Breaking the Ring

I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me three days after I pushed him to marry me.

He insisted on one last bachelor night, saying it was just drinks, but I knew he wanted me to give up.

"Seven years together means I have to marry her?" he mumbled, drunk. "Does a woman die if she doesn't get married? Marry Cecelia, and what about Vicki? She's only twenty-one. She can't survive without me."

I stayed calm, didn't cry, and ended the engagement like he wanted.

But late at night, he knocked on my new apartment door. "Cecelia, I can't sleep without you," he said.

1

I'd been with Dominick Baxter for seven years, from college to our careers.

We built a life from nothing, finding love and success together.

Dominick was steady, almost a perfect partner, except he never planned to marry me.

I dreamed of a wedding, so I worked up the nerve and planned a surprise proposal at his company party.

In front of everyone, his smile froze, his usual calm face cracking.

I watched him, nervous.

Our friends, who'd worked with us for years, were watching too. If he rejected me in front of them, I'd be humiliated.

He just stood there, his face cold.

A friend, trying to save me from embarrassment, grabbed the ring and shoved it into Dominick's hand.

He took it but didn't say a word.

The night before our engagement, he insisted on his bachelor night.

In the middle of the night, my phone rang. It was a misdial, and I heard fabric rustling. I called his name, but no one answered. Right before I hung up, his voice came through.

"Cecelia's nothing special, trying to force me into marriage like that," he said. "I thought she got me, but she's just an ordinary woman."

I froze, my breath stuck, until another voice spoke. "But Cecelia's got a great figure, Auria University's campus queen," it said. "She's been with you seven years."

Dominick laughed. "Seven years means I have to marry her? Date any woman seven years, you'd get bored. Touching her feels like touching my own hand. In bed, it's just going through the motions. No spark left."

"If anyone's jealous, they can have her," he added. "I'd even set it up."

Another voice joined in. "I get it, Dominick. Cecelia's like a fancy meal. No matter how good, you get tired of it."

Laughter broke out, full of meaning, and in that wave of amusement, Dominick let out his real thoughts. "Marry Cecelia, and what about Vicki? She's only twenty-one. She can't survive without me."

I felt like I'd been hit by lightning, sleep gone completely.

The call cut off at some point.

That was when I decided to end it.

That night, I booked a solo trip to Nevoria.

No second thoughts, no dragging it out.

2

I saw Dominick again at a friend's birthday party.

When I walked in, I saw him with a young girl in his lap, her cheeks pink as she leaned up to share a cracker with him, their lips almost touching.

They were playing a dumb game, eating a soda cracker together, the first to touch the other's lips losing.

The room's cheers stopped when I showed up. It got awkward.

Wilbur Fuller stood and pulled me to a seat, trying to lighten the mood. "Cecelia, you're finally here. My birthday's no fun without you," he said, smiling.

I smiled back, gave him a gift, and wished him a happy birthday.

The girl blushed and tried to get up.

Dominick held her waist, keeping her there. "Where you going, little one?" he teased.

She gave him a playful glare, her face even redder.

Dominick laughed, his eyes only on the girl in his arms.

I used to be that girl in his lap. Seeing this hurt.

Wilbur's voice got sharp, sticking up for me. "Dominick, that's too much. Cecelia's right here."

Dominick's friend jumped in. "Who's really going too far? She canceled the engagement without a word, ran off on a trip, and played everyone. Cecelia, if you didn't want to marry him, why pull that proposal stunt?"

Two weeks earlier, our engagement ceremony was all set. The hotel was booked, invitations sent.

But on the day, I left a short note. "The world's big. I want to see it."

I disappeared until now.

It looked like I was the selfish one, the one who broke my word.

Fine, I thought. I'd be the bad guy.

I smiled faintly, took the ring off my middle finger, and set it on the table. Looking into Dominick's steady eyes, I said, "Dominick, the engagement's off. Congratulations, you're free."

3

I heard gasps around the room.

"Is she joking?" someone whispered.

"Everyone knows she loves Dominick with no limits. She hated being a housewife, but for him, she quit her career to cook because of his weak stomach."

"She's just mad. It's not real."

"Cecelia, you're thirty. Why get jealous over a young girl? It's just a fling."

No one believed me. Even Dominick's look had a mocking edge.

I sighed.

I'd been too soft in this relationship for too long.

Everyone forgot how stubborn I used to be.

I never backed down.

"Dominick," I said, smiling without warmth, "I'm twenty-eight. In your eyes, I can't compare to younger girls."

His lips curled into a smirk, like he was daring me to lose it, to turn into some crazed, jealous woman.

I'd been gone two weeks, and he never reached out once. But he made sure to post online about how lonely and empty the house felt.

I laughed to myself, thinking of the angry comments on his posts.

Men always side with men.

My smile grew brighter. "Don't worry, I'll do just fine without you. And mature women? That's called charm. Do you even know what charm is? Women are like wine, getting better with time. Men like you? Past twenty-five, you're done. Dominick, here's a secret. These past few years in the bed, every time I seemed to enjoy it, I was faking it. I'm tired of pretending. Find someone else."

I threw him a scornful smile as his face froze in shock.

Then I turned and walked out of the room.

4

I returned to the home I shared with Dominick and packed everything in less than an hour.

One suitcase.

Seven years of my life fit into a single suitcase.

But it didn't matter. I could leave it all behind.

I'd just settled into my new apartment when my best friend called, urging me to visit her new bar.

She said I'd been cooped up too long and needed to get out.

"Men are a dime a dozen around here," she teased.

At nine, she called again to confirm, mentioning a big shot had shown up, covering everyone's tab, hinting I shouldn't miss the chance.

I had to go.

I drew a perfect eyeliner in the mirror, grabbed my purse, and headed out.

Melina spotted me from the entrance, her eyes wide. "You did the right thing breaking it off. Cecelia, how long has it been since I saw you looking this stunning? That figure of yours, hiding it at home is such a waste," she said.

I curved my lips into a small smile.

Melina set me up in a corner. She went to tend to guests, and I drank alone.

The drinks were light, but I kept going, one after another.

When I started feeling tipsy, a tall figure sat across from me, reaching for my drink.

I quickly covered the bottle, annoyed. "Want a drink? Get your own. The big shot's paying tonight, so drink up."

The man chuckled, his voice smooth, scratching the back of my hand lightly. "You run off without a word, and I'm not even mad. Is taking a sip of your drink too much?"

That voice was too familiar.

I looked up sharply and met a pair of bright, youthful eyes. Their owner tilted his head, a charming smile on his lips.

My voice caught in my throat.

Stefan Miller.

The college guy I met while wandering aimlessly in Nevoria.

"So, Stefan knows my Cecelia?" Melina said, coming over with a grin. "Perfect. I was worried about her getting home drunk alone. Could you give her a lift, Stefan?"

I opened my mouth to protest, but Melina's hand silenced me.

She whispered in my ear, "Cecelia, Stefan's the big shot tonight. I heard he got his heart broken by some woman on a trip. He's in a bad mood. This is as far as I can help you."

"Fine," Stefan said, not giving me a chance to refuse.

I met his smiling eyes again, but my own smile faded.

Was it possible?

The woman who broke his heart was me?

5

I came to my senses when Stefan dropped me off at my apartment building.

We didn't speak the whole ride, and now there was even less to say.

I unbuckled my seatbelt to get out, but Stefan leaned over, grabbing my hand. His breath came close, his eyes locked on mine, less than a foot away.

"You're just leaving? Not inviting me up?" he asked.

Two weeks earlier in Nevoria, I was taking photos at a remote spot when some creeps harassed me. Stefan stepped in, helped me out, and escorted me back to my hotel.

As he politely said goodbye, I felt a strange impulse. I hooked his finger with mine, smiling softly. "You're leaving? Not coming up to my room?"

By then, half my trip was over. My burning feelings for Dominick had cooled in the lonely nights.

Why should I cling to a man who didn't love me anymore?

I could try something new.

Stefan was perfect.

Direct and passionate.

The way he looked at me that first time, it was like he wanted to devour me.

6

Stefan stayed polite until the door clicked shut.

The moment it did, he changed, pinning me against it and kissing me fiercely.

Like a wolf let out of a cage.

I could barely keep up with his intensity.

It was vibrant, powerful.

A thrill I hadn't felt in ages.

After a long while, I caught my breath, pointing at the red marks he left on me. "Stefan, are you a dog? Biting everywhere!" I snapped.

He laughed into my shoulder, holding me close.

The moment he tossed me onto the bed, he leaned down, biting my earlobe, his voice low and sticky. "Didn't you call me a little wolf dog? You want a dog, I'm your dog."

Then he flipped me over.

7

In Nevoria, Stefan and I were inseparable for three days. We roamed the streets by day and lost ourselves in passion by night, forgetting all my troubles.

Why did I leave without a word?

I accidentally saw his ID.

I was born in '95, he was '00.

It was like cold water dumped over my head.

I sat there, stunned, then looked up at Stefan, who was playing a game. I asked if he was still in college.

He dropped his phone without hesitation, came over, and held my face, grinning.

He said he'd graduate next year and asked if I'd come to his ceremony.

Stefan kissed me over and over, full of desire, never satisfied.

But I was distracted.

The next day, I packed my bags and slipped away.