Chapter 2
Listening to the cold, relentless "beep-beep-beep" on the other end of the line, my heart seized with pain.
Seven years, more than two thousand days and nights, all spent chasing a misguided love—how could that not tear someone apart?
In the end, the sense of superiority Christian held in our relationship was something I had unwittingly fostered.
I met him during freshman orientation at college. He was a first-year student, glowing with confidence. Many girls were drawn to him, and I was no exception. I fell for him at first sight and embarked on a three-year journey of unrequited love.
Come rain or shine, I brought him breakfast daily, helped him solve various issues, and went out of my way to take the same elective classes he did. Over those three years, a stream of admirers came and went, but I stayed true. Unfortunately, he was always hot and cold, leaving me unable to decipher his true feelings.
As graduation neared, I finally decided to end my feverish pursuit. But just one day after I stopped bringing him breakfast, Christian showed up outside my dorm for the first time one morning, holding hot bagels and coffee.
"Elianna, I never said it was over. How dare you give up?"
That day marked the beginning of our relationship, completely disrupting the life plan my family had for me. I didn’t return to London, didn’t take over my father’s company, but willingly stayed in Christian's small, almost forgotten hometown. For his sake, I didn't complain when he wanted to live with his parents; I moved in with them in a cramped, worn-out apartment of only 600 square feet for seven years.
My family tried countless times to persuade me. Born into privilege, I could have lived easily and comfortably. Why was I choosing hardship? But he was Christian, the man I loved from the start, the one I wanted to stand by.
Christian claimed to have a fear of marriage, which is why we never tied the knot.
"Elianna, I'm sorry. I want to give you a home, but I'm just too scared of marriage. I can’t overcome that hurdle in my heart."
"I'm sorry. I know it's unfair to you."
He repeated these words countless times over the years, and each time, I just held him tightly, full of pity.
"It's okay. As long as we're together, who needs a wedding?"
At the time, I foolishly believed I was the happiest woman alive. Until Brooke Black came back into the picture. That’s when Christian started reconnecting with her. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but soon it felt wrong.
"Brooke's been feeling unwell these past few days. I’m worried and won’t be coming home tonight."
"It's Brooke's birthday today. She doesn't have many friends here, so I'll have dinner with her."
"Brooke is going on a business trip. As a woman, she needs someone to look after her, so I'll go with her for a few days."
Christian came home less and less, and his attitude toward me grew colder. He couldn't complete three sentences without mentioning Brooke. I argued with him, asking him to keep his distance from Brooke. But whenever I brought her up, Christian would jump to her defense.
"Brooke and I grew up together. She’s been through a lot. Am I wrong to take care of her a bit?"
"Elianna, I'm a person, and I have the right to choose my friends! You’re being too controlling!"
His mother always chimed in to support him:
"Elianna, you're overthinking things. I've known Brooke since she was little; she and Christian are like siblings!"
"Besides, Brooke’s doing great in her career. She could be a big help to Christian, unlike you—with no skills and overly petty!"
"If Christian had married Brooke, they’d be much better off now!"
No skills? Petty? A chill ran down my spine.
Christian, I sacrificed everything to be with you. I left my family behind, refused a life of privilege. If not for you, I would have taken over our family business by now, worth millions. Instead, I lived like a servant, catering to you and your parents, only to be mocked for lacking skills when I talked about another woman.
Why did I put up with it all? Because I loved you. Your needs were my top priority, above everything else.
But time wears away everything. Seven years passed, and Christian forgot everything, leaving only endless disappointment and relentless blame for me. Even I could grow tired.
Eventually, I began to accept it. Instead of fighting, I chose avoidance. Gradually, I retreated, silently enduring.
At the beginning of the year, Christian seemed to change his mind. He finally suggested we have a wedding. I was overjoyed, thinking that if I was compliant enough, this man was still mine.
Only now do I realize how wrong I was. My compliance only emboldened Brooke, and my value in Christian’s life faded. He even left me on our wedding day for Brooke, taking family photos with her and someone else's child.
I'll never forget the helplessness of standing alone in the hotel lobby, the sympathetic glances from passersby, and the shock of seeing his post online. Christian, this time I’m truly letting go.
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