Her Choice, My New Beginning

“On our fifth anniversary, I waited alone at "La Lune," the restaurant of our first date, a single white rose and a velvet proposal box in my pocket. But she never showed. No text, no call, just a creeping coldness in my chest. This wasn't like Sophia. Then I saw it on Instagram: a flashy video from a tech expo. My girlfriend, Sophia Chen, laughing, handing a birthday cake to her new assistant, Leo Davis. The caption: "#BestBossEver." She hadn't forgotten; she'd chosen to celebrate him. Anger, hot and sharp, burned through me. She rented an entire expo hall for him, but for me, not even a text. My world stopped. The rose, the ring, everything felt stupid. I walked out, leaving the rose, dropping the ring into a trash can. The feeling of loss was immense, but a hard resolve replaced it. This wasn't a mistake; it was her choice. Now, I would make mine. I remembered all the red flags I'd ignored. Her growing admiration for Leo, the son of a rumored tech mogul. Her late nights, her defensiveness, her distant voice. The jealousy, the arguments, the feeling of being an obstacle to her success, not a partner. Each incident, each public display of her and Leo's "teamwork" while I was relegated to the sidelines, gnawed at me. She never corrected them. She just let the narrative build. "You're obsessed with feelings, Ethan," she once said. "Success isn't about feelings. It's about power. It's about winning. It's a shame you'll never understand that." She chose what she thought was status and power over five years of my love and sacrifice. Overwhelmed, I packed a bag. Just as I zipped it shut, she walked in, cheerful and oblivious. "Ethan? You're still up?" she asked. I delivered my final blow: "Happy anniversary, Sophia." Her face went pale. On her phone, a notification from Leo flashed: "Tonight was amazing. Can't wait for our next 'celebration.' ;) You're the best, Soph." The winking emoji sealed my fate. I made the call. "Dad," I said, my voice steady. "Is the offer still on the table? The one concerning Olivia Hayes? Yes. The arranged marriage. I accept."”