Ink Brimm
My fiancé hated anything that felt like a hassle.
In the five years we dated, I always chose where we went. His only job was to have his driver take him there.
For birthdays and anniversaries, he gave me the same Barbie-pink lipstick every time.
When we started planning our wedding, nothing changed.
I tried to go over the guest list with him, but he said it was too much trouble and couldn't be bothered to check it carefully.
Even when it came to our engagement photos, he complained that the shoot would take too long, so we only did one basic package.
Today, I came to the wedding planning studio alone to give final approval on the arrangements.
As the planner, Claire Bennett, pulled up the renderings, she chatted casually with me.
"You know, a while back, we had a gentleman come in who was incredibly meticulous about everything.
"He personally sampled more than twenty different candies just for the wedding favors. The bride doesn't like sweets, so he even checked the sugar content of every single one."
Claire smiled and went on.
"Funny coincidence, too. He has the same last name as your fiancé, Sutton. And just like your fiancé, he doesn't like roses."
The tip of my pen froze against the paper.
Claire didn't notice anything unusual. She looked toward the entrance with a smile.
"Look, Mr. Sutton is here again.
"This time, he wants to add an outdoor fireworks display because he's worried the bride will feel cooped up indoors."
I followed her gaze.
Yale Sutton pushed open the door and walked in.
All the disappointment that had piled up again and again, along with the shock of this moment, came crashing down on me at once.
So he wasn't afraid of trouble.
He just wasn't willing to go to any trouble for me.
If his heart wasn't with me, then there was no reason to keep holding on.
This relationship had run its course.