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?"