I stopped and turned to look at her.
"We've broken up. I have no obligation to please your parents anymore."
Isabel comes from a scholarly family. Both her parents are university professors, strict in education and social conduct.
To match their standards, I worked tirelessly every day and spent weekends enduring their judgment.
For the so-called love, I had been enduring it in silence.
This life and relationship offered no reason for me to keep going.
So, I didn't want to continue.
"We were about to get married, and now you suddenly want to break up..." Isabel's emotions were agitated, her bright eyes showing a hint of anger and disappointment. "I always thought you were a reasonable and responsible man. So it turns out you can be this petulant."
I sneered, "I'm being petulant? You mean, seeing my girlfriend fawning over another man, I shouldn't be upset and should applaud instead?"
"I said the situation was special, with many people teasing. He's a thin-skinned guy. If I had refused at that moment, wouldn't I have embarrassed him on purpose?"
She still hadn't realized where she went wrong.
To be precise, she still considered her actions correct.
I looked at her coldly. "You have your reasons, but I have my limits. We are not on the same path. We are now broken up. You can find someone who understands you."
Isabel's face showed impatience. "How many times do I have to tell you? Are you done with your tantrum?"
The day she put the ring on Mason, I was treating friends to dinner.
They all witnessed it.
Since I always brought Isabel to gatherings, they knew her well.
Upon this, their eyes held sympathy and awkwardness for me.
I tried to make excuses for her.
I wanted to say there must have been a misunderstanding, but before I could speak, I saw Mason embracing her happily.
Isabel was stunned for a moment but did not push him away.
Instead, she smiled.
At that moment, I knew our relationship had come to an end.
Now, looking at her angry expression, I was unmoved.
I even felt it laughable.
"Isabel, since we can't stand each other now, let's just end it here and not waste any more time."
After saying this, I suddenly felt incredibly relieved.
Last month, we discussed marriage with our parents.
I had already envisioned our future, meticulously planning the application for the marriage license and the wedding date.