Love Is Lost

Dad has a stroke and needs money to save his life. I'm left with no choice but to borrow money from my secret CEO boyfriend of five years.

Before I can even say anything, he frowns and tells me he's busy. Then, he hurries off to attend his childhood sweetheart's birthday celebration.

He only remembers me the following day. "What did you need?"

I hold Dad's death certificate and smile wanly at him. "Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that we're over."

Light snow drifted from the sky as I asked the man standing next to me in front of the tombstone, "I had an ex-boyfriend of five years. Are you still willing to marry me?"

"I'm willing." The man wrapped a scarf around my neck, his eyes gentle yet firm. "Sydney, I like you far more than you can imagine."

My fingers tightened around my bag, but I didn't shy away from the scarf.

"Alright, give me five days. We'll get married then."

Then, I asked him to leave first so I could have a final moment with Dad.

It was the fifth day since Dad had passed. Yet, despite being my boyfriend for five years, Benji Warren hadn't even brought a single flower to pay his respects.

That was because the worlds we lived in were separated by an impenetrable wall.

Benji never took me to gatherings with his friends or cared to know who mine were. The trivialities of my life could never compete with the financial dealings of his company.

Hence, he didn't know Dad had died, or that the cause of his death was an unpaid surgery bill.

It was ridiculous to think that the girlfriend of a wealthy CEO was unable to afford her father's medical expenses.

I ran my fingers over Dad's photo on the tombstone, and my tears fell uncontrollably.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I won't hold on to someone who doesn't love me. I'll marry the person you approved of and live a happy life, just as you wished."

As the sky darkened and the snow thickened, the chill seeped through my body.

My phone rang at that moment.

It was Esme Lopez, Benji's childhood friend and assistant.

Her usual cold and aloof tone came through the receiver.

"Ms. Carroll, Ben will be attending a charity gala tonight. Please prepare some hangover soup for him."

Esme's instructions sounded more like a declaration of dominance. Even though I had already decided to end things with Benji, the sourness in my heart was hard to suppress.

In the five years I'd been with Benji, Esme had been a constant presence for four and a half. From what we ate on dates to gifts for special occasions, she was involved in everything.

Whenever I felt unwell and messaged Benji for comfort, it would be Esme who replied, "Ben is in a meeting. It's best not to disturb him."

That single sentence would always shatter my heart.

On rainy days, when I wanted to ride