I Changed My Husband After a Crash

As I head to see my boyfriend, Howard Schultz, who is working late, I get into a car accident. I call him dozens of times for help, but he doesn't answer a single one. Staring at his brightly lit office building not far away, I sink into despair.

When I wake up in the hospital, I see a post from his subordinate. It's a picture showing the reflection of the two of them in the glass door, standing far closer than they should, with the caption, "What do I do when my boss is scolding me late at night?"

Unwilling to believe it, I call him again. This time, he finally answers.

My voice trembles. "Howard, I got into a car accident…"

"Celine, I'm still working. I'll send my assistant to take care of it, okay? Be good. I'll see you after I come back from my business trip."

I try to say more, but his angry shout suddenly cuts through the line. "Crystal Jennings! You're only allowed to bring one suitcase for this trip. Why do you have three? Do you think we're going on vacation?"

Crystal Jennings—the new intern Howard just hired.

I stare at the disconnected call, tears drying on my cheeks.

I then call my parents instead. "I agree to the engagement you arranged."

My boyfriend, Howard Schultz, poured all his time and energy into that troublesome new intern of his, Crystal Jennings. Even when I nearly died in a car accident, he spent the night coaching her and whisked her away on a business trip.

When I gave him a final birthday surprise, he lost it.

…

My parents were over the moon when I agreed to the arranged marriage they'd been pushing for. They instantly transferred another 200,000 dollars into my account.

"Celine, you've finally come to your senses. Howard is poor and has no future. He's been running that company for five years and it still hasn't gone public. He can't give you a good life."

"The Zimmerman family's second son is better than him in every possible way. Trust us. You won't regret this."

My parents had never approved of my relationship with Howard, and because I was blindly devoted to him, things at home were always tense.

It had been a long time since I'd seen my parents this happy. A complicated mix of emotions rose in my chest. I couldn't tell if it was grief or relief.

After hanging up, I checked my phone and saw that Crystal had updated her social media again.

"POV: Travelling with a ridiculously manly, boyfriend-material boss."

The photo showed Howard pushing three suitcases. His briefcase had a cute little plush keychain dangling from it—the matching pair to the one Crystal had posted before.

There was a time when I loved all these couple-themed things—matching toothbrushes, slippers, keychains, and even clothes. But Howard refused to use any of them with me.

"Celine, I'm a CEO. I can't walk around with this stuff. I keep all