The Love That Withered

When he heard my words, Claire Yardley's father, Preston Yardley, cast me a look filled with thinly veiled disdain and said casually, "Shayne, everything was going fine. Why are you calling off the engagement so suddenly?"Her mother, Miriam Lambert, quickly picked up the conversation, her tone carrying a trace of feigned reproach. "The wedding is just days away. Have you thought about how it'll make us look?"I lowered my gaze and gently placed the engagement token on the coffee table.It was a malachite pendant carved with an ancestral dragon motif, its surface glowing softly under the lights.The matching phoenix pendant was still in Claire's possession.At last, it could be returned to the Yardley family, reuniting again as a pair."Mr. and Mrs. Yardley, please don't worry," I said calmly. "I'll tell everyone that this was my decision. It won't affect Yanko's reputation or the Yardley family's."The moment I finished speaking, the smiles on their faces were impossible to hid

I had brought this up with Claire before.Back then, Claire had only said, "It's such a small thing. Don't be so sensitive. If you're innocent, then you have nothing to fear. Just ignore that kind of pointless gossip."At the time, I understood her need for strictness as a CEO.After that, I never mentioned it again.However, when similar rumors began to spread about her and Marcus, Marcus cried as he complained to her.She immediately found an excuse to fire the employee who had been spreading the rumors, using that as a warning to the others.From that moment onward, no one dared to gossip about Marcus again. They only said things he liked to hear.After packing up, I went home.I sat on the sofa in a daze, staring out the window.Once again, it was past midnight when she returned.Marcus followed behind her.The moment he entered, he glanced at me. A provocative smile curled at the corner of his lips.He deliberately leaned close to Claire and whispered something in her

After dinner, my dad suddenly said, "Since you've already decided to call off the wedding, it's time to think about a new beginning."I looked up at him. "What do you mean?"He adjusted his glasses and continued, saying, "Do you remember Mr. Greene's daughter, Ashley Greene? You two used to play together as kids. She just returned from studying in the Hlerias. Now, she's overseeing marketing at her family's company."My mom's eyes lit up."That's right. She's a wonderful girl: well-read, sensible, and beautiful. And most importantly, our families are well-matched. We know each other very well."I smiled helplessly. "So…you're setting up a date for me?""Think of it as meeting a friend," my dad said calmly. "If it doesn't work out, that's fine too."Three days later, I met Ashley at a restaurant.She was even more striking than in the photos. She wore a simple white dress, with black hair cascading down her shoulders.Her features carried an air of intelligence and composure.

I tried to pull away, but Claire only tightened her grip."Just listen to me, okay?" she pleaded. "After you left that day, I thought about everything. I realized I can't live without you… The one I truly love is you."I replied softly, "Claire, calm down. Just let go.""No!" she cried, her voice rising sharply. "If I let go, you'll disappear again!"Her sudden outburst drew curious glances from people nearby."Shayne, how can you treat me like this? We've been together for so many years. You can't just throw it all away!"Tears streamed down her face, ruining her makeup."I know you're angry about Marcus, but I swear it won't happen again! I...""It wasn't because of Marcus," I said, interrupting her. "It was because we were never right for each other.""How are we not right for each other?" she shouted hysterically. "You were the one who said you'd love me for a lifetime!"I took a deep breath."Back then, I was blind," I said quietly. "Claire… When we were together, were