engagement ring we'd exchanged at our engagement party.

"Let's call off the engagement."

My voice was completely devoid of emotion.

Lucas's beautiful eyes studied me for a long while.

Then, he leisurely leaned back on the sofa, looking at me through narrowed eyes. "Sophie Tucker, what kind of joke is this?"

I shook my head. "I'm serious." As if to emphasize that this was a well-thought-out decision, I added, "I've been thinking about this for years."

The last rays of sunset streaming through the window cast shadows across the sofa, making Lucas's expression appear even darker.

After a long moment, he nodded and stood up, saying dismissively, "Whatever. I'm busy. Take your ring with you."

Without a word, I walked past him into the study and saw the aged wedding invitation.

I picked up the ring we'd exchanged, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up.

Lucas and I had been together for ten years. We were supposed to get married five years ago, but after Holly Ruben appeared, our wedding date kept getting pushed back.

During these five years, I'd wanted to end this relationship countless times, only to regret it just as often.

But not this time.

From today onward, Lucas and I would have nothing to do with each other.

Walking out of the study, I was surprised to see Lucas still there – I thought he'd left.

He stood silently in the living room, as if waiting for me.

I walked past, trying to ignore him and leave.

But Lucas blocked my path, frowning. "Sophie, if this is about today, you've got it all wrong."

I kept my head down as I listened to his self-righteous tone.

Was I really wrong?

This morning, he'd promised Holly he'd be her sole protector.

Last time, he'd used his influence to pressure everyone on behalf of Holly, taking away my opportunity to perform.

The time before that, he'd kissed Holly right in front of me just to win a game.

Were all of these misunderstandings?

For the first time, I didn't respond to Lucas's condescending attempt at reconciliation.

All these years, I'd always been the one to compromise, to make peace. During every argument, I'd come running back at his slightest gesture.

But never again.

We were done.

—

The next day at dance practice, I ran into Holly backstage.

She was chatting with the new junior dancers, her posture radiating elegance.

When Holly saw me passing by, she reached out to block my path, her expression challenging.

In the past, I would have followed Lucas's wishes.

I would have yielded to her, politely said hello, or taken another route.

But now, I slapped her slender arm away.

Holly seemed shocked by my action. Wincing in pain, she pulled back her arm, then stormed over and shoved me hard, snapping, “Sophie, have you lost your mind? Do you know who you're dealing with?"

I steadied myself, my expression calm. "I do."

"The Larson family's precious daughter, our dance company's darling."

Five years ago, Lucas had met Holly when she was visiting the orphanage where he was doing charity work.

Because his company needed good publicity at the time, Lucas had immediately adopted her as his sister and brought her home.

What started as a publicity move somehow turned into Lucas's unconditional devotion to her.

And then came the constant postponements of our wedding.

Holly's affairs became Lucas's top priority.

The first time Lucas stood me up for Holly was on my birthday.

The family driver had secretly told me Lucas was planning to propose that day.

Lucas wasn't exactly the romantic type.

I didn't want my life's next chapter to begin in some unremarkable setting.

So I reserved the best table at the Sunset Restaurant.

I sat in the center of that beautifully romantic restaurant, surrounded by flowers and applause, using my dinner knife to cut into an exquisite little cake.

A ring appeared, gleaming in the sweet-scented air.

I was overjoyed.

But the next moment, Holly showed up.

"Brother, I think I have a fever."

The moment he saw Holly, Lucas stopped his proposal mid-motion and walked toward her.

My smile vanished.

The "what are you doing?" on my lips met his cold stare and turned into "Should we take her to the hospital together?"

He frowned, staring at the ring as if deep in thought, then said coldly, "Sophie, be understanding. Holly's still young. What if her fever leads to complications?"

Perhaps women's intuition is especially keen.

That day, watching him leave with Holly under his protective arm, I suddenly realized Lucas didn't belong to me.

But even the strongest intuition couldn't overcome falling for him again and again.

Repeatedly falling in love, repeatedly walking through fire for love.

How many times had Lucas stood me up for Holly?

So many times I've lost count.

Just then, Holly's sharp voice cut through the entire floor.

"You know all this and you still dare to—"

I snapped back to the present and calmly interrupted her, "How is any of this your business?"

Before, not only did Lucas protect her, but he made me yield to her too.

My unconditional compliance had only fueled Holly's arrogance.

More than once, she'd stolen my performance opportunities, my dance costumes, my instructors.

And even my fiancé.

I no longer wanted to dwell on what she'd taken before.

And I no longer wanted to give way to her.

"Lucas and I have ended our engagement."

She stared at me as if she hadn't understood, dumbfounded. "W-what?"

In her eyes, I saw disbelief, and a hint of barely concealed joy.

After all, Lucas was wealthy and powerful, handsome, owned a public company, and had limitless potential.

Who would be foolish enough to leave him?

But I was willing to trade that foolishness for genuine love.

I didn't respond. My continued silence and composure spoke volumes to Holly.

Seeing I wasn't joking, her face lit up with joy. "Really? You really left him?"

Unaffected by the delight in her eyes, I looked at her steadily and spoke again calmly.

"Yes, it's over between us."

"As for you, you don't have to just call him 'brother' anymore."

The moment I finished speaking, Holly quickly threw her dance clothes to a junior dancer nearby and rushed off.

I knew she was going to find Lucas.

The junior dancers looked at me nervously. "Senior, are... are you okay?"

I shook my head, forcing my lips into a smile. "I'm fine."

—

I spent the entire morning practicing in the quiet studio.

When I finally made my way backstage, panting and drenched in sweat, a friendly girl from the next table came over and handed me a bottle of water.

I took it gratefully, thanking her, and noticed she was mumbling something while scrolling through her phone.

”Holly's dating someone? He looks kind of familiar."

I froze, instinctively pulling out my phone to check Holly's Instagram.

She'd posted a photo of herself holding hands with Lucas at the orphanage.

The caption read: "After all these years, we're finally walking side by side."

Posted at 12:07 - December 7th, the day they first met.

I pressed my lips together, the sweat on my forehead no longer bothering me.

The photo of Lucas dressed as Santa at my birthday party still sat prominently on my desk.

Without hesitation, I took apart the frame, walked to the shredder, and fed the photo in.

The machine slowly turned the photo into confetti.

Gone without a trace.

I returned to my seat and took a long drink of water.

By evening, I was dragging my exhausted body out of the dance studio.

My phone rang with a familiar tone.

I hesitated for thirty seconds before pulling it from my pocket.

A wave of disappointment and hurt washed over me.

"Sophie, when did you and Lucas..."

"Mom, we called off the engagement," I cut her off.

After hearing my explanation, Mom said, "What are you thinking? You're almost 30, and you dare to break off an engagement? Who's going to marry you now?"

"Besides, this marriage was arranged between me and Sarah Larson. Even though she has Alzheimer's now, we can't go back on our promise. You need to explain this to her yourself!"

I hung up and walked alone down the street.

The city was alive with lights from countless windows, but not one of them shone for me.

I thought I would always be alone.

My phone rang again.

I glanced at it and answered, "Hello, Ms. Parker."

Her voice came through, "There's an advanced program at the Royal Ballet School in London. If you refuse again, Holly will take the spot..."

"I'll go!"

"Don't worry, Ms. Parker. From now on, I won't give up any more opportunities the company offers me."

She went on about how glad she was that I'd finally come to my senses.

I smiled bitterly.

It wasn't about coming to my senses. I just finally understood that what's mine shouldn't be given away.

And what isn't mine, I shouldn't force to keep.

—

The next day, I took time off, planning to sleep in.

But early in the morning, I was jolted awake by my phone.

Lucas's cold voice cut through the line, "Have you lost your mind? You actually told the family about breaking off the engagement? Sophie, you're 30! You're not some young girl in her twenties like Holly. Can't you think things through before acting?"

His shouting cleared the fog from my drowsy mind.

"Lucas."

"You're in love with Holly, aren't you?"

There was a long silence on the other end.

After what felt like forever, he spoke as if he'd made some decision, "Sophie, I only love Holly like a sister."

"You and I are the ones who should be getting married."

Staring at the ceiling, I suddenly realized how cowardly this man I'd loved for ten years really was.

"Lucas, the first time you abandoned me for Holly was on my birthday. That day, you were determined to marry me, and just as determined to leave me for her."

"The second time you disregarded my feelings for Holly was at the dance company party. You drank in her place, and kissed her to help her win that game, telling me it was just part of the game."

"The third time you chose Holly over me, you knew performing on stage was my dream. You knew that opportunity was mine, but you still used your position as an investor to steal it for Holly."