”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."

With each example I listed, my eyes grew more tearful.

"Lucas, you love her, and you've betrayed me. Do I need to go on?"

The line went dead with a click.

Lucas couldn't even manage a single apology.

What a coward he truly was.

—

Not long after that call, Lucas left town.

He went to Hereford for a business deal, with Holly tagging along.

I tried not to keep tabs on him, but Holly kept flooding social media with updates.

Fed up, I finally blocked her.

My life narrowed down to just the dance studio and home.

Before, I used to squeeze time out of my busy schedule to prepare Lucas's lunch.

I'd cook, pack it up, and trek all the way to his office, only to hear him say Holly's takeout tasted better.

Now all that saved time meant I could finally get proper rest.

No more dozing off at the studio, no more choking down bitter espressos, no more catching naps on hard benches.

A week later, Lucas returned.

He appeared at the studio entrance in a black checkered coat, cutting a striking figure with his hands in his pockets, blocking my path.

"Sophie, let's talk."

Lucas took me to Sunset Restaurant, where he'd once proposed.

Same center table, complete with flowers, applause, and a cellist playing softly - the atmosphere elegant and serene.

He passed me a slice of cake, his voice husky, "I've thought seriously about what you said that day.

"I can change.

"From now on, I'll be on your side."

I put a bite of cake in my mouth, saying nothing.

"I know I confused family with romance, sister with fiancée. I'll change, Sophie. Can you give me one more chance?"

Truth be told, my heart wasn't completely unmoved.

So when I met his earnest gaze and saw the diamond ring nestled in the cake, I felt that familiar flutter.

Slowly, I said, "Okay."

Lucas's tense expression instantly relaxed.

But just as he was about to slip the ring on my finger, a familiar ringtone cut through the air.

Lucas instinctively glanced at me, then slowly angled his phone away, dimming the screen - small gestures I caught perfectly.

The caller's identity was obvious.

I knew that ringtone - it was Holly's special one.

Lucas shot me a guilty look.

I lowered my head and spat out the cake.

He always used to give me that same guilty look when taking Holly's calls in front of me.

I'd pretend to be understanding, tell him it was fine.

Lucas had grown comfortable treading that line, enabled by my tolerance.

And here he was, doing it again.

"I - I should take this, Sophie. Holly wouldn't call unless it was something serious."

I neither agreed nor objected.

Holly's voice came through, "Brother, I'm so dizzy. Someone kept making me drink at the bar. What should I do? I'm scared..."

I saw the urgency flash across Lucas's face.

Sure enough.

He spoke into the phone, "Don't worry, I'll be right there."

After hanging up, Lucas tried to use promises to prove his earlier words were genuine, that he'd follow through.

He said, "Sophie, don't worry, this is the last time I'll help her. After this, I'll make everything clear with her."

I didn't look at him, just stared at the large diamond ring.

In the distance, the restaurant's evening show was beginning.

Fireworks suddenly burst across the night sky.

Every couple in the restaurant shared brighter smiles.

Except me, sitting alone.

Whether it was the proposal five years ago or tonight's reconciliation attempt, I always ended up abandoned here.

My phone buzzed with a message.

Opening it, I could practically see Holly's smug, triumphant expression between the lines.

"Sophie, he chose me again!"

The video she sent showed Lucas shielding her, fighting the men who had pressured her to drink.

I remembered what Holly had told me when leaving the studio that afternoon.

"He'll apologize to you tonight, but don't worry, he'll still take my side."

"He'll always choose me."

I won't lie - when Lucas apologized earlier, my resolve had wavered.

I'd thought that if he could really change, I'd give him one last chance.

But sadly, he couldn't even do that.

—

Two days later, I went to apply for my international visa.

After finishing the paperwork, I took the ring to visit Aunt Larson at the nursing home.

I'd been there several times.

During my previous visits, she hadn't been lucid enough to recognize me.

Fortunately this time, her mind was clear, and she called me "little Sophie."

I told her about recent events and why I'd come.

Aunt Larson held the ring, staying silent for a long while.

She looked up with sadness in her eyes.

"When you were children, you were always together. Lucas would tell me he wanted to marry you when he grew up. Later, he begged me to arrange the marriage with your mother. I thought your love would blossom and bear fruit, but instead, it wasted so many years of your life. I'm so sorry, dear."

"Lucas has wronged you too."

My eyes welled up with tears as I shook my head.

"Lucas taught me what love feels like, and also that you can't force someone to love you."

"Aunt Larson, this is my choice."

She tore up the wedding invitation, handed the ring back to me, and said, "Sophie, I wish you all the happiness in the world."

—

About two weeks later, I successfully got my visa.

I boarded my flight to Italy.

I was still wearing the engagement ring.

As the cabin door closed, I couldn't resist raising my phone to capture the sunset.

Aiming my camera at the window, I caught sight of an impossible figure.

Lucas.

The next moment, the flight attendant announced there were weather changes and asked us to return to the waiting area.

The passengers looked at the perfectly clear sky, unable to hold back their complaints and questions.

"You're saying we can't fly in this weather?"

"Are you serious? Is there a mistake with your instruments?"

"I timed this perfectly to meet my wife! Just my luck!"

Carrying my backpack, I followed the flight attendant toward Lucas.

His usually composed face showed a rare hint of panic as he wrapped his arms around me and spoke softly, "Why didn't you tell me you were going to Italy for advanced training?"

I pushed him away and glanced at the confused passengers watching us, my expression blank. "You shouldn't be here."

Lucas grabbed my hand and pressed the ring from that night into my palm.

"Sophie, I'm here to marry you. Let's go get married right now, okay?"