I could hardly believe it; he had the audacity to cheat on me so openly and still dare to question me.

As I opened the door, there stood Elias, his glare sharp and filled with fury. The moment he laid eyes on me, his brows knitted together in frustration.

With no hesitation, he began to hurl accusations at me, his voice filled with indignation. "Do you think marriage is just a game? You can’t simply call off an engagement because it suits you!"

He went on, “What’s with this tantrum? I’m already drowning in work, and now you want to add to my stress?”

The delivery man looked like a deer caught in headlights, but I remained composed as I took my food and thanked him.

My calmness seemed to provoke Elias even more as he seized the meal from my hands and flung it to the ground, sending it crashing everywhere.

The delivery guy stood there, bewildered, but I managed to suppress my anger and instructed him to leave before turning back to Elias, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

His face still retained its handsome allure, yet all the affection I once harbored for him had evaporated, replaced by a deep-seated disgust.

He crushed the food container underfoot, sneering, “You think this is over? You owe me an explanation! How can you even think of eating when we haven’t resolved this?”

This unreasonable and disrespectful side of him made me question everything I had ever loved about him.

Did I truly cherish his blatant disregard for me? Or perhaps it was his childish tantrums that had once drawn me in?

With a chilling gaze, I confronted him. “Do you really think there’s anything left for us to settle? Weren’t you already in Valeria’s bed last night?”

His expression flickered for just an instant, but he swiftly regained his composure, flashing a confident smirk. “Are you jealous? Is that why you called off the engagement? I know you’re not really serious about this. Just say you lost a game of truth or dare last night, alright?”

Exhausted? The nerve he had was astounding.

Of course, he was.

He had spent the entire night wrapped in the arms of another woman.

No apologies, no explanations, just the audacity to assume I couldn't live without him. But love had slipped through my fingers like sand, and I felt no ties remaining. “If you’re done talking, leave. If you want to get married, go find Valeria.”

I began to shut the door, but he wedged his hand in, the edge biting into his skin, leaving angry red marks in its wake.

When I finally released my grip and stepped back, he misread the gesture as a sign of softening, pulling me into his embrace.

The scent of another woman's perfume assaulted my senses, causing me to recoil in revulsion.

I instinctively pushed him away, my voice sharp as I demanded, “Get off me!”

His eyes widened in disbelief, shock etching his features. “Elsie, you’re telling me to get out?”

In the ten years of our relationship, I had never uttered a harsh word to him; this was the very first time.

He glared at me, a mix of anger and disbelief flashing in his eyes, but I stood my ground, unwavering.

Meeting his gaze with cold resolve, I declared, “Elias, I’ll say this one last time: we’re over. You wouldn’t want everyone to know you spent the night with Valeria on the eve of our engagement, would you?”

Startled, he still gripped my shoulder with his injured hand, his voice laced with incredulity. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything like that. Did someone tell you otherwise?”

Elias had always been forceful and overbearing, never once allowing a hint of vulnerability to surface in my presence.

In the past, I would have held his hand, shouldering all the blame myself.

But now, I sensed he wouldn’t grasp the truth until it struck him squarely in the face.

So, without hesitation, I pulled up the photo Valeria had sent me.

The moment he caught sight of it, his eyes narrowed. I couldn’t resist the urge to be sarcastic. “Look at the angle of this shot. Who do you think took it? She’s practically rubbing it in my face. Shouldn’t I just step aside gracefully and let you two enjoy your romance?”

I added, “I have no interest in playing out some cliché love triangle. May you and Valeria have a wonderful life together.”

His expression darkened, and he attempted to clarify, “Valeria has cancer.”

I let out a dry laugh. “And what does that have to do with me?”

His voice softened, almost regretful. “Her last wish was to have a fake wedding with me. I didn’t engage in anything with her last night, and I don’t even know when that picture was taken. Please, don’t think of me as some lowlife.”

I scoffed in disbelief. “So you felt sorry for your ex with cancer and abandoned me on the night before our engagement to pretend to marry her? There’s a picture of it, and now you’re accusing me of having a dirty mind? Elias, you truly are a model of nobility and kindness.”

I pressed on, “If you feel that strongly for her, why not make it official? Go ahead, announce it to everyone. Clearly, I’m not worthy of someone as compassionate as you.”

Elias’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, yet he stubbornly clung to my sleeve. “Stop saying that.”

Just as I was about to urge him to leave, my phone rang. It was Elias’s mother.

The moment he saw the caller ID, his demeanor shifted, and he pleaded, “My mom has a heart condition. Please don’t say anything that might upset her.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself before answering the call.

After all, Elias’s parents were nothing like him; they had always treated me with kindness and respect.

His parents persistently invited me for dinner, their hints suggesting they suspected something was amiss with Elias.

They even offered to apologize on his behalf if he had indeed done wrong.

Their humility and kindness were a refreshing contrast to Elias’s arrogant demeanor, a classic case of good parents raising a wayward son.

As I recalled how my ten years of devotion had been in vain, I felt a strong urge to hang up.

Nevertheless, despite my lingering bitterness, I found myself accepting their invitation.

After all, this wasn’t their fault, and calling off the engagement warranted an in-person discussion, a gesture of respect for them.

As soon as I agreed to join him for dinner, Elias's face lit up with a grin.

He reached out to wrap his arm around my shoulder, declaring, “I knew you still loved me.”

I instinctively stepped back to evade his touch and turned to retrieve my car. Elias stood there, frozen, a whirlwind of emotions reflected in his eyes.

I felt no obligation to his feelings anymore; I pressed down on the gas pedal and left without hesitation.

Once the engagement was settled, we would become two parallel lines destined to never intersect again.

Close behind me, Elias trailed in his car, sending messages from a new number every so often: [Are you going to visit my parents with that cold look on your face?]

[Can’t we just work things out and be good to each other from now on?]

I simply ignored him.

When I arrived, his parents had prepared a delightful spread of my favorite dishes, including a tempting plate of lychees I cherished.

“Elsie, you’re finally here! Come in, wash your hands, and let’s dig in!” they called out, encouraging me to step inside. “Don’t just linger there, come on in!”

In the past, I had always arrived bearing gifts whenever I visited, but this time I walked in empty-handed.

Still, they greeted me with the same warm hospitality, not a word about my lack of offerings.

Elias took off his coat and offered it to me, but I merely glanced at it before turning away, indifferent.

He was accustomed to being cared for, and he believed I would continue to look after him, but I had no intention of doing anything for him ever again.

He caught the chill in my gaze, and for a fleeting moment, his smile faltered before he awkwardly hung his coat back up.

Unbeknownst to his parents, the rift between us was far deeper than a mere disagreement.

“Couples argue at the head of the bed but reconcile by morning,” his mother said her voice light. “We might have spoiled Elias a bit, but if he’s done something wrong, just tell us, and we’ll sort it out. We’re still family.”

They cast me apologetic looks, urging Elias to offer some comforting words.

With a hint of grievance in his eyes, Elias turned to me. “I’m sorry.”

I replied with cool indifference, “No need to apologize.”

Stunned, he fell silent as I faced his parents, my voice steady and serious. “Last night, Elias and I ended our relationship. It appears I won’t have the opportunity to be part of your family.”

Elias looked at me in disbelief, a flash of anger flickering across his face.

He must have believed he had already humbled himself enough, unable to comprehend why I wouldn’t relent and forgive him.

But how could conflicts arise without leaving scars? What he had done would forever be a thorn in my heart, even if I chose to forgive him this time.

Thus, rather than prolonging the agony, I opted for a clean break.

The silence grew thick, and the atmosphere turned palpably tense. Just then, a notification chimed from Elias's phone, slicing through the stillness.

He quickly switched off the screen, but not before we caught a glimpse of the message: [Honey, I’m hungry. Can you bring me food at the hotel?]

Instantly, his parents’ faces darkened, and disapproval etched into their expressions as they turned their gaze to Elias.

A flicker of nervousness crossed his face. “It must’ve been sent to the wrong person,” he stammered.

Hearing this, his parents seemed somewhat relieved, and they placed a few pieces of meat on my plate.

Elias, too, added a piece of tacos, oblivious to my allergy; I had always avoided them like the plague.

Remembering the photo from the night before, my appetite vanished.

My eyes fell on a new ring adorning Elias’s finger, its design starkly different from the couple’s ring we had once shared.

It was undeniably a gift from another woman. The sight of him wearing another woman’s ring while attempting to reconcile with me felt utterly laughable.

Just as I prepared to put down my spoon and voice my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room. “Elias? Are you home? It’s me, Valeria.”

Elias’s parents wore puzzled expressions, but a flicker of happiness danced in Elias’s eyes as he awkwardly stood up.

“She’s a colleague. I have no idea why she would come by. I’ll get the door!” he announced.

The moment Valeria stepped in, she settled herself right beside Elias, deliberately showcasing the diamond ring on her finger while serving herself a generous portion of food. I scoffed, realizing how things truly were.

Elias placed a piece of tacos on her plate, his voice cheerful. “Didn’t you say you liked tacos? My mom cooked some today, just in time for you.”

So that was why he had served me tacos earlier. It was her favorite, not mine.

How ironic it was.

After ten years together, he had never once remembered my allergy to tacos. Yet, in three months, he recalled his first love’s preference as if it were etched in his memory.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Elias even had a heart.

Valeria smiled smugly, casting me a provocative glance.

“I didn’t expect you to remember what I like to eat. What a surprise,” she said, her tone dripping with condescension.

Elias’s expression shifted as they exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Their silent conversation was brimming with affection. They truly resembled a couple deeply in love.

Elias’s mother frowned, clearly perplexed. “Why are you only focused on serving yourself? Can’t you look after Elsie a bit more?”

Annoyed, Elias picked up his spoon and fork, though it was evident he did so reluctantly.

I simply pushed my bowl aside, placing the tacos he had served on the table. “Uncle, Auntie, I’ve had enough. Thank you for the meal.”

A hint of panic crossed Elias’s mother’s face. “You’ve barely eaten anything. Is the food not to your taste?”

His parents exchanged worried glances. “There’s no need to hold back. Eat as much as you’d like.”

It was clear they sensed what I was about to say and were trying to steer me away from it.

I stood my ground, shaking my head firmly. “Thank you, but I feel it’s necessary to explain what happened last night.”

I continued, “Because of certain incidents, I’ve come to realize that Elias and I aren’t right for each other, so I’ve already told him I wanted to break up. Although we won’t end up together, I still wish you both health and happiness.”

A stunned “what?” escaped his mother’s lips.