Chapter 5

When I got up the next morning, Daisy was sitting at the dining table, waiting for me.

"Matt, my dad was really unhappy with how you acted yesterday."

I poured myself a glass of water and took a few sips. "And?"

"Aren't you going to apologize?"

"Apologize for what?"

"Being late, acting completely antisocial, and the attitude you threw at Jason."

I set my glass down and looked straight at her. "So what?"

She met my gaze, her frustration clearly visible. "Matt, my patience with you has limits. Don't wait until we actually break up to come crawling back, begging me. Because I won't take you back."

I snapped my head up. "I won't beg, and you won't need to take me back."

She let out a harsh, incredulous laugh. "After all these years, you're still as stubborn as ever. You're just convinced I’d never actually end things with you, aren't you?"

I stared into her eyes, trying to look straight into her soul. "So, will you?"

She avoided my gaze, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't know."

She didn't know? Or did she just not dare to say it? Either way, I didn't care anymore.

I walked past her and headed straight into the kitchen. "Have you eaten?"

She blinked, caught off guard. "No."

"Then let's have a bite together."

I quickly whipped up a fresh pasta dish, wiping a stray drop of sauce from the rim of the plate before bringing it to the table.

She took a massive bite, letting out a satisfied sigh. "If you had acted like this yesterday, maybe I would've already given you the ring."

I froze, not quite understanding what she meant.

"Last night, I was actually planning on giving you the ring so you could propose to me. I had bought it."

As she spoke, she pushed a small black velvet box across the table toward me.

I opened it gently. Inside rested a ring with a sleek band and intricate, hollowed-out engravings. It was gorgeous.

I picked it up and tried to slip it on, but no matter how hard I tried, it wouldn't fit—it wasn't my size.

I let out a bitter laugh, mocking myself for still holding onto that last tiny glimmer of hope. We had been together for ten years, yet the ring she bought for me couldn't even fit my finger.

"Then why didn't you bring it up last night?" I asked.

She set her fork down, her voice cold and indifferent. "Jason was right. You need to be put in your place for a bit so you actually learn your lesson."

I placed the ring back into the box. "Does he know you're planning a proposal?"

"Yeah. He's the one who helped me pick out the ring."

So, the ring was sized for Jason?

I let out a soft laugh and pushed the velvet box right back in front of her. "Take the ring back."

Daisy’s brows furrowed tightly. "Aren't you going to get down on one knee and propose to me?"

I lifted my eyes to look at her. "Do you want me to?"

She snatched the ring box, shoved it into her coat pocket, and turned to leave. "Matt, you're going to regret this. Next time you ask, it won't be this easy."

There won't be a next time, though.

"Daisy," I called out. "Do you actually want to get married right now?"

She shook her head. "You're the one who doesn't want to marry me. I have to work overtime for the next few days, so I won't be coming home."

With that, she walked straight out of the door.

The apartment suddenly fell eerily quiet. Luckily, I was already used to being alone.

At 5.30 p.m., right in the middle of peak rush hour, my rideshare pulled up to a red light at the south intersection.

I stared at the familiar street corner, momentarily dazed. Daisy's company headquarters was located right here.

When I turned my head to look through the window, her figure appeared at the main lobby entrance, looking like she was waiting for someone.

Just then, a sleek luxury car pulled up right in front of her. Jason stepped out, opening his arms to pull her into a tight embrace. In the fading twilight, the ring on his finger glittered viciously.

The driver was a chatty local. Catching sight of the scene outside, he clicked his tongue in admiration.

"Check that out. That's Daisy Duke right there, and the guy next to her is her boyfriend. A few days ago, the video of her bringing him along to ring the Nasdaq bell went totally viral online. Look at that ring on his finger... Man, in a few days, he might just be the new Mr. Duke."

A sudden wave of absurdity washed over me. It turned out that ring was meant for Jason all along, yet she still used her lies to pretend she loved me.

I rolled the window all the way up, my voice barely above a whisper. "Mister, let's go."

The light turned green, and the car sped forward. Soon after, my plane soared high into the clouds.

'Daisy, you have your empire to rule, and I have my own quiet life to live. From now on, I won't be waiting around for you anymore.'