He Never Chose Me

It was Valentine's Day, and Arthur had reserved the most exclusive restaurant in the city for our dinner.

The table was laden with an elaborate seafood spread and three place settings.

He sat across from me, carefully peeling each shrimp and arranging it in a small bowl.

But I was allergic to seafood.

He slid the bowl toward the empty seat beside him, then wiped his fingers with a damp towel.

I watched him, crumpling the ultrasound printout in my fist. "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

He glanced at his phone.

"I..." Before I could finish, he shot to his feet and hurried toward the entrance.

My gaze followed him instinctively.

The instant I saw who was beside him, a dull ache spread through my chest, slow and relentless.

His ex-girlfriend and current business partner, Lora Smith, stood at his side with her hand wrapped around his.

They spoke and laughed softly, and Arthur wore a warmth and tenderness I had never once seen directed at me.

Lora settled into the seat beside him as if she belonged there. Her gaze drifted over me, cool and dismissive, barely concealing her contempt.

She feigned surprise. "Oh, Catherine's here too. Am I interrupting your date?"

Arthur never showed a hint of softness in public, yet he gave her an indulgent smile. "It's just a Valentine's dinner. Come on, look. Everything here is your favorite."

Lora lifted a spoonful of shrimp to her mouth and chewed it slowly, savoring every bite.

Every time she looked up, her gaze landed squarely on me, the challenge in her eyes unmistakable.

I managed a bitter smile. "Right. I almost forgot today was Valentine's Day."

Arthur frowned.

"Lora and I have a Family celebration to attend later. Things have been tense lately, so I thought we could all go together after dinner."

"Catherine, aren't you coming?"

Lora wore a sly smile, and every word found my sorest spot.

Arthur never appeared with me in public. That was why her words cut so deep.

Before I could respond, Arthur dismissed the idea outright.

"She's never liked crowds, and she doesn't know anything about Family business anyway."

Lora shrugged, picked up a napkin, and casually wiped a smear of sauce from the corner of Arthur's mouth.

The intimacy between them stung so badly my eyes ached.

She glanced at me, then leaned close to Arthur's ear. "I stopped by your office this afternoon and got the safe combination wrong again. More than once."

My knuckles went white, nails biting into my palms.

Arthur had never allowed me to set foot in his office.

The safe that held the Family's most sensitive secrets was something I had never even laid eyes on.

"Your memory is terrible. Just change it to your birthday."

My heart felt like it was being scraped with sandpaper, raw and stinging.

"Then it's settled!" Lora giggled. "Oh, and I'm not sold on this dress, either. It is a Family gathering, after all. Blue would be more appropriate."

"Blue?" Arthur paused, then looked at me, showing a rare flicker of guilt.

Inside the gift box was a custom blue gown scattered with tiny diamonds.

He had commissioned the finest designer and spent two full weeks choosing it. It was supposed to be my Valentine's gift.

"Catherine, you and Lora are the same size, so maybe the dress could go to..."

I couldn't take it anymore. A bitter laugh tore out of me. "Arthur, I want a divorce!"