After My Fiancé Let Her Be Invisible, I Made Him Regret

Chapter 3

After the final interview, I received a formal offer.

Luke Bennett ran another hotel group and had competed with Nathan for projects in several cities. He had heard me present an operations proposal 3 years ago. This time, his recruiting team had contacted me.

When they asked for my start date, I gave myself 3 weeks to wrap up my work.

I did not tell Nathan.

I used to check his schedule before requesting even half a day off. This time, I signed first.

Nathan did not notice.

He simply thought I had stopped arguing and finally learned to be reasonable.

One night, he came home early, sat beside me, and asked me to look at the cakes Charlotte had chosen for her birthday.

"Which one do you think works best?"

I recognized the bakery.

We had sampled wedding cakes there 2 years ago. He disliked sweets, yet he tried six flavors with me and even finished the half slice I could not eat.

"Whatever you like," he had said.

I handed back his phone.

"Ask her. It's her birthday."

He murmured in acknowledgment and lowered his head to reply.

Perhaps my silence made him uneasy, because he tried to reassure me. "We can make a new wedding plan when the time comes."

I nodded and thought. 'There won't be a wedding for us.'

*****

The day before departure, Nathan called.

"Have you gone to Whitecliff Estate?"

I looked at the suitcase already packed on my bed and said nothing.

"The florist says no one has confirmed the setup locations on site. Charlotte's birthday is the day after tomorrow. The decorations have to be finished by tomorrow. Get over there as soon as you can."

On the other end, Charlotte seemed to be calling him to look at something. He responded, and after a moment, called my name again.

"Evelyn, are you listening?"

I raised my hand and touched the ring beneath my collar.

When I'd chosen Whitecliff Estate two years ago, he and I had gone there together.

The wind had been strong that day. He'd put my hand in his coat pocket and said we could invite fewer people to the wedding, only those who were truly happy for us.

Now, he was urging me to go there and set up a birthday party for another woman at my own wedding venue.

When I still didn't respond, his tone finally softened.

"Still upset about the venue?"

I stared out the window and didn't answer.

"Once Charlotte's birthday is over, we'll get married."

My hand stopped at my collar.

There was a time when those words would have made me immediately ask him which day. I would have been so afraid that if I hesitated even a second, he'd change his mind again.

But now, I was completely disappointed in him.

"We'll decide the wedding details together when the time comes," he said. "Didn't you always want to wear that dress you picked out?"

I closed my eyes.

"Alright, don't be upset anymore. Things are urgent at the estate. Charlotte's friends arrive the day after tomorrow afternoon. We can't let her down."

He paused, then added, "You know that place best. If you head over now, you'll make it in time."

I said nothing and hung up.

The screen went dark, and the bedroom fell silent again.

I sat on the edge of the bed for a long time before finally opening my laptop and attaching the handover checklist I'd organized to a resignation email.

The recipient was Human Resources, with Nathan copied.

When I clicked send, my fingertips were still trembling slightly.

Then I cut the thin chain I'd worn for two years.

The ring fell into my palm, leaving a faint mark.

I placed it on his bedside table, weighted down by a note.

Nathan, the engagement is over.

Clothes, books, and the old blanket my mother had left me—all packed into the suitcase. The jewelry he'd given me, I left in the drawer where it had always been.

Before leaving, I looked at the bedroom one more time.

His pillow was slightly askew.

I reached out, hesitated for a few seconds, then pulled my hand back and turned to wheel my suitcase out.

The next morning, I handed my laptop, key card, and company phone to Human Resources. We agreed to handle the remaining paperwork remotely, and that any work-related questions could be directed to my personal email.

Then I headed to the airport.

My first assignment at the new company was to attend a hotel industry summit in Forolden.

Before boarding, Nathan sent a message.

"How's the setup at the estate coming along? I know you've always been sensible."

I put my phone in my bag and shuffled forward with the line.

On the other end, Nathan was still waiting for my reply.

He glanced at the time and called me again.

No answer.

He frowned and set the phone back on the desk.

I'd thrown tantrums before. Said I didn't want to wait anymore, said I didn't want to keep cleaning up the humiliating scenes he put me in.

But in the end, I always took care of things.

This time, he'd even agreed to the wedding.

Once I calmed down, I'd go.

That evening, the estate manager called.

"Mr. Reed, Ms. Wells still hasn't arrived. There are a few setup details on site that need confirmation, and we can't reach her."

Nathan looked at the birthday party proposal on his desk.

"She hasn't called you?"

"No. Is she coming today?"

"Yes."

He answered quickly.

"I'll get in touch with her."

After hanging up, he picked up his phone, ready to urge me again.

But at the top of the screen, a message from Human Resources popped up.

"Mr. Reed, Evelyn's resignation handover has been completed. The resignation email she sent yesterday copied you—please check it."