Blurb：
On their tenth anniversary, Emily discovers her fiancé Oliver’s inappropriate behavior with his assistant Chloe during a business trip. When Emily’s calm response triggers Oliver’s anger instead of concern, she realizes their relationship has reached its breaking point. Despite Oliver’s attempts to dismiss her feelings and offer material compensation, Emily stands firm in her decision to leave. This emotional story explores themes of betrayal, self-respect, and moving on after a decade-long relationship. Follow Emily’s journey as she reclaims her life while Oliver remains oblivious to the depth of her pain and determination.
Content：
On our tenth anniversary, my fianc Oliver was overseas on a business trip with his assistant, Chloe.
I called over a dozen times, but no one picked up.
Almost simultaneously, Chloe’s social media feed updated.
In the video, a man was removing his shirt in the background, his well-defined chest muscles visible in the dim light.
Her caption read,
“Business trip abroad with the big lawyerteaching me business by day and love by night, teehee~”
I didn’t panic or get angry. I simply liked the post and commented,
“Wishing you all the best! Hope a baby comes soon!”
…
The phone that had been unreachable finally rang.
After several frantic rings, Oliver’s voice came through, tight with suppressed anger, came through,
“Emily, what’s with the passive-aggressive act?”
“You made Chloe cry!”
“Is it really that big of a deal? She’s just a young girl messing around with memes!”
“Weren’t you young once? Why can’t you take a joke?”
A volley of accusations shot toward me.
He didn’t seem to care at all why I, who rarely initiated contact, had called him over a dozen times in a single hour.
I moved the phone slightly away from my ear and said calmly, “Let’s break up.”
Silence on the other end for a few seconds, then his voice cooled considerably,
“Over a joke video?”
“Yes.”
“Emily, this is the third time you’ve mentioned breaking up in less than six months. Aren’t you afraid I’ll actually say yes?”
Oliver sighed, the sound heavy with feigned helplessness,
“I know you’re insecure. You’re not getting any younger, always worried some girl will snatch me away.”
“But you need to understand, first, she doesn’t have those intention, and second, do you really see me as that irresponsible?”
“Tell me, what do you want this time?”
“I’ll propose publicly when I get back, and we’ll get married by Chrismas. Will that do?”
I hung up without another word.
We’d been together for ten years, from age 19 to 29.
We fell in love in the prime of our youth, supporting each other through lean times.
Now he was successful, a partner at a prestigious law firm.
Everyone said I was lucky to have picked a “potential stock.”
Oliver was convinced that every time I mentioned breaking up, it was just a tactic to pressure him.
Because he repeatedly allowed Chloe to cross boundaries, I’d brought up breaking up twice before.
Each time, after a period of cold silence, Oliver would humble himself to reconcile.
The first time, he took ten days off to accompany me back to Seattle to visit my parents.
The second time, he gifted me a Ferrari and bought a villa as our marital home.
This time, he assumed I was forcing a marriage proposal.
He didn’t know that every single time, my desire to leave was genuine.
But this time, I wouldn’t look back.
Breaking up was merely the final step.
I’d already arranged the next chapter of my lifea new job, a new city, everything waiting for me.
The only reason I waited for his return was that after a long ten years, even the finale deserved to be resonant.
Oliver walked into the house looking utterly drained.
He tossed his suitcase in the entryway and collapsed onto the sofa, his voice raspy.
“Emily, did you make that throat-soothing soup?”
“My throat’s been killing me these past two weeks overseas. It’s unbearable.”
He suffered from allergic pharyngitis, and over the years, I’d perfected a homemade throat-soothing soup that worked better for him than any medication.
In the past, I would have immediately fussed over him, bringing the carefully prepared tea and watching him drink it.
But now, my eyes remained fixed on the computer screen. I didn’t move.
Oliver looked surprised. He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket, opened it, and held it out to me.
“Tenth anniversary gift. Look, do you like it?”
When I didn’t respond, Oliver took out the ring himself. “Try it on! It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
It wasn’t the engagement ring I might have expected, but a small, delicate pinky ringpurely decorative.
I glanced at it and continued clicking my mouse.
Oliver’s patience ran out. He tossed the ring onto the table.
“Are you still hung up on that?”
“I took her abroad for work. I didn’t forget our anniversaryI bought you a gift. What more do you want?”
I looked at him calmly. “Did you choose this gift yourself?”
A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes, but his voice grew louder.
“Chloe picked it out. She said engagement rings should be custom-ordered, and for a gift, this pinky ring was stylish.”
“I don’t understand women’s accessories. It’s the latest seasonal design from a high-end brand, recommended by the clerk. Is that wrong too?”
I extended my right hand and said flatly, “Really? Then put it on me.”
Oliver picked up the ring and tried to slide it onto my pinky, but his expression suddenly shifted.
My slender, pale finger had a distinctly crooked joint from an old injury. The ring stuck there, a perfect, pathetic misfit.
He froze, his lips parting silently.
I sneered and withdrew my hand.
Oliver had forgottenmy pinky was permanently deformed from an untreated injury. I could never wear a pinky ring.
He’d forgotten so quickly, even though I got that injury saving him.
During a car accident, I’d pushed him out of the way, and my pinky was crushed.
Back then, we were penniless, six months behind on rent, facing eviction.
I used the $8,000 compensation from the driver to pay a year’s rent and bought him a proper suit for job interviews.
It was only when I cried out in pain at night that Oliver realize I’d only gotten a basic cast at a cheap clinicno real medical treatment.
That night, we held each other and wept in our cramped basement apartment.
He swore he would love and cherish me forever.
Turns out, his “forever” didn’t even last ten years.
The electronic lock on the front door beeped, and the door swung quietly open. Chloe tiptoed in.
Seeing Oliver and me, she stopped short.
“Oh, Emily, you’re home too… I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
She instantly looked uncomfortable, as if only just realizing how inappropriate her entrance was.
“Oliver left his laptop in the car. I thought he’d be catching up on sleep after the long flight, so I used the code to avoid waking him by knocking…”
I stared coldly at Chloe, who now looked on the verge of tears. “You remember the code quite well. This isn’t your first time letting yourself in like this, is it?”
Chloe’s voice trembled, but her expression held a stubborn defiance.
“Don’t misunderstand, Emily. I haven’t come over often. Oliver gave me the code before to fetch materials.”
“I know you don’t like me, but Oliver and I are completely professional. I’m just his assistanthelping him is my job.”
I couldn’t help a cold laugh.
“Coming over when you have cramps so he can make you ginger tea late at night? Calling him to rescue you from a cockroach? Showing up at our dinner dates, no matter the time? Some job description!”
“And you talk about being professional? Filming your boss half-undressed at night? Invading our home the moment he lands? You’re the picture of professionalism!”
Tears welled in Chloe’s doe-like eyes, as if she’d suffered a grave injustice.
She stubbornly looked at Oliver. When he remained silent, she finally turned away, sobbing.
“Emily, that’s enough.”
Oliver walked over and began gently patting Chloe’s back, frowning at me.
“Was that really necessary? She was just kindly returning my laptop. I’ll talk to her about being more careful in the future.”
He shot a helplessly glance at Chloe, his reprimand a mere whisper. “You toowhy so thoughtless? Apologize to Emily.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Chloe sobbed. “I was just worried about you. You’ve been working so hardI didn’t want to disturb your rest.”
Furious beyond words, I pulled out my phone.
“You trespassed without permission. You did nothing wrong? If your lawyer boss hasn’t taught you the law, maybe the police can.”
“Enough!” Oliver strode over and snatched the phone from my phone.
“Don’t go too far, Emily. You’re acting like a jealous shrew. You’re the one who doesn’t understand the law here. This house is in my nameI can allow her to come here whenever I want.”
The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Chloe subtly straightened her posture, shooting me a triumphant look.
I stared, unblinking, at Oliver.
We’d attended the same university, studied the same major. He’d first pursued me because he could never beat me in debates.
Now, in his eyes, I was a law-ignorant shrew?
Suddenly, the face I’d known for a decade looked alien, blurred.
Meeting my gaze, a flicker of panic crossed Oliver’s face, but he quickly composed himself.
“Emily, I just meant we shouldn’t make a big deal out of small things.”
I grabbed my bag and offered a faint, cold smile. “You’re right. This is your house. I should be the one to leave.”
Chloe moved to block my path.
“Emily, please don’t be like this. I’ll apologize, okay?”
“If you storm out like this, he’ll just have to run after you.”
“Oliver is exhausted. I’ll leave now. Please don’t be angry with himlet him rest.”
She gripped my arm tightly, her sharp nails digging into my skin.
I wrenched my arm free and slapped her hard across the face. A sharp crack echoed as she stumbled back and fell.
“Emily!”
Behind me, Oliver took two rapid steps forward, but at the sound of Chloe’s pained cry, he turned back toward her.
I slammed the door shut and left without a backward glance.
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