10 Years of Waiting, I Ended Our Engagement

That evening, I took the engagement document, penned at our party five years prior, along with the engagement ring, and set out to see Sean Lawson. "I want to call off the engagement," I stated, my voice steady and devoid of emotion. Sean's captivating eyes lingered on me for a moment before he casually reclined on the sofa and squinted. "Sarah, is this some kind of joke?" I shook my head firmly. "I'm dead serious," I replied, as if to show how carefully I had made up my mind. "I've mulled it over for years." The final traces of daylight glanced across the sofa, casting a shadow that made Sean's face look even more severe. After a pause, he nodded, rose to his feet, and said with indifference, "Do what you want. I've got things on my plate. Here's your ring back from that time." I said nothing as I moved past him into the study, where I spotted the long-ago engagement agreement. I picked up the ring we had exchanged, inhaled deeply, and stood up slowly. Sean and I had spent a decade together. We were supposed to tie the knot five years ago, but the wedding had been shelved repeatedly due to Lilly Howard's interference. Over these years, I had contemplated walking away countless times, often regretting my hesitation. But not this time. From this day forward, Sean and I were done. As I left the study, I was startled to find Sean still there in the living room, contrary to my belief that he had gone. He stood there, quiet, almost as though waiting for me. I walked over, intending to pay him no mind and head straight out. Sean blocked my path, his brow furrowed, demanding my attention. "Sarah, if this is about today, you're getting it all wrong." His self-assured tone hung in the air as I kept my gaze lowered. Was I wrong? This morning, he vowed to Lilly that he would forever be her unwavering knight. Just recently, he leveraged his influence to ensure Lilly snagged the spotlight from me. Before that, he made a grand show of kissing her right in front of me, all to aid her in winning a mere game. Were these really misunderstandings? Seeing Sean extend this arrogant olive branch once more, for the first time, I remained unmoved. All these years, I was the one to retreat, to patch things up. Despite our clashes, a single word from him, and I would fall back into line. But not this time. It was over. The very next day, I headed to dance rehearsal and found Lilly backstage. She stood instructing the newcomers with a poised air. Spotting me, she blocked my way with a sly smile. In the past, I would've heeded Sean's advice. I would acquiesce, offer a timid greeting, or simply sidestep her. But this time, I struck her slender arm aside. Lilly seemed taken aback, wincing before charging back with fury, "Sarah, what's got into you? Do you even realize who you're dealing with?" I held my ground, responding measuredly, "Oh, I know. The prized daughter of the Lawson dynasty, the beloved of this troupe." Five years ago, Sean encountered Lilly at a charity event where she returned to the shelter she once called home. Eager to shine a favorable light on his company, Sean publicly claimed Lilly as his sister and took her under his wing. Somehow, this harmless gesture morphed into Sean's limitless indulgence of Lilly. Our wedding date slipped into oblivion as her whims took precedence in Sean's life. Sean first turned his back on me because of Lilly on my own birthday, no less. The family driver confided in me that a proposal was supposed to unfold on that very day. Even though Sean wasn't interested in men, I still wanted the start of the second chapter of my life to be nothing short of enchanting. So, I took matters into my own hands and snagged the prime table at Twilight Terrace for the occasion. Nestled in the charming ambiance of this lovely restaurant, surrounded by flowers and scattered applause, I delicately sliced into a petite cake with a finely crafted knife. The air was thick with sweetness, and a ring shimmered under the soft lights. Happiness overflowed within me, but then Lilly made her entrance. "Sean, I'm feeling feverish," she said. The moment Sean laid eyes on Lilly, he hesitated not one bit. He paused the proposal and went straight to her side. My smile faltered. I didn't bother to ask him what he was doing. Meeting his cold gaze, I only said, "Should we take her to the hospital together later?" His brow furrowed, eyes lingering on the ring, deep in contemplation. Yet, he spoke without hesitation, "Sarah, try to understand. Lilly is still young. A fever could have serious consequences." Perhaps a woman's intuition is spot on. Seeing him depart with Lilly under his watchful care, I realized it. Sean was never truly mine. But even so, my heart betrayed me, continuously pulling me back to him, ready to dive headfirst into love's embrace despite it all. How many times had Sean chosen Lilly over me? There were so many occasions that they blurred together in my memory. At that moment, Lilly's shrill voice sliced through the air across the entire floor. "How dare you..." I jolted back to the present, cutting her off coolly, "Why exactly should that concern me?" In days gone by, Sean not only shielded her but also expected me to back down. My endless concessions had only inflated Lilly's ego. She had repeatedly swiped my chances to take the stage, commandeered my costumes, and even snagged my fiancé right from under me. As for the things she had taken, I no longer cared to reclaim. But now, I was done playing along. "I've called off the engagement with Sean," I said. Her expression was a picture of shock, mixed with a flicker of eagerness she couldn't quite hide. "W-What?" I saw disbelief in her eyes, tinged with a barely concealed excitement. After all, Sean hailed from an affluent family, was strikingly handsome, and stood at the helm of a thriving public company. Who in their right mind would walk away from that? But I was ready to embrace what others might call foolishness for the sake of something real. I kept silent, basking in the unexpected peace, yet Lilly understood my resolve. Seeing my sincerity, her face lit up, "Seriously? You've really left him?" Her happiness didn't sting. I met her gaze and reiterated softly. "Yes, it's over between us. So now, you don't have to just look at him as a brother." Once I finished speaking, Lilly quickly changed out of her dance attire, tossed it to some junior students, and rushed out. She was no doubt going to seek out Sean. Those junior students glanced at me with apprehension. "Sarah, a-are you alright?" I shook my head slightly and mustered a smile, "Don't worry. I'm fine."