He thought he was the groom

I gave thirteen years of my life to the only man I ever loved, my ex fiancé, Ethan Hayes.

Since our teenage years, I was always by his side. I believed in his music before anyone else did. I shaped myself into the perfect woman for him.

I wore the clothes he liked. I kept my hair long because he said it looked better that way. I never wore bold colors because he said it drew the wrong kind of attention. Everything I did was for him.

For thirteen years, I stayed. I was supposed to be his wife. Everyone thought we were perfect. Everyone thought it was only a matter of time.

So it made no sense when seven months ago he let me go.

“What did you just say” My voice was barely there.

Ethan sat across from me in his studio, the one filled with gold records that I had watched him fight for. His face showed nothing. I had brought food so we could celebrate his latest award.

“I think we should end this,” he said.

The words struck deep. I swallowed hard. “Ethan, this isn’t funny. Tell me you’re not serious.”

“I’m serious, Lyra.”

“No, you can’t be.” My voice lifted before I could stop it. I forced a breath and reached for him. My engagement ring pressed against my skin, heavy and unmovable. I had never taken it off. Not once.

“We just started planning the wedding,” I said. “I know it’s a lot. That’s why I’ve been handling the details.”

He stayed silent.

“If it’s too much we can move the date,” I added, my throat tight. We had delayed it before. If waiting again would save us, I would have done it. “I don’t want you to feel trapped.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “Then you don’t want to hear the truth. Because the truth is I don’t want to marry you, Lyra.”

My chest hurt like it might break. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do,” he said. His voice was steady, cold. “I don’t love you anymore. I haven’t for a long time.”

I froze.

“I stayed because I owed you,” he said. “You were there when no one believed in me. But I can’t keep living like that. I need more.”

“We can fix this. We can work through it,” I whispered.

He pulled his hand away and pushed his hair back. His light brown hair was messy from long nights in the studio. His golden eyes had once been my home. He had a charm that could pull anyone in.

He could have had anyone.

But he had chosen me.

Didn’t that mean something. Didn’t thirteen years mean anything.

But his look wasn’t soft now. He stood and brushed his hands against his jeans like I was a stain.

“I don’t want to work on anything. Not with you,” he said. “If we were meant to be, we would have been married by now.”

The nickname he used for me sounded bitter. “The only reason we aren’t married yet is because of your career,” I said, my voice shaking.

“No,” he said. His tone was harsh. “It’s because I never saw you as my wife.”

The words crushed me.

“You might be right for someone else, but not for me,” Ethan said. “Most men in this business don’t settle down. But you wouldn’t get that.”

I did get it. I just didn’t want a life without being a wife. Still, I would have tried for him.

“Please, don’t start anything,” I said quietly. “People are always watching.”

He laughed under his breath. “Still so careful. Still so easy.” He leaned close. “I did love you once. That’s why you can keep the ring. I don’t need it back.”

He grabbed his jacket, then paused. “And you can’t stay at my place anymore. I’m single now. I should be free to bring women home.”

His smirk was the last thing I saw. “Leave the spare key where I can find it.”

Then he left.

And just like that, he took my life with him.