Chapter 1
After 10 years of loving him, I finally received the proposal I had dreamed of from Roman Beaumont on my 30th birthday.
He stood there in a perfectly tailored suit, dropped to one knee, and held out an exquisite box. Tears blurred my vision as my hands trembled while opening it.
But inside was nothing except a single leaf that looked like it had been casually ripped from a roadside bush.
A wave of laughter immediately broke out among the guests. I stood there frozen, still clutching the leaf.
My best friend, Celine Sinclair, laughed until she could barely catch her breath, "Lili, look at you. Don't tell me you actually thought Roman was going to propose to you today?"
Roman didn't even look at me. Instead, he took out a bracelet and placed it in Celine's hand.
"Celine saw this bracelet on the way here and liked it. Since today was your birthday, I used the box to test your reaction. I'm disappointed by your response. You know my company is at a critical point right now. I can't let something like marriage affect the bigger picture."
So that was what he thought. In his eyes, marrying me wasn't a big deal.
Seeing me turn away with a cold expression, Celine hurriedly called out. "Lili, seriously? You're leaving because you can't take a joke? It's your birthday today. Isn't the birthday girl supposed to pick up the check?"
Roman glanced back at me. "Come on. Don't throw a tantrum. You told us yesterday you had already booked a table and wanted to celebrate. Take us to the restaurant."
On Celine's birthday, I was the one footing the bill. On my birthday, I was still the one picking up the tab.
The dozen people behind me burst into laughter and cheers again. No one had remembered to wish me a happy birthday or bring me a gift, yet they had no problem expecting me to foot the bill.
I looked around at those smiling faces, and each one felt like a blade twisting deeper into my heart. In that moment, I realized I was nothing but a clown, standing on a stage where everyone else was laughing at me.
Celine had been hinting all week that Roman might pop the question on my birthday. I was so thrilled that I stayed awake all night, then spent the next few days running from one venue to another, trying to find the perfect spot.
I had imagined that moment over and over. The cake would be brought out, everyone would be watching, and Roman would take my hand and put an engagement ring on my finger. I never imagined that what I would get was a worthless leaf—put in the box of the bracelet Celine had picked out on a whim.
"Roman, do you really believe we aren't meant to spend our lives together?" I asked, my eyes red as I looked up at him, my nails digging into my palm.
After 10 years, I still needed to hear the answer from him.
"Rome, I can't put this bracelet on by myself. Can you help me?"
Roman's eyes were completely fixed on Celine. She held out her fair, delicate wrist toward him, and he gently fastened the bracelet on her, his every movement careful and attentive.
For 10 years, he had never once helped me with a dress zipper, yet he could put a bracelet on Celine's wrist as if she were something precious.
"Lillian, how old are you? Do you really need someone else to help you get dressed?"
Watching the two of them standing so close, I laughed. A bitter ache filled my chest, and before I realized it, tears had already fallen.
"I get it. Go wherever you two want. I'll pass."
A part of my heart felt missing, leaving behind a painful emptiness that throbbed quietly inside me.
Roman frowned and looked up at me, but my tears didn't move him. There was no comfort, no apology, not even a hint of concern.
"Lillian, do you really have to ruin the mood? Who could handle someone as moody as you?"
Celine immediately stepped forward and gently grabbed my arm. "Lili, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Rome test your feelings with a fake proposal."
I didn't say a word. But Roman couldn't bear hearing her take the blame and pulled her away.
"Celine, you did nothing wrong. You don't owe her an apology. She's the one who never thinks about others. She acts like everyone should drop everything and revolve around her."
The tears I had fought back finally spilled over. 10 years of waiting, and there was no proposal. On my birthday, they had turned my dream into a joke, and now they were telling me I was the selfish one.
Celine smiled and stepped in to play peacemaker. "Alright, can we stop fighting? If you're not in the mood to eat, let's go to the club to sing. Lili, cheer up. Come with us."
Celine wrapped her arm around Roman's and gave him a little nudge. Roman didn't pull away. Instead, he rested his arm around her shoulders.
"See? You get upset over every little thing. You should really learn from Celine. Your attitude isn't exactly what people would call charming."
To Roman, I would never be as warm, understanding, or lovable as Celine. I reached into my bag, pulled out the old love letter, and returned it to him.
10 years had gone by, and the paper had already faded yellow. I had always believed we would make it all the way to the end, so I kept that letter all these years. I thought today would be the day I finally saw my happiness come true, which was why I brought it with me.
But life had a cruel sense of humor. I heard myself say the one thing I never thought I would say.
"Roman, we're done."
