Chapter 2

Joseph's POV

"You know I've always seen marrying you as part of my future. Now just isn't the right time. I still have so much to achieve, and I'm just not ready to start a family," Whitney explained, as if that settled everything.

As she spoke, she reached for my hand the way she always did, meaning to fasten the watch around my wrist.

Ever since we started dating, whenever Whitney did something that hurt me, she would buy me a gift to make up for it.

But in the past, no matter how expensive the gift was, she would always look at me with genuine guilt. She'd offer it carefully, sincerely admitting she was wrong, and would hope to coax a smile back onto my face.

She had never been like this before—so composed and detached, her eyes holding nothing but the cold certainty of someone completely in control, without a trace of real tenderness.

This version of her felt like a complete stranger.

I turned my head away, avoiding her hand and stepping out of her reach before she could pull me into an embrace.

"Whitney, you don't have to do this anymore," I said coldly. "We're done. Let's just end this."

Whitney's expression darkened instantly.

"Joseph Gibson, you've never been this impulsive. Is this all because I refused to get married right now? Did you scheme with your family to corner me like this?"

I looked up and met her furious gaze with absolute calm. "I'm not forcing you into anything. I just don't want to be with you anymore."

Her expression grew even colder. "We've been together for seven years. Nobody knows how you feel about me better than I do. Stop playing hard to get. I'm not falling for this."

She was convinced I was just throwing a tantrum, certain I was using my dad's illness to pressure her into giving in and agreeing to marry me on the spot.

Looking at her, I was suddenly struck by how absurd it all was.

I laughed at myself for holding on for all these years, and for being so blind that I only now saw how cold and selfish she truly was.

"I'm not playing hard to get. Whitney, you're just too wrapped up in yourself. You've only ever cared about yourself, your company, and your pride. You haven't given a single thought to me, or to what my family wants."

It was as though I had hit a nerve. Her face contorted with rage, and her voice rose sharply.

"I work myself to the bone, giving everything I have to take the company public. Isn't that all just to build a better future for us? I only wanted to delay the wedding so we could step into this next chapter of our lives on our own terms."

She pressed on. "Joseph, why can't you show me a little understanding for once, instead of always trying to force me into things I'm not ready for?"

Understanding?

A sharp sting burned behind my nose.

Hadn't I been understanding enough?

Not long after we got together, she told me again and again that I was too abrasive. So I learned to smooth out my rough edges, constantly swallowing my pride and backing down.

All these years, even though I badly wanted to get married, I kept giving in to her endless excuses, convincing both myself and my family to keep waiting.

Even now, because I loved her, I kept swallowing my pain whenever she grew too close to Kaiden, deluding myself into believing she still loved me.

I was so pathetic that even I was disgusted with myself, let alone anyone else.

"Whitney, whether you believe me or not, I'm completely done. I'm done waiting for you. I'm done planning my life around your schedule, and I'm tired of watching you and Kaiden cross the line."

At the mention of Kaiden, a flash of guilt flickered across her eyes before rage instantly swallowed it again.

"I've told you a thousand times that he's just my employee. Stop being so paranoid and making a scene over nothing."

She snapped, "Marriage isn't up for discussion until my company goes public and everything settles down. No amount of throwing fits is going to change that!"

After delivering her ultimatum, she tossed the watch she was holding onto the couch, spun on her heel, and stormed out.

The door slammed shut with a deafening bang. The vibration shook a framed picture of us right off the entryway wall, and it shattered into pieces the instant it hit the floor.