When Landon and his so-called distant cousin fed each other wine mouth-to-mouth, my stomach churned so violently that I nearly coughed up blood.
Gasps filled the room, and my face went pale as paper, but he seemed completely unfazed, almost leaning in for a full kiss in front of everyone.
The day I was discharged from the hospital, Landon came to pick me up. A bright bouquet of roses lay on the passenger seat, looking painfully out of place. I reached to move them, but he frowned, grabbing the roses first.
“They’re not for you. Sit in the back.”
Silently, I settled into the back seat. A few minutes into the drive, my phone rang—a call from the jewelry store.
"Mr. Wright, the ring you ordered has arrived. You can pick it up anytime."
Without a glance back at me, Landon took a sharp turn toward the store. Well, I thought, it’s about time to return that engagement ring.
——
The car stopped outside the shop, and Landon strode inside with a spring in his step.
The clerk approached Landon, presenting a red velvet box with both hands. He opened it with a smile, revealing a sparkling gemstone far more stunning than our engagement ring.
“Mr. Wright’s wife is going to be thrilled,” the clerk said proudly. “This ring was crafted by our best artisans, with every detail perfected over five days.”
The staff watched with anticipation as Landon, clearly pleased, complimented the clerk. But then his expression shifted—he glanced back at me, frowned, and quickly slipped the ring into his pocket. It was painfully clear: this ring wasn’t for me.
An awkward silence settled over us until another clerk at the counter looked up and recognized me with surprise.
“Mrs. Wright! I was just about to call you. The engagement ring you and your husband ordered recently has arrived.”
“Oh, really?” I replied, feigning calm. “Then let’s see how it fits.”
As I stepped past Landon and approached the counter, the clerk had already placed the ring carefully in front of me. Set on a ring holder, twelve exquisite diamonds circled a deep red gem in the center, gleaming like stars around the moon. Landon had designed this ring himself, once wanting me to feel as cherished as a constellation.
But now, I was no longer his moon or stars.
He walked over, impatiently picked up the matching men’s ring, slid it onto his finger for a second, then tossed it back into the tray without a second glance. “Alright, that’s enough. I have somewhere to be, so take a taxi home.”
His cold, dismissive tone was a far cry from his earlier warmth. As he turned to leave, I stood there silently, no longer feeling the urge to chase after him, to argue, to fight like I had in the past.
Instead, I slowly removed the diamond ring from my finger, placing it back into the tray with a quiet resolve. “Have it melted down,” I told the clerk. “I don’t want it anymore.”
After the shock settled, the young clerk’s face turned pale with worry. “Mrs. Wright, was something not to your liking? We can remake it if necessary.”
Seeing her on the verge of tears, I quickly softened, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, everything is perfect. The ring is beautiful… but the person isn’t right.”
I took out my card and handed it over. She hesitated, then nodded. “Of course. Just one moment, please.”
After a brief word over her headset, two craftsmen emerged from the back. They carefully began prying each diamond from the ring, as if they were peeling away the final remnants of my love for Landon. One by one, the gems dropped, until only the smooth rings remained. The craftsmen then melted them down, transforming what was once a symbol of love into a shapeless piece of platinum.
The clerk gently collected the diamonds and the small bar of platinum, placing them into a box. She handed it to me with a hopeful smile. “These are fine stones. If you ever want a necklace or bracelet, please come back to us. And… I wish you find the right person someday.”
I took the package with a grateful smile, feeling lighter. “Thank you for the blessing. I know I will.”
Chapter 2Just as I stepped out of the jewelry store, my phone buzzed. Landon’s so-called distant cousin, Brittany Walker, had just posted a new update. In the photo, Landon was on one knee, holding the custom diamond ring I’d just seen, surrounded by flowers. Across from him stood Brittany, smiling brightly and clutching a bouquet of roses. The caption read: [Romantic until death!]
I couldn’t help myself—I hit "like" before turning off my screen. But just then, a message from Brittany popped up:
[Olive, Landon and I are just joking. Please don’t take it seriously.]
I paused, a bit stunned. But for the first time, her words felt hollow, and I found I didn’t care as much as I once might have. After a moment, I typed a reply:
[Got it, have fun!]
As I walked past an ATM, I noticed a young girl nearby, huddled against the wall, clutching her phone, tears streaming down her face.
“Buddy, he transferred all my money. My mom’s still in the hospital… what am I supposed to do?” I overheard the girl’s distressed voice as I walked past, but I kept my steps steady, not wanting to intrude on her pain.
A gust of wind carried her voice again, trembling and bitter. “Buddy, I hate this world so much…”
With a sigh, I turned around and stepped toward her, offering a small smile. “Hey there, how about a trade? I’ll give you something I have here, and in exchange, you let me buy you something sweet.”
The girl looked up at me, blinking in surprise before pulling a few pieces of White Rabbit candy from her pocket. “Miss, are you low on blood sugar? Here, take these—no need to trade.”
I wasn’t hypoglycemic. I just remembered someone once told me that sweets can help the heart heal, even just a little.
I accepted the candy, unwrapped one, and popped it into my mouth, savoring the small burst of sweetness.
The sweetness of the candy spread on my tongue, and for a moment, it felt like my mood lifted. Quickly, I unwrapped another piece and held it out toward the girl. She hesitated, but then took it from my fingers and popped it into her mouth.
With a gentle push, I tucked my handbag into her arms, keeping the remaining candy in my palm and waving it lightly. “It’s only fair to share. If you don’t want these, I’ll just toss them in the trash.”
I offered her a reassuring smile. “This world isn’t as terrible as it seems, you know.”
With that, I turned and walked away, feeling a lightness in my heart. I couldn’t tell if it was the taste of the White Rabbit candy or the joy of helping someone else that buoyed my spirits.
The walk home took two hours, but as soon as I opened the door, I found Landon lounging on the sofa in his nightgown, focused on his phone. The moment he glanced up and saw me, the smile slipped from his face.
“Why are you back so late?” he asked, his tone sharp.
I paused, weighing my words before answering. “I didn’t expect it to take so long.”
His brow furrowed. “You walked back?”
I nodded slightly, but he sneered, “You should have taken a taxi. I can’t believe you would walk all this way when you’re sick.”
I didn’t argue back. After all, there was no real hardship in my actions. I had dedicated six years to him, and if he wanted to scold me, I accepted it.
As I walked home today, I was quietly saying goodbye to the past. I was letting go of that rainy night when love first blossomed, bidding farewell to the young man who had carried me through long streets while battling a high fever.
During dinner, I noticed Landon glancing at me repeatedly. I pretended not to notice, taking small sips from my bowl of rice. It wasn’t until I set my bowl and chopsticks down, feeling eighty percent full, that I heard him say, “I noticed you liked that post on Instagram today.”
I froze, momentarily startled. I vaguely recalled that my actions might lead him to think I was moving on. Quickly, I pulled out my phone. “Sorry, I’ll remove it now.”
He stood up abruptly, pressing my phone down. “That’s not what I meant.”
Surprised, I looked up and met his gaze, which was filled with confusion.
“I mean, I’m glad you’re getting along with her,” he clarified.
Understanding washed over me, and I felt a strange mix of relief and something else I couldn’t quite place.
In the past, I had cared too deeply for Landon, which made me hostile toward Brittany. I not only ignored her posts on Instagram, but whenever I stumbled across something related to them, I would seize the opportunity to scold both of them. Landon grew weary of our constant arguments, often calling me a shrew.
I offered a noncommittal smile, then excused myself to the bathroom. After a soothing bath, I subconsciously made my way back to the master bedroom. However, just as my hand grasped the doorknob, I heard a man's gentle voice from inside.
“Fool, if you promise not to touch her, I won’t. Trust me.”
“Be good. I’ll accompany you tomorrow. Go to sleep.”
My heart sank as I released the doorknob and turned away, heading instead to the study.
Chapter 3As dawn broke, I was jolted awake by the sound of the door opening. Landon stood in the doorway, his eyes dark and unreadable.
"Why didn’t you go back to your room last night?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
I chuckled lightly, raising my arms to shield my eyes from the bright morning light. "Before I left my job, my manager asked me to finish the final plan, but I ended up working too late, so I just crashed here."
In reality, I had spent the night sifting through companies and sending out resumes. A few days earlier, Landon had resigned on the grounds of our impending marriage, encouraging me to join the Wright Family. Now that I was planning to leave, I knew I had to find a new starting point.
Landon didn't press further. He stepped inside, casually leaned against my desk, and began flipping through the files scattered across it.
Panic set in as I worried he might spot the ticket tucked inside the folder. "Landon, you’re aware that this information is confidential. If you share it, you could face serious consequences!"
He fixed his gaze on me, his expression suddenly intense. "What did you just call me?"
After six years together, I had always affectionately referred to him as "Lance." Even in moments of fluster or frustration, I'd never used his full name. I hesitated, then softened my tone. "Lance."
Finally, he released the document and regarded me with a teasing smirk. "Still don't like your company's projects, huh? I was just trying to help you review the plan. But if you’re not interested, fine."
He stood up, his posture shifted to one of playful authority. "Get ready. I'm taking you out for a walk!"
As he headed for the door, he paused and turned back, his brow furrowing slightly. "Have your parents set a time to come over yet?"
Landon and I had planned to get married, and he was supposed to visit my parents soon. However, he had declined multiple times due to his hectic schedule at the company. To avoid making me feel embarrassed, my parents had taken the initiative to visit him instead. Despite this, Landon had never set a date for our parents to meet, leaving the whole arrangement hanging in limbo.
When he asked about it now, I stifled a sarcastic smile. "It's a busy farming season at home, so they can't come for the time being."
Landon frowned, clearly dissatisfied, but he didn’t push the matter further and left the study.
Later, while shopping at the mall, I unexpectedly ran into Brittany in front of a dessert shop. Her face lit up with surprise when she saw us. "Landon! What a coincidence to see you guys here!"
Landon casually rubbed her head, as if we were all close friends. "It really is quite a coincidence."
I remained silent.
Ever since Brittany was introduced to the company through Landon’s relatives, these "coincidences" had become a common occurrence. I was no longer surprised by how often I found myself in their orbit.
As my gaze drifted to the lounge chairs in the mall, I spotted an empty seat and considered suggesting that Landon and Brittany take a break. But just as I was about to say something, I watched Brittany cling to Landon's arm, her voice sweet and playful.
"Landon, the baby wants to eat that cone, but the line is so long."
Landon pinched the tip of her nose affectionately, his eyes filled with a fondness that made my heart sink. "Okay, okay, little greedy cat, just wait."
"Yeah." She chimed, bouncing on her feet. The moment her miniskirt lifted, Landon instinctively pulled her into his arms. He quickly took off his coat, wrapping it around her waist to cover her up, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
"Next time, don’t dress like this, and definitely don’t jump around," he chided, his tone light but with a hint of seriousness.
Brittany stuck her tongue out at him playfully, "I know."
Then, he turned his attention to me. "Do you have any cash on you?"
I was taken aback and shook my head. "No, I don’t."
"Then go and get 20,000 cash now," he instructed.
Feeling a wave of frustration washed over me, I decided not to linger and quickly walked away.
As I returned with the cash, I watched Landon slip bills into the hands of those in front of him, sheepishly muttering, “Sorry, cutting in line.” The once-arrogant man I knew was now practically groveling for a cone of ice cream for Brittany, apologizing profusely to everyone around him.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight, and Brittany’s eyes darted toward me. “Olive, why are you laughing? Has Landon done something like this for you?”
I shook my head, dismissing her question as I turned away, feeling an overwhelming urge to escape the scene. I made my way to a nearby bench, where I sank down, hoping to catch my breath. But as I shifted my weight, a sharp pain shot through my back heel.
Glancing down, I was dismayed to see blood seeping through the fabric of my shoe. Just my luck.
Landon, buoyed by his ability to splurge, quickly bought three cones of ice cream. He handed one to me, but I politely declined. “Thank you, but I don’t need it.”
His expression darkened at my refusal. “Can you be a little nicer? I bought them for you!”
Brittany, ever the opportunist, grabbed the cones, one in each hand. “Landon, you’re such an idiot! Olive just got out of the hospital—of course she can’t eat cold food! How could you forget that? But I guess you remember my menstrual cycle just fine.”
With that, she skipped ahead, taking playful bites from both cones like a carefree child, her innocence shining through. Landon’s embarrassment was palpable as he hurried after her. “Brit, you can’t eat so much cold food! You’ll end up with diarrhea!”
Just as he finished his warning, a sudden scream echoed nearby, slicing through the air.
The crowd surged in a chaotic frenzy, people running and shouting in panic. “Run! There’s a murderer up ahead!”
Without hesitation, Landon shielded Brittany, pulling her close as they both hurried back, quickly disappearing into the throng. I felt a surge of urgency, following the current of terrified shoppers as they fled the mall.
From a distance, I spotted Landon and Brittany. She flung herself into his arms, sobbing for a moment before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. In that instant, it felt like I had become invisible; I was no longer a part of their world.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, jolting me from my thoughts. I pulled it out to hear my mother’s warm voice. “Oli, happy birthday!”
A smile crept onto my face despite the chaos around me. “Thanks, Mom! I’m really happy. I’ll see you tonight!”
After the call, I took a taxi home alone, the weight of the day’s events pressing down on me.
I hurriedly packed my belongings, dragging my suitcase toward the entrance. The keys, adorned with couple-themed trinkets, hung on the wall like a bittersweet reminder of what once was. I plucked them off, extracted the trinket, and tossed them into the trash can before hanging the keys back up.
"Goodbye, Landon."
"Goodbye to the boy you once were!"