The Calm After the Storm

Both my childhood friend and my older brother fell for the new student in class, the impoverished Anna Jones.

My childhood sweetheart, Walter, called off our engagement, saying, "I can't stand a spoiled heiress like Emma."

My brother seemed to have forgotten what our mom had asked of him on her deathbed. "Anna's had a tough time. It's only fair to give her half of the love I have for you, right?"

On my birthday, Walter chose to spend time with Anna instead.

On the day he was supposed to be remembering our mom's passing, my brother was having a great time with Anna and her mom instead.

When they went with Anna to Nexus City to receive her impressive design award, I burned down the house that held all our memories.

I pretended to be dead and left the city.

When the news of my 'death' reached Nexus City, the two guys whom I thought were tired of me hurried back home in the middle of the night.

They stood in front of the house that was now ashes, unable to hold back their tears.

……

The last time I mentioned my engagement to Walter Reagle, everyone in the room went quiet at first.

However, after seeing Walter's annoyed look, they all started laughing.

"Who still believes in old-fashioned childhood betrothals these days?"

"Is Ms. Lawson feeling insecure?"

I ignored their teasing.

I just looked at Walter, who was lounging on the couch with his shirt collar open, showing off the lovebites on his neck and collarbone.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed.

The pain came slowly.

"We were too young to agree to something so silly," he said.

Walter looked up with a faint, mocking smile.

He gave me a lazy look. "We're grown up now, Emma.

"Let's just forget about the past."

I was stunned. As I was about to respond, the door suddenly swung open.

Anna stepped in with a tray in her hands, decked out in her waitress uniform.

She flinched when she saw me and whispered, "Emma—I mean, Ms. Lawson…"

She finished speaking with a sad look and quickly glanced at Walter.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting?"

Anna's voice shook as she spoke. She was ready to set the tray down and leave.

Suddenly, Walter kicked the coffee table in front of him.

The cups shattered, sending glass flying.

A piece of glass cut my arm, and blood started to drip, stinging sharply.

Walter did not even look at me.

His face was pale with anger as he approached Anna.

He grabbed her apron and yanked it off.

"Anna, didn’t I tell you that I don’t want you working anymore?”

Anna nodded quickly, her eyes filling with tears.

"I just don't want to keep taking your money," she said softly.

"You and Matthias have already done so much for me.

"I can earn my own money..."

"It hurts to see you like this." Walter tossed the apron aside.

"You're coming back with me now. Don't let me catch you working again!" he said.

"I'll make sure anywhere you try to work at again gets shut down."

He turned to me sharply.

"Don't expect me to be kind to people who try to push others around."

I held my bleeding arm, staring back at him silently in the middle of the noisy, messy room.