Chapter 3

Everyone froze. Even Donovan and Rebecca—always chasing money—just stood there as I walked out.

I drove home.

I stepped into the small place that used to be full of laughter. Every step hit like a punch to the chest.

Every corner, everything—ten years of us living here together. Memories I thought would last forever, now cutting like glass.

I forced myself to pack. Just kept moving, like that could fix anything.

On the shelf sat The Little Prince—the copy we picked together. A faded movie ticket still tucked inside. Our first date.

I ran my fingers over the cover. Cold. It sank deep.

My tears finally fell, dotting the pages, washing the anger out.

The closet was packed with our clothes and photos.

Her blouses still held that soft lavender scent—her favorite. It used to calm me every time I held her.

Now it just felt like a joke. She wasn't here anymore.

I yanked everything down and tossed it on the floor, like that could burn the bitterness out of me.

It didn't.

The anger faded, and something heavier crashed in right after.

Our photo sat on the nightstand. We were smiling—easy, carefree.

I slammed it to the floor. The frame shattered, the crack ringing through the empty room.

I'm done loving her. She's not worth it.

The good times flashed back—then Harvey wrecking all of it.

His name hung between us like a shadow, pushing us further apart.

She started seeing him more, leaving me behind again and again.

Harvey was her dream guy—the one she never got over. I always knew.

From the start, I hated that he came back. But she'd just brush it off.

"Harvey and I are over. He's just a friend now. He's alone, no one to lean on. I'm just helping him out."

Later, she saw him more and more. Always some excuse.

Sick. Scared of storms. Some problem he "couldn't handle."

Every time, my fiancée had to be there for him.

And me? I got pushed aside.

"Rowan, can't you be more understanding? Harvey has no one. I have to help him. Why are you so cold? Why can't you be reasonable?"

What about me?

I was the one with no one.

I tried to understand. Tried to put up with it. But every letdown made me colder.

Especially watching her ditch our wedding again and again—for that so-called dream guy.

She'd already made her choice.

I wiped my tears and kept packing, hands steady.

Every item I tossed felt like letting go. Every empty space felt like I could finally breathe.

I knew it'd take time.

But I could wait.

Wait for something new—something mine.

No Loree. No Harvey.

Just me... and whatever comes next.