Before my marriage to my fiancée, I stumbled upon her browsing a jewelry store with a young man.

From a distance, I watched as she playfully tried on an engagement ring I had custom-made and paid a hefty sum for, all under the teasing of the store clerks.

When confronted, she said, "He just thought the ring was pretty and wanted to try it on. Can't you be more magnanimous?"

Later, that man posted a photo online of the ring on his ring finger.

[Though I cannot fully possess you in this life, to have your favor is more than enough for me.]

…

As the workday wound down, Isabel Hill, my fiancée, texted me: [Ethan, I've booked a popular restaurant. I'll pick you up after work.]

This was the first message she sent me after our argument over her publicly adorning another man with a ring.

I recognized it as her subtle way of conceding, but I chose to ignore it.

Issues of principle are not something to be taken lightly.

In the past, I was always easy to appease.

After every quarrel, she would give me the silent treatment for a few days.

Once my anger subsided, she would reason with me.

I would invariably fall for her cooing words when she acted cute, finding fault within myself in the process.

This cycle led me to question my own character, wondering if there was something wrong with me.

My mother advised that, as a man, I should be more generous and accommodating to women.

So, I kept forgiving her unconditionally, yet she continued to disappoint me.

After this argument, she employed the same tactic, giving me the cold shoulder for four days, preferring to stay in the lab rather than come home.

I suddenly felt bored.

I couldn't fathom the purpose of persisting in this relationship.

Taking a deep breath, I focused on my work, deliberately ignoring her messages.

But as I stepped out of the office after work, I saw Isabel standing by the roadside with a gift in hand.

I intended to walk past her as if I hadn't noticed, but she approached me with a brisk step.

"Ethan, my car is parked over there. You're heading in the wrong direction."

She looked as if nothing had happened, as if the argument three days ago was forgotten.

I glanced at her indifferently and continued on my way.

Isabel followed me leisurely, her gaze fixed on me. "Ethan, my mom is waiting for us at the restaurant I booked. Can we go there first?"

I stopped and turned to look at her.

"We've broken up. I have no obligation to please your parents anymore."

Isabel comes from a scholarly family. Both her parents are university professors, strict in education and social conduct.

To match their standards, I worked tirelessly every day and spent weekends enduring their judgment.

For the so-called love, I had been enduring it in silence.

This life and relationship offered no reason for me to keep going.

So, I didn't want to continue.

"We were about to get married, and now you suddenly want to break up..." Isabel's emotions were agitated, her bright eyes showing a hint of anger and disappointment. "I always thought you were a reasonable and responsible man. So it turns out you can be this petulant."

I sneered, "I'm being petulant? You mean, seeing my girlfriend fawning over another man, I shouldn't be upset and should applaud instead?"

"I said the situation was special, with many people teasing. He's a thin-skinned guy. If I had refused at that moment, wouldn't I have embarrassed him on purpose?"

She still hadn't realized where she went wrong.

To be precise, she still considered her actions correct.

I looked at her coldly. "You have your reasons, but I have my limits. We are not on the same path. We are now broken up. You can find someone who understands you."

Isabel's face showed impatience. "How many times do I have to tell you? Are you done with your tantrum?"

The day she put the ring on Mason, I was treating friends to dinner.

They all witnessed it.

Since I always brought Isabel to gatherings, they knew her well.

Upon this, their eyes held sympathy and awkwardness for me.

I tried to make excuses for her.

I wanted to say there must have been a misunderstanding, but before I could speak, I saw Mason embracing her happily.

Isabel was stunned for a moment but did not push him away.

Instead, she smiled.

At that moment, I knew our relationship had come to an end.

Now, looking at her angry expression, I was unmoved.

I even felt it laughable.

"Isabel, since we can't stand each other now, let's just end it here and not waste any more time."

After saying this, I suddenly felt incredibly relieved.

Last month, we discussed marriage with our parents.

I had already envisioned our future, meticulously planning the application for the marriage license and the wedding date.

Isabel and I hadn't arranged everything yet, so breaking up now wouldn't involve any complications.

Thinking of this, I took the key to her house from my bag and handed it to her. "I won't be going to your place anymore. I've changed the locks on my door; you can just throw the key away."

Isabel didn't take it. She was angry.

She was about to say something when her phone rang in her pocket.

She looked at the screen, and Mason Bell's name was prominently displayed.

She hesitated, looking up at me.

Being close to her, I could see the name on her phone screen.

"Answer it. Maybe he needs you."

She hesitated for a moment but still answered the call in front of me.

Isabel spoke with him, her gaze still following me.

I was about to leave when she suddenly grabbed my wrist.

Mason said something on the phone, and she nodded in agreement. "Okay, we'll be there later."

After that, she hung up.

"Mason wants to apologize to you. If you won't attend my mother's appointment, you should go to this one at least, right?"

Hearing this, I suddenly felt she was so unfamiliar.

Although she was not overly dependent on her mother, she respected her mother the most.

I thought she would always put her mother first in everything, but she actually said such a thing.

When did Mason become more important in her heart than her mother?

To avoid further entanglement, I simply followed her to the appointment just to see what Mason was up to.

I got into her car, and a faint scent of rosemary filled the air.

I looked up and saw a small, exquisite pendant hanging in the front.

She had previously said she didn't like any pendants in the car, fearing they would affect her vision.

The lucky pendant my mother and I had personally chosen for her was now who-knows-where.

"Did you buy this?"

She glanced sideways and said casually, "I don't like shopping. I couldn't have bought this kind of thing."

Just after saying that, she seemed to realize her mistake, her expression tense. She explained, "This was a freebie when Mason bought something. He doesn't like this scent, so he left it here."

I remained indifferent to her explanation and kept silent.

We arrived at the restaurant, and Mason was already waiting at the table.

Seeing me, he was taken aback for a moment, then quickly regained his composure.

"Ethan, come sit down."

Mason led me to sit opposite him, and the waiter brought the menu.

"Isabel, you said Ethan likes seafood, so I ordered some..."

"No way."

Isabel immediately interrupted him, "Did you forget about your seafood allergy?"

"It's for Ethan. I won't touch it."

"Are you sure you can resist?"

With a disapproving frown, Isabel grabbed the menu from him, taking charge of the ordering.

Mason rested his chin on his hands, grinning at her.

Sitting by, watching them get along so effortlessly, I felt like the odd man out.

I felt my heart growing cold and even the air turning bitter, oppressively dense.

Back in the first half of the year, when Mason first joined Isabel's team, she would vent to me daily about his carelessness and obtuseness.

At first, I would tell her not to sweat the small stuff with him.

But soon, Mason's name was a constant presence in our conversations.

His name was in almost every sentence when she spoke to me.

Isabel's attitude toward him shifted from scolding to open admiration.

She said he reminded her of me back in the day—passionate about life and ambitious.

Mason's words yanked me back to the present.

"Ethan, I'm sorry about the last incident. Please don't stay mad at Isabel. We guys should be more gracious, you know? We have to look out for the ladies."

He was mouthing an apology, but it didn't sound like one at all.

It was more like a subtle dig at me.

His words were laced with blame, a hint of condescension.

The look in his eyes was almost taunting, but Isabel was oblivious.

Seeing I wasn't responding to Mason, she tried to nudge me.

I subtly dodged her touch, chuckled lightly, and said nonchalantly, "I'm not mad, actually. I should thank you."

In my mind, I added, "Thanks for showing me the light, for making me realize how foolish I was to cling to our relationship."

Isabel looked puzzled. "What are you thanking him for?"

"For helping me see you clearly, of course." I said with a faint smile, slowly rising to my feet.

"You two are quite the sight suddenly. Enjoy your meal. I'm off."

The grin on Mason's face vanished, replaced by a look of caution.

"Ethan, did I do something to upset you?"

Before I could say anything, Isabel's face flushed with anger. "Ethan, what's gotten into you? He apologized, and you're still being so aggressive. Do you enjoy this?"

I met her furious gaze, my voice calm.

"Watching you two squirm is pretty entertaining."

With that, I left the restaurant, ignoring their indignation.

Walking down the street, I glanced back.

Mason was talking with his head down.

Isabel moved her lips, offering a comforting pat on his shoulder.

Maybe she mentioned me, her face flushing with anger again.

I gave a self-mocking smile, my eyes slightly damp.

In a daze, memories of our past came to mind.

I met Isabel in college. I had known her for four years and dated for five.

After graduation, she opted for a particular research institute while I stepped into the workforce.

As a newcomer, I was clueless about office politics, taking the fall for many things and often feeling down.

To cheer me up, she braved her fear of heights and took me bungee jumping.

Afterward, her face pale, she still asked, "Are you feeling better? If not, let's do it again."

I asked her why she would do that.

She said, "I want you to be happy. Seeing you sad makes me sad too. Promise me, don't hold back your emotions by yourself anymore, okay?"

I wondered why such a considerate girl changed so suddenly.

I looked up at the starry sky, pushing down all the sour feelings in my heart.

Without the so-called love, I threw myself into my work.

I had no time for self-pity.

I put Isabel behind me, deliberately avoiding anything about her.

I started learning to enjoy activities alone, watching movies by myself, and enjoying life on my own.

Then I realized one could indeed live well alone.

My life used to be all about work and Isabel.

Without her, I focused on self-improvement.

Liam, my colleague and friend, joked when he saw me, "Are you working hard to earn baby formula money?"

I was stunned at his words.

I smiled faintly and said slowly, "I'm not planning on getting married anytime soon."

Now, he was the one stunned.

"That might have been a misunderstanding. You should talk to Isabel. If you get married, she'll naturally keep her distance from other men."

I paused my work for a moment, raised an eyebrow, and said, "I don't think marriage can bind anyone; otherwise, why are there so many affairs?"

It would be better to end it in time than live in chaos after marriage.

Besides, I didn't have to be with her.

"You have a point. Then get ready for a promotion. I heard our department manager is being transferred. With your qualifications, you'll ace the department manager role."

His words reignited my passion.

I had been working so hard, aiming for this position.

I had given up once for love.

Now with another chance, of course, I had to seize it.

After chatting with him for a bit, I refocused and continued to concentrate on my work.

I lost track of time when I got busy.

When I surfaced from my work, it was already dark.

I was the only one left in the huge office.

I stood up slowly and stretched my stiff body.

Then, I tidied up my desk and prepared to leave.

I got downstairs and saw a familiar figure.

Isabel was waiting outside, holding a delicate insulated lunch box.

When I came out, she was just looking at her wristwatch, her expression impatient.

However, seeing me, she dropped the impatience instantly.

"Ethan, I've been waiting for you."

She strode towards me. I glanced at her indifferently and walked towards the roadside.

"Ethan, you must be exhausted from working so late. This is the meal I made for you, all your favorites. Could you do me the honor of tasting it?"

Isabel quickly caught up, her eyes pleading and cautious as she spoke.

These were the looks I used to give her after our arguments when I would appease her.

She was using my method on me.

Love should be mutual.

We had been in love for several years, but she only understood that after our breakup.

"Isabel, please remember we have broken up."

"I didn't agree! Ethan, I don't understand why things have become like this between us. We were about to get married, and we had even set the wedding date. My parents also brought many valuable gifts to visit your parents. Can't you see our sincerity?"