The Love She Never Earned

That morning, she was still whining about me going to business dinners and smelling like whiskey when I got home. A few hours later, she strolled in here flaunting herself.I swallowed the heat rising in my chest, forced a smile. "You've got the wrong person. My girlfriend went back home. Excuse me, I need the restroom."God, I wished it wasn't her. But from outside that private room, I heard everything."Daphne, aren't you scared Ethan's gonna find out and flip?""Tch, who cares?" Her voice was full-on mockery. "Even if he does, what's he gonna do? Yell at me? Please. Can you chill? What's wrong with wanting a little freedom?""But you've been together, like, ten years. You're not worried that might crash and burn?"She snorted. "He's not going anywhere. A guy that boring—who'd even want him? He was talking marriage, and I shut that down fast.""So you're just gonna keep stringing him along?"She took a slow sip, laughed. "Marriage? Please. I'm still young. Spending forever wi

Even after everything, Daphne and I were always headed for a bad ending.Alana must've read my mind—she gave my hand a gentle pat. "I'm just teasing. At least we've still got time."Funny thing? I had my boss, Mr. Cortez, to thank for Alana.Right after the breakup, I was a wreck. Tried to keep it outta work, but honestly, I was running on fumes.Mr. Cortez caught wind of it and was like, "You need a reset," then pushed to set me up. The guy's part mentor, part big bro—I couldn't say no.Turned out, that someone was Alana. She was leading a project we were already teaming up on.We didn't talk much at first, but her vibe? Chill. Solid. Like, just being near her made things feel less chaotic.She later said I left a good impression too. So we rolled with it—grabbed dinner here and there.With time, and more late nights at work, I saw it—she wasn't cold, just quiet. Soft, steady. Real.Everything changed at this one social event. I overdid it on the drinks, my stomach flipped, a

"Alana, I—"She smiled softly, then turned to Daphne. "Ethan was just a kid when he stepped up for your whole family. He worked himself to the bone, sometimes passed out on the way to shifts, and never said a word about it. So tell me—how does that make him less of a man?"I stared at her, floored. How did she even know all that?"Did you know he's got serious stomach issues? I've worked with some real grinders, but no one like him. He gave you a stable life at the cost of his own health. So when you come at him with all that blame, doesn't it eat at you even a little?"Daphne's mouth hung open. Her face flushed as she jabbed a finger at Alana."What does this have to do with you? Ethan's my boyfriend—he's supposed to take care of me! Who even are you to judge?"I stepped up, sliding in front of Alana."I haven't been your boyfriend in a long time. Don't cause drama in front of my fiancée.""Y-You two!" Daphne looked ready to blow. Her glare could've set something on fire. "Eth

Aprons or not, we still ended up a mess.But once the past was out of the way, dinner felt easy—like two old friends catching up after forever.Alana's cheeks were stuffed, eyes lighting up every time something clicked.And right then, I knew—this was what I'd been chasing the whole time. Just quiet, simple happiness.Since I shut Daphne down outside the office, she'd gone quiet for a week.Meanwhile, the wedding crept closer.To stay ahead before taking leave, I'd been pulling late nights at work.One morning, as I left early, someone stepped in front of me.Daphne.She looked wrecked—no makeup, red eyes, not a trace of her old attitude.I was about to walk right past when she said, "Ethan, didn't you say you'd help with my mom's treatment? She's been coughing a lot... said she wants to see you."My fists tightened. I exhaled slow, turned, met her eyes."Got it. You can go.""You're... not coming with me?"I didn't say a word. Just walked past her and drove off.But I s