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497words2026-01-26 09:15

On the night of my thirtieth birthday,I waited until midnight,but my husband never showed up.
Instead,I saw a post from his childhood sweetheart.
"Romance isn't the starry night—it's having you in it."

In the photo,she was wearing a plain yet seductive blue camisole.
A man was standing close behind,his large hand gripping her waist.
The backdrop was the seaside villa Ethan Caldwell gifted her,the two of them was bathed in lamplight,inseparable.
A comment below read:
"Can't stand you two .Just get married!"
She replied with a shy emoji.

I liked the post,and suddenly,my phone—previously unreachable apparently—exploded with calls.
"Claire Morgan,are you pathetic?"
"Lila and I grew up together.If we were meant to be together,it would've happened already.Are you really this dramatic?"
Watching Ethan tenderly comfort Lila,I realized:

Letting go of someone I loved for seven years took only a moment.
...
When Ethan returned,I was eating breakfast at the dining table.
Since his childhood sweetheart came back,we'd barely seen each other.
Now,locking eyes,I caught a flicker of annoyance in his gaze.
Seeing that I ignored him,he glanced at my breakfast and sat across from me.
"Where's mine?"
I didn't look up,focusing on my meal.
"Didn't make any."
He let out a cold laugh,then tossed a necklace onto the table with disdain.
"Just because I didn't spend your birthday with you?"
"Come on."
"Here,your gift."
I glanced at the necklace,one look at it told me it was cheap.
My mind flashed back to Lila's post,showcasing a sapphire necklace encrusted with diamonds.
This one wasn’t even worth one tenth of hers.
I scoffed,suddenly agreeing with Lila's post:
"Only a perfect match is fate."
Her photo showed Ethan holding her in her arms,their gazes locked in sweet intimacy.
I knew my family was nothing next to Ethan's.He was the son of River City's richest man.
My parents were just college professors.
But he was the one who pursued me in the first place...
Seeing my silence,Ethan sneered,mocking,"What,a necklace moves you that much?"
I set down my bowl and spoon,meeting his scornful gaze.
I tossed the necklace into the trashcan.
"Thanks,but I've got plenty of cheap ones.No need for one more."
Anger lit up in his eyes.
"Claire Morgan,are you insane?"
"Not happy with a gift,not happy without one either."
"What do you want then?You know how busy I am with work!"
I looked at him coldly.
"Busy spending time with Lila?Dining with her?"
He scoffed,glaring with contempt.
"You think you compare to Lila?In what way are you better than her?"
"Claire,my patience has its limits.Pick it up!"
I didn't budge,turning to leave the dining room.
He grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it at me while yelling,"I said pick it up!Didnt you hear me?"
I tried to dodge,but it was too late.
It struck my forehead with a corner.
Crash!
The vase shattered,and blood streamed down my face.
Ethan regained some senses,grabbing tissues to press against my wound.
"I was just...I don’t know what’s wrong with me.You okay?"