In the Arms of Another

It had been five years since I started dating Ross Jenner. His family invited my mother and me to their family home in Fellaton to discuss our wedding plans and to spend Valentine's Day together.

It was past 10:00 PM when my mother and I landed, but Ross wasn't there to pick us up because his college junior, Laurel Elledge, had just arrived in Fellaton.

He told me to figure out a way to get a cab to the house myself.

In a strange place, unfamiliar with the area, it wasn't long before we found ourselves in danger. Just over ten minutes outside the airport, we were robbed.

My mother was injured while trying to protect me, and she collapsed, bleeding heavily.

Desperate, I held onto her, frantically trying to call Ross.

Each call was abruptly cut off, and when I finally reached him, he sounded irritated.

"Jennifer, you're an adult, so stop acting like a child. You couldn't even hail a cab on the street? Laurel just got to Fellaton and isn't feeling well. I need to take care of her."

Without waiting for a response, he hung up.

I tried calling again, only to find that I had been blocked.

In the end, my mother's injuries were too severe, and she bled out before the doctors could save her.

As I stared at her lifeless body, tears flowed uncontrollably.

When I finally checked my phone again, the first thing I saw was a picture Ross had posted on Twitter.

In the photo, he was kissing Laurel and holding a bouquet of roses.

[Spending Valentine's Day with the one I love most.]

I quietly threw the gifts I had brought from home into the trash.

Then, I left a comment, which said, [Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.]

I had barely set my phone aside when Ross Jenner called.

"Jennifer, are you done throwing your tantrum? We invited you and Diana to Fellaton with good intentions. You're late, and I'll let that slide, but why did you leave that comment on my Twitter? My siblings came all the way from Bulgoria to welcome you, and Laurel even prepared a home-cooked meal for you even though she's sick."

I listened to his angry words in silence, my heart completely dead at that moment as I looked at my mother's body.

When he finished speaking, I calmly responded, "It's not appropriate for us to spend Valentine's Day together. You two go ahead and enjoy the meal."

"What did you say?" Ross's voice immediately rose in anger. "The reason I invited you here was to discuss our marriage. If you're going to act like this, forget about the wedding."

"Fine, as you wish." I agreed without hesitation. "Let's break up."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

Ross and I had met at work in Ameesia. We had encountered all kinds of problems a couple would in our five years of dating, but we had never