He looked haggard, and his eyes were red. It looked like he hadn’t rested in a long while.
If this had happened in the past, I might have pitied him. But now, I was just annoyed. “We broke up. Why are you here?”
Brandon’s eyes reddened even more. “I never agreed to break up! We just fought.”
“I don’t need your permission to break up,” I said calmly.
I then turned to my family, who were standing to the side helplessly.
“I heard what you said that day.”
Mom, Dad, and Adrian instantly paled, and Brandon’s eyes widened as if he realized something.
I continued, voicing the truth I had pieced together, “Nina is the one Brandon likes, but because he comes from an average
background, you don’t think he’s good enough for your precious daughter.
“So, you introduced him to me instead. That way, there would still be someone who would dote on Nina in the family. Isn’t that
right?”
“N–No, it’s not like that…” Mom tried to deny it, but she couldn’t argue. Dad and Adrian lowered their heads in shame.
As for Brandon, he desperately tried to pour his heart out to me.
“I did like Nina at first. B–But that was only in the beginning… We were about to get married. How could I not have feelings for
you?”
I nodded, indicating I understood. Just as a glimmer of hope lit up in Brandon’s eyes, I mercilessly delivered the final blow.
“But you didn’t show up to our wedding. So, we won’t ever get married again.”
“No, that’s not true. We can still have another wedding. I’ve already ordered your wedding dress from your favorite designer.
“I’ve also contacted the wedding planner. As long as you say the word, we can hold a new ceremony right away. I promise it’ll be
even better than the last one.”
1/3
+15 BONUS
Chapter 8
Brandon placed his hands on my shoulders, his voice pleading. “Sadie, I’m serious. Listen to me–I was just used to taking care of
Nina. That’s all. You’re the person I truly love! I never thought you would actually leave. I’m the bastard. I hurt you. I’m the one
who let you down!”
I gently pushed his hands away. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t moved as I looked into his reddened eyes.
After all, Brandon was the one who had been by my side when I had wanted to feel loved and needed affirmation the most.
But it was also precisely because of that that I could never forgive him.
Forgiving him meant letting down the version of myself who had excitedly looked forward to our wedding.
“You love me? No, love doesn’t look like this. Love is always feeling indebted, not taking my love for granted, and repeatedly letting me down.
“Love is about mutual understanding and compromise, not one person making all the sacrifices. Brandon, there’s no going back for us. You know what I’ve always wanted more than anyone.”
What I wanted was devotion–to be someone’s firm, unwavering choice. But it was something he could never give me.
Brandon staggered back several steps as if he had been struck by lightning. He appeared despondent as he covered his face. Judging by his posture, he was probably crying.
I didn’t plan on comforting him. He was just an ex and wasn’t worth my time or energy.
I had already made myself clear. As long as he didn’t loiter outside my home and ruin my mood, that was all that mattered.
I was about to leave when my family called out to me. Only then did I remember that there were three other people with us.
Feeling slightly irritated, I rubbed my temples before glancing at the three hesitant figures in front of me. I asked point–blank, “He came here asking to get back together. So, what’s your reason?”
Dad let out a sigh. “Sadie, we read your diary. We finally realized how much you’ve suffered all these years.”
His tone was solemn as he brought up their past struggles, as if all this had been some kind of terrible misunderstanding.
He spoke about how Nina had been gravely ill as a child and nearly died. Since I hadn’t grown up at home with them, they had poured all of their love into their younger daughter.
He also mentioned how too many years had passed when I had finally returned home. They didn’t know how to act around me, and they had forgotten how to love me.
Finally, he said they had spoiled Nina, which led to her scheming against me. They had been completely unaware.
I listened quietly without reacting.
Mom’s expression was filled with shame. “We found out why Nina had an allergic reaction. It was because of the peanuts she ate in the salad. It wasn’t because of you.
Chapter 8
“I’m sorry for falsely accusing you, Sadie. I even slapped you. Did it hurt?”
+15 BONUS
These were words I had longed to hear when I had been a teenager. Every time I had been falsely accused, I would imagine that
one day my parents would uncover the truth and tell me it wasn’t my fault.
But it was too late now. I was no longer the young girl who had held out hope for them.
Seeing my lack of reaction, my family looked even more miserable. Mom and Dad wanted to say more, but I had run out of
patience.
“Alright, are you done talking? You can leave now. I still have things to do this afternoon. Stop wasting my time.”
“H–How is this a waste of time? We’re apologizing to you!” Adrian grew agitated.
He couldn’t understand why I was so cold to them. He thought all of this was merely a misunderstanding. I used to love them so
much. How had things come to this?
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