My Fiancé Taught Me How To Cut My Losses

Chapter 4

I had just finished packing and was about to check out when my phone vibrated several times in a row.

Several bank text alerts appeared on the screen. A total of 87,000 dollars had been withdrawn, leaving the balance at zero.

It was our joint account. We'd opened it to make paying the wedding reception deposit easier, and Ethan had added it to his banking app and enabled automatic payments.

I had saved that money by working so much overtime that I developed stomach problems.

It was also all the money I had to start over in Ravenport.

I leaned against the hotel hallway wall, my hands shaking so badly I could barely scroll through my contacts.

When Ethan answered, I could hear airport announcements in the background.

"So you finally decided to call me?"

He sounded amused.

"I knew you wouldn't last a day."

My own voice shook when I spoke.

"Where is my money?"

"I used it to cover the show's contract penalty."

After clips from the previous night's livestream spread online, the show was engulfed in controversy over its host's private life, and the sponsor was preparing to pull out.

Ethan used 32,000 dollars to pay the contract penalty and another 20,000 dollars to hire a PR team to contain the backlash.

He used the rest to buy two plane tickets and book a hotel.

He was taking Tessa overseas to record a 2-month special series.

If the special series went live without a hitch, Tessa could keep her position.

"That was my money!"

Ethan went quiet for a few seconds, then scoffed.

"Isn't this mess your fault? If you'd apologized in public yesterday, it never would've blown up, and the sponsor wouldn't be pulling out. Consider that money the price you pay for acting out."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"I worked for 7 years to save that money. Why didn't you ask me before spending it?"

"We're about to be married. Do we really have to draw such a hard line between what's yours and what's mine?"

He said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"We can earn more money. The wedding can be postponed. Tessa may never get another chance like this. If this destroys her career, she'll have nothing left."

The sheer absurdity of it washed over me.

'So this is what it feels like to hurt so much you can only laugh. The wedding I've spent more than 6 months planning can be postponed whenever he pleases. The savings I've spent 7 years building can be used to save another woman's career.'

I heard Tessa beside him, urging him to board.

Ethan answered her at once, his voice turning gentle.

That kind of patience was something I hadn't gotten from him in a long time.

"What about our wedding?"

He laughed softly, probably thinking I was finally scared.

"We'll have it when I get back. You care far too much about those 7 years. You're not really going to leave over something this small."

Tessa called his name again.

He hurriedly said, "We'll talk when I get back. Don't distract me from work."

Then he hung up.

I tipped my head back, trying to hold in my tears, but my eyes burned.

My mother called immediately afterward.

"The wedding is already paid for. What are you making such a fuss about? You've been together for 7 years. What couple doesn't argue? All your dad's friends have already been invited. What do you expect me to tell them?"

I stared at the zero balance and spoke quietly.

"Mom, this isn't an argument."

"Then what is it?"

"Tell them I chose myself."

She was silent for a long time before she finally said, "Think this through carefully."

I didn't explain any further.

The documentary team agreed to advance my first month's salary and had already arranged a place for me to live.

I mailed back my engagement ring and apartment key, closed the joint account, removed myself from the shared album, left every wedding group chat, and changed my insurance beneficiary from Ethan to my mother.

I sent a few short messages to both sets of parents, telling them the engagement was over. I didn't explain a thing.

While I waited to board, Tessa posted on social media.

In the photo, Ethan was wheeling her suitcase.

At my lowest point, I'm grateful someone is here to start over with me.

Ethan: [I won't let you be alone.]

The boarding announcement for my flight to Ravenport came over the speakers.

I blocked both of them and wheeled my suitcase toward the gate.

'I never imagined a 7-year relationship would end this messily. Maybe this is for the best. At least it'll kill the last of my hope. We'll never see each other again.'