Chapter 4
After moving into my new place, my best friend Summer came over to help me unpack. As soon as I saw her, all my emotions spilled over. I hugged her, and the tears came pouring out.
“Summer, the ring I spent six months designing is now on that awful woman's finger.”
She cursed sympathetically and soothed me by patting my back. “There, there, it’s going to be okay. How about I help you make a new ring?”
It took a while, but eventually, I managed to stop crying. The new apartment was a mess, so I wiped my eyes and began sorting through my belongings.
Even the safe was chaotic, with all the jewelry tangled together. My eyes landed on the engagement gift Alan had given me, now shattered into fragments. It was a beautiful diamond bracelet, once so brilliant and now lying in pieces. Just like our broken relationship.
Alan and I were brought together through his mother's matchmaking efforts. My mom and Melanie Owens, Alan's mother, were college friends. When I was a kid, my mom often took me to visit Melanie. She always welcomed me warmly and would joke that I should be her daughter-in-law, encouraging Alan to hang out with me.
Our family’s social standing wasn’t as high as the Armstrongs', and my mom often pushed me to befriend Alan and try to keep him happy. But Alan was distant, preferring to keep to himself, and most of the time we’d just sit quietly in a room doing our own thing.
Despite that, as a young girl, I admired this handsome, albeit cool, older boy. I thought he’d remain indifferent to everyone. That was until he turned seventeen and met Izabella.
Their relationship at school was intense and dramatic. It was hard to believe that Alan, groomed to be the perfect heir, would skip classes and get into fights for Izabella.
Matthew Owens, Alan’s father, tried to break them up, even threatening to send him to Europe. But Alan was steadfast, declaring, “Izabella is the light of my life. I won’t have anyone but her.”
However, Izabella’s family background was an issue. Her mother was the mistress to a wealthy man, making Izabella an illegitimate child. The Armstrongs wouldn’t accept someone with such a background into their family.
So Melanie used her influence, offering Izabella half a million pounds to study abroad in exchange for breaking up with Alan. Izabella took the money and left.
Alan’s resentment toward his mother deepened. For half a year, he was despondent. Then, suddenly, just before the university entrance exams, he got his act together, intent on succeeding, and returned to his old ways. He became less affectionate with his family, though.
I was twenty-three when, out of nowhere, Alan agreed to explore a relationship with me. We naturally transitioned into dating, got engaged, and moved in together.
Now, he’s a recognized success, the one in charge of the Armstrong family empire. With his old flame back in town, Alan quickly reignited their romance.
Tears fell steadily. I picked up the bracelet and threw it into the trash.
When you hesitate to act, chaos ensues. It’s better to make a clean break.
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