I stared after them, stunned.
I was really going to break off the engagement.
So why did a strange sense of melancholy settle over me?
It had been Oliver’s grandmother, Celia, who first proposed our engagement.
We met at a banquet, where she had an asthma attack so severe that she stopped breathing. I performed CPR and saved her life.
To show her gratitude, she invited me to private meals and asked me to visit her often. She grew fond of me. And then, one day, I happened to run into Oliver while visiting her.
She noticed immediately. She saw through me.
She knew about my feelings for him.
And so she spoke to my family on his behalf, proposing the engagement.
That was when all my misfortunes began.
I knew Celia would be upset when I called off the engagement. But I had no other choice.
When we arrived at Oliver’s safe house, he was there with Celia and Lina.
Saying nothing, I took off the engagement ring he had given me and placed it on the table.
Oliver grabbed my wrist, his eyes wide with disbelief. “What are you doing?”
I pried his fingers away. “I’m here to end the engagement.”
Celia frowned at him. “Did you do something to upset Zayla? Apologize.”
“No need,” I said, shaking my head. “It wouldn’t make a difference.”
Oliver’s voice sharpened, unable to accept what was happening. “Why? Give me a reason.
I let out a quiet, mocking laugh. “You need me to give you one? You really don’t know?”
His expression stiffened. He understood immediately.
“You told them not to save you first,” he said hoarsely.
And in that moment, I knew–he had always known it would hurt me.
2/3
Chapter 6
But he still did it.
“If I tell you to save me, you save me. If I tell you to die, will you die?” I asked. “You abandoned me, Oliver. Now face the
consequences. Grow up.“.
Panic flickered in his eyes.
+15 Bonus
Celia sighed, watching him. “So that’s what this is about. Zayla, I understand how you feel. What Oliver did was inexcusable. If
you want to break off the engagement, I won’t stop you.”
“Grandma!” Oliver nearly shot to his feet.
“I won’t accept this.” His gaze swept over everyone in the room before settling on me. “I will never agree to call off the
engagement.”
I stared at him, genuinely taken aback.
In my past life, he had spent five years making me suffer while pining for Lina. Now that I was walking away on my own, he
wasn’t satisfied?
What was he thinking? What did he even want?
I had assumed he would be the first to jump at the chance to break off the engagement, eager to marry Lina.
But it didn’t matter.
“Whether you agree or not is irrelevant. I’m not submitting the marriage application with you. Your opinion doesn’t change anything. This engagement is over.”
I turned and walked away, feeling lighter than I had in years.
I had no intention of staying a second longer.
