Ashes of a Bloomed Heart

As soon as Mom heard what I said, she quickly snatched the phone from Dad and asked, "Avril, you've always loved kids. What happened today?"

Mom knew I always donated books and toys to the orphanage every year. It was obvious that I adored children.

Then, Mom said to me in a low voice, "That Mr. Walker is known to be injured from the waist down. He might be impotent.

"All these years, not a single young woman was willing to marry him! Besides, Mr. Walker did propose to you several times. You kept refusing him, didn't you?"

After hearing what Mom said, I looked at a photo in my phone gallery. Dylan Walker was a handsome young man with broad shoulders and long legs.

I already thought about it. Despite Dylan's good looks, he was most likely impotent. However, marrying him was much better than spending the rest of my life with Vernon Floyd, who still had feelings for his childhood sweetheart.

A knife seemed to pierce through my heart as I recalled everything I heard for half the night.

Dad realized my tone sounded off and asked cautiously, "When will you break up with that prude boyfriend of yours? Once that is done, then we'll set up a meeting with Mr. Walker."

"Let's meet in three days. Once I've handled things on my side, I'll return immediately for my engagement to Mr. Walker."

After leaving the hotel, I returned to the apartment I had shared with Vernon for the past six years.

I recalled how I met Vernon's gaze across the crowd before. Although he seemed a little surprised to see me there, he merely frowned before leading the young woman to their seats.

There were roses, champagne, a piano melody from a love song, and a romantic candlelit dinner for two. Over the past six years of being with Vernon, I never once had dinner with him at a place like this.

As I turned to leave, I realized Vernon's good friends were there as well. One of them had posted the news of Vernon's reservation at the hotel for couples' getaways on Instagram.

Before leaving, I even heard them wolf-whistling and applauding. "Indeed, you two are a perfect match. After so many years, you guys have finally made it official!"

"Come on! Let's raise our glasses and wish this happy couple a happy ending!"

I smiled bitterly to myself. For the past six years, I had always been by Vernon's side. His good friends knew everything about Vernon and his childhood sweetheart but had no idea of my relationship with him.

A bitter feeling rose within my heart.

Today was my sixth anniversary with Vernon. When I found out about his reservation at that hotel, I knew I was ready to take the next step in our relationship.

But now, the joy had turned into a bitterness that consumed me from inside out.

Once I was home, a delivery man brought an anniversary cake—right at midnight. On the box was a card with Vernon's handwriting.

"From now on, I hope you'll be by my side every day."

The delivery man shot me an envious smile. "Miss, your boyfriend's really good to you. He ordered the most luxurious cake from our shop and even requested that we deliver it on time. He even personally wrote that note on the box!"

I opened the door and took the cake from the delivery man. Then, I casually set it on the table.

So, Vernon still remembered that today was our sixth anniversary. But what did he do tonight?

I slumped weakly against the couch and stared at the empty room before me. I couldn't help but tear up.

The room was filled with traces of our life together. Yet Vernon had booked a hotel room and slept with another woman for the night.

Looking at the cake made me disgusted. All I wanted to do was throw up.

I sat on the couch for a long time and lost track of time.

Suddenly, the apartment door opened.