I’m getting married. Not to my boyfriend of seven years, but to someone else.
Seven years and yet his attention has shifted, orbiting around a new female intern at his company. They claimed to dislike each other, but they’re inseparable now, tied together in some strange, symbiotic connection. They’re always finding reasons to be near each other, always "busy."
It didn’t matter if I was there or not; they managed to create their own world, shutting me out of it. Even on the last trip, when we climbed to the mountain top to watch the stars, he left me there alone to stargaze, ignoring the fact that I have night blindness.
Three days I waited, alone in the dark, before a rescue team found me. Three days to come to terms with the truth I’d ignored for too long. The moment they pulled me out of that nightmare, I decided I was done waiting. When I got back, I agreed to marry my new date. It was time to move on.
——
My mom could hardly contain her excitement when she heard the news. She sat at my bedside, her face glowing, clutching her phone like a shopping list of eligible bachelors. Her finger danced over the screen as if picking out the perfect man for her daughter. Across the room, I glanced at a message my aunt had sent her and it made me feel as if I’d been living in a glass cage all along.
“Your daughter’s too wonderful to waste her time. If that man really loved her, there’d be no reason to wait so many years. Those who truly love each other don’t take this long. What kind of love has no progress?” Her words were straightforward, almost clinical. But she was right and it cut deep.
She went on, “She just needs to choose someone decent and we’ll make sure the wedding is set up right away. No rush, but there’s no need to wait.”
Everyone around me seemed to understand what was wrong, everyone but me. I had been the only one clinging to the invisible promises he fed me, year after year.
I took a breath, turning back to my mom. “Mom, I trust your judgment. Just keep it simple. I don’t want anything over the top.”
My words had barely left my mouth when the door swung open and Darrel walked in. His expression was cold, an unspoken accusation glinting in his eyes. “What judgment? Are you two picking something out?” he asked, his hand reflexively reaching toward the phone in my lap. I slipped it back into my mom’s bag before he could grab it.
Sensing the tension, Mom quickly left, giving me a brief nod as she shut the door behind her. The moment she was gone, Darrel sat down in the chair by my bed, pulling out his phone. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the soft, syrupy voice that floated through the speaker on his phone. It was her—Natalie, the intern.
“Sir, you’re not in the office today,” she cooed, her voice tinged with mock innocence. “Some people keep bothering me... I’m so scared. I don’t know what to do. You know I’m just a helpless girl…”
Darrel’s expression darkened. He shot up from his chair, his face twisted with concern, his voice rough. “Don’t worry, Natalie. Just go to my office. Nobody will touch you there. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
He didn’t even look back at me as he shoved his phone into his pocket and headed for the door, not a single word of goodbye. It wasn’t the first time he’d left me without a second thought, like some stranger he barely knew. I watched the door close behind him, the emptiness in my heart as vast as ever.
Once the silence settled back in, I took a moment to let the numbness pass, then dialed my cousin’s number. She’d practically raised me after my parents left for business abroad, so we were as close as siblings. Darrel had been in our lives since then too.
We’d all gone to the same boarding school, growing up together. Eventually, my cousin got married and when our family home was demolished, Darrel insisted I move in with him for my “safety.”
Seven years later, we were still living under the same roof, but the dream had died.
When my cousin picked up, her voice was bright, practically bursting with excitement. “Finally! Seven years and it’s finally happening. When’s the wedding? Tell me the date—I want to be there in person, to see this day come true. After all this time, you both deserve it!”
Chapter 2“I don’t even know much about the person I’m marrying,” I muttered, trying to make light of it. “It’s all a family setup… It’ll probably be fine.”
The other end of the phone fell silent. My cousin, Stephanie, took a moment before responding in a tentative tone.
“Fionna… just don’t do anything impulsive, okay? You’ve been with Darrel for so long. Seven years doesn’t just disappear. Are you sure this isn’t something you’ll regret?” She hesitated, then added, “If you’re having second thoughts about the wedding, I can help smooth things over. I don’t think he’d refuse if you asked him to talk it out.”
I sighed, feeling the familiar ache. “There’s no use, Steph. We were never anything official. From the start, we had no real foundation. It was all... just a bit absurd, really. And here we are at the end, with nothing to show for it but more absurdity.”
Stephanie went quiet, taking in the weight of my words. It was true—we’d never had a real confession, a genuine acknowledgment of ‘us.’ Not even once had we officially defined our relationship.
“Fionna, no matter what you decide, I’m here for you. I’ll always be on your side.”
My heart warmed at her unwavering support. After hanging up, I decided to get her a small gift, something meaningful—a farewell present of sorts, since she might not be around here after the wedding.
As I arrived at her place with the gift, I was completely unprepared for the scene I walked into: Darrel and Natalie. The very people I least wanted to see.
Natalie clung to Darrel’s arm, looking for all the world like a scared, timid little thing. He was weighed down with bags, full of daily essentials, snacks and clothes—like he was helping her set up house. They looked... domestic. Like newlyweds caught in the glow of ordinary life together.
Stephanie jogged over to greet me, her cheerful expression shifting as she took in the scene. Her smile faded, a chill settling over her face.
I ignored Darrel and Natalie entirely, turning to Stephanie with a bright smile. “All your favorites, Steph. Use them however you like. When everything’s over, I’ll get you more.”
Just as I was about to lead her upstairs, eager to leave the two of them behind, Darrel suddenly stepped in front of me, forcing a smile.
“Fionna, this is Natalie, the new intern at work—she’s my trainee. She’s still finding her way around, so I’m just here to help her get settled. Why didn’t you tell me you were visiting Steph? I could’ve made time to come with you.”
I kept my gaze steady, focused straight ahead, brushing his hand off my arm with a cold detachment. “I don’t need to be informed about your work, Darrel, nor do you need to know my plans. I came when I felt like it.”
Relief washed over his face, as if he’d dodged a bullet. “Alright, well, it’s not far anyway. But, please, be careful. Next time, just let me know and I’ll drive you over.”
He lingered there awkwardly, blocking my path, while the tension simmered in the air between us. Natalie glanced nervously at him, then back at me. Seemingly desperate to break the silence, she bounced forward, making a show of trying to take the bags from Darrel’s hands, but he stepped aside, dodging her.
“I’ll carry these up for you,” he told her gently, smiling down at her. “You don’t need to strain yourself. Let me take care of it.”
The elevator finally arrived and Darrel piled in all their bags and boxes. Despite the space, I didn’t want to share that cramped elevator with them.
As the doors slid shut, my reflection in the mirrored walls of the elevator caught my eye. It was strange—there was an echo of another memory, another time. When I had first moved out of our family home, Darrel had been there, meticulously helping me pack and move each little box. He hadn’t let me lift a finger, taking care of everything for me, down to the smallest detail.
Stephanie’s sigh snapped me out of my thoughts. She looked at me with concern. “Maybe... they’re not what you think, Fionna. Maybe it’s all just work-related and there’s nothing personal going on. Do you want me to ask him? It might put your mind at ease if there’s nothing to worry about.”
Chapter 3I held my ground, my voice cold and unyielding. “I don’t want to waste another second on this ridiculous relationship. It’s over.”
Outside, the sky was a dreary shade of gray and raindrops pattered steadily against the pavement. I pulled my jacket closer, bracing myself against the chill as I left. I paused by the curb, debating whether to call Darrel, but against my better judgment, I dialed his number.
A soft, high-pitched voice answered on the second ring.
“Oh, hello! You must be Mrs. Darrel,” she said in a voice dripping with false sweetness. “Mr Darrel just finished helping me unpack and he’s a bit tired—he’s taking a bath right now. But if there’s anything you need to pass along, I’d be happy to help!”
My stomach twisted, a wave of nausea tightening my throat. Without a word, I hung up, fingers trembling as I set my phone down. I began searching for a cab, but before I could book one, a text message notification flashed across my screen.
“Mrs. Darrel, please don’t misunderstand my intentions or Master’s. I’m just a young girl struggling to get by and Sir Darrel has been kind enough to help me settle in. Once things are in order, I’ll make sure to clear up any confusion between us.”
Her words felt like a slap. I stared at the text until my phone screen went dark. The cold wind seemed to penetrate every layer, biting through my coat and freezing me to the core.
Was I truly alone in this?
I finally flagged down a cab and climbed in, pressing myself against the seat, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into my bones. I closed my eyes, seeking a momentary escape—just a second of peace.
Then my phone rang and Darrel’s name flashed on the screen. Against my better judgment, I picked up.
“What were you thinking, Fionna?” Darrel snapped the moment the call connected. “Natalie is just my apprentice. Do you really have to treat her like this? I’m just trying to help her settle in and you’re acting like some jealous tyrant! Don’t you have a heart?”
I clenched my jaw, gripping the phone tightly as I listened. In the background, I could hear Natalie’s soft, pitiful sobs.
“Fionna, I had no idea you could be this petty,” he continued, his tone growing harsher. “Just like that time I took you to the mountains to see the stars—you ran off, making a scene and nearly ruining everything! Why do you have to blow things up like this? What is it you want?”
Natalie’s sobbing grew louder, her theatrics feeding his anger. I held the phone away from my ear, letting his voice fade. She was practically orchestrating her performance, playing the part of the innocent girl in need of rescue.
All this fuss for a man who wasn’t worth a second glance. Pathetic.
“Keep her out of my sight, Darrel,” I replied, my voice low but firm. “I’m done. I’m going home.”
***
Back at my apartment building, I was just about to head upstairs when I ran into one of Darrel’s former coworkers in the lobby. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she waved me over, brimming with excitement.
“Fionna! Oh my goodness, congratulations!” she exclaimed, her voice bright with enthusiasm. “If I’d known something this exciting was happening at the company, I’d have waited a little longer before leaving!”
I frowned, puzzled. “Congratulations… on what, exactly?”
She blinked in surprise, then gave a knowing smile as she pulled out her phone. “Oh, you haven’t seen it? Here, look!”
She thrust her phone toward me and there, splashed across the screen, was a series of photos of Darrel and Natalie. In one shot, he was holding a bouquet of flowers and smiling down at her as she looked up at him adoringly. Another showed him helping her rearrange furniture, his hands on her shoulders as she gazed at him with wide, doe-like eyes. Beneath the photos was a caption from Natalie:
“Every hardship I faced led me to meet Mr.Darrel. He says that as long as I have him, I won’t ever need a boyfriend.”
The comments beneath were nauseatingly sycophantic.
“Wow! Mr. Darrel is clearly smitten with her! Who’d be so sweet and dedicated to someone they weren’t head-over-heels for?”
“Guess those rumors about Darrel being distant with women were wrong—he just hadn’t found the right one! Lucky girl!”
I felt a sharp twist of pain in my chest as I stared at those photos, his arm around her, the way he looked at her so openly, so proudly. Every comment only confirmed what I’d long suspected but had been too afraid to admit.
In all those years, he’d never once made our relationship public. Never once had he looked at me that way.
Chapter 4I’d never once posted about him on social media, not a single photo or mention that would show he already had someone in his life. Apart from a few close friends who knew about us, most people probably thought I was just his sister or some vague acquaintance.
Darrel used to tell me that he was devoted to his work, that his life revolved around his career. He called it “building a foundation before building a family.”
And I accepted it. I didn’t question him. I didn’t push for more. But now, as I looked around, the reality of his actions was beginning to chip away at me, wearing down my resolve.
After exchanging a few polite words with his former colleague, I finally returned to our home—or what was supposed to be ours. The place felt hollow, the warmth gone, leaving nothing but shadows of memories in every corner. Everywhere I looked, I saw traces of the love we once shared, like ghosts of the past. Even the smallest trinket seemed to carry the weight of a forgotten promise.
In one of those corners sat a memento from a time when he once whispered, “Fionna, I may have nothing now, but I’ll work hard to build a future for us—a life that’ll make you want to be my wife.”
I had believed him. Days, months, even years had slipped by with me holding on to that promise. He never mentioned marriage again, but I thought I could wait. I thought he just needed time.
But now, those promises felt as empty as the rooms around me.
Suddenly, a wave of anger surged through me, stronger than the sorrow. I began tearing things off shelves, ripping up every remnant of his so-called surprises, throwing them into the trash one by one. Every token, every keepsake, every little piece of sentiment that used to mean so much to me was now nothing but a reminder of his betrayal.
I didn’t stop until the place looked like a storm had ripped through it. When Darrel finally walked through the door, he froze, staring in shock at the mess around him, his face pale as he took in the piles of things I’d thrown away.
He rushed over, grabbing my shoulders, his voice shaking with disbelief. “Fionna, what are you doing? Did you throw away all of this? Do you realize what you’ve done?”
I barely raised my eyelids, meeting his desperate gaze with a look of cold indifference. I shrugged, pushing his hands off my shoulders. “Oh, all that stuff? I noticed it was dusty, outdated, a bit… tacky. Thought I’d save you the trouble and take care of it myself.”
I turned away from him, refusing to let him see the sadness lurking beneath my anger. My heart ached as I looked around at the empty space, feeling as though something inside me had shattered.
Yet, I couldn’t say I missed any of it.
Darrel stared at me, his expression slowly shifting from anger to confusion. His voice softened, as though trying to coax me back from the edge. He tugged at my sleeve like a child pleading with his mother. “Fionna, I know I’ve been busy with work lately, but those things—those were for us, for when we finally got married. Why did you throw it all away?”
His words would have sounded touching if I hadn’t known where he’d been that afternoon. The irony was staggering. He could be standing here, begging me to understand, acting like he cared so deeply—while I knew he’d been with her just hours ago.
“You could have dusted them off, you know,” he said, sounding almost heartbroken. “You’ve taken care of them so many times before. I could’ve helped you. You didn’t have to throw it all away.”
I laughed bitterly, looking him dead in the eyes. “Yes, I’ve cleaned them many times, Darrel. But I don’t want to do it anymore.”
I turned and walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind me. The very sight of him, standing there with that look of hurt betrayal in his eyes, made me feel sick. He’d been at another woman’s place, playing the role of devoted “Mr. Darrel,” then came back here pretending to be the man who cared about me.
Shortly after, he knocked on the door, his voice soft, pleading. “Fionna… look, I know something’s been bothering you lately. Let me make it up to you, okay? Once things calm down at work, I’ll redo everything you threw away. I’ll plan something special for us, something even better.”
“Let me keep making it up to you until you’re satisfied, all right?”