Chapter 1I got into bad car crash and called my fiancé TEN times—ALL DECLINED.
[I'm in a meeting. Can you not be THIS clingy.]
Next second, his secretary post: "Best boss remembered I love crab ?✨ Yum~"
In the photo—that stupid pink fan plugged into HIS charger.
On that stretcher, the pain suddenly became unbearable.
Ten years together. Damon's OCD is EXTREME.
I used his charger ONCE—he threw it out and ignored me for a WEEK.
Even made me kneel and apologize.
But his precious secretary gets to break ALL his rules.
And now I'm bleeding out—he's busy raw-dogging that bitch?!
That's when it hit me.
Screw OCD bullshit. He just never loved me.
My fingers shook as I sent the post to him.
"We're done, asshole! Get your shit out of MY apartment in 24 hours."
...
The nurse looked at me with pity.
"When's your family getting here?"
"You need stitches right away! Someone has to sign."
I thought about it and texted my best friend Kira.
Twenty minutes later, Damon finally showed up—with Myla right behind him.
The moment Kira saw them, she let out a mocking laugh.
"Well. Mr. Cross came to see his ex and brought his little secretary along?"
Damon frowned. Didn't answer her.
Just walked straight to me and crouched down, voice all soft and concerned.
"Isla, what did the doctor say? Did they catch the driver?"
"Nothing serious. Six stitches."
"He ran. Already reported it."
I pulled my hand away from his reach and answered flatly.
He awkwardly dropped his hand. Looked guilty.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore your calls."
I looked at him and calmly cut him off.
"I know. You don't need to apologize."
"We're break up anyway."
His face changed instantly. His voice got colder.
"Isla, we've been together TEN YEARS."
"You're really gonna break up with me over a charger?"
I smirked.
My eyes shifted to Myla standing behind him.
"What else? Wait till she's in your bed?"
"Isla, I know you don't like me, but you can't just insult me like this."
Myla's voice trembled as her eyes reddened.
"Damon and I have a strictly professional relationship."
"I get hives when I overheat, so I borrowed his charger for the fan."
"I won't do it again."
I was about to ask if there weren't public charging stations nearby when Damon suddenly stood up.
He stepped in front of Myla protectively.
"Isla, are you done?"
"What's the point of being this aggressive?"
I looked up at him. My nose stung.
"Who's the one making a scene?!"
"YOU."
He didn't hesitate. His voice turned cold.
"Apologize to Myla."
I glanced at my watch. Swallowed the tightness in my throat.
"I'm NOT apologizing!"
"You've got less than twenty-three hours to pack your shit and get out."
"Also, I'm telling both our parents that we broke up mutually."
Then I pulled the engagement ring off my finger and held it out to him.
"You know your mom hates homewreckers more than ANYTHING."
Panic flashed in his eyes.
He opened his mouth to speak.
But Myla suddenly gasped behind him.
"Ah! My hand!"
Damon spun around.
Large red welts had spread across Myla's skin.
He grabbed her waist and looked back at me.
"Isla, I don't agree to this breakup. And I'm not moving out."
"Wait for me."
Then he scooped Myla up and rushed off to find a doctor.
His broad figure disappeared down the hallway.
I gripped the ring.
Nodded at Kira to push me over to the trash bin.
I stared at the labels—Recyclable and Non-Recyclable.
Without hesitation, I tossed it into the second bin.
"You're not even running a fever..."
Kira touched my forehead like I'd lost my mind.
"Isla, did that crash scramble your brain?"
I leaned back in the wheelchair and smiled faintly.
"For the past ten years, all I ever wanted was Damon Cross."
"But suddenly?"
"I'm just over it."
Chapter 2
When I got home, Damon had just gotten out of the shower.
"Tomorrow's Saturday. Let's go look at wedding dresses and suits."
"We can pick out the toast outfits too."
He glanced at his phone.
"Can't tomorrow. Meeting up with an old classmate to talk business."
"As for the suit—it's for photos, right?"
"Just pick whatever you like. I'm good with anything."
I stared at his face, wanting to say that a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Couldn't we do this part together?
But the words stuck in my throat.
I knew he hated when people messed with his plans.
So I switched gears.
"Can you at least drive me there in the morning? My car's in the shop."
He agreed without hesitation.
"Sure."
This morning, I got ready and sat in the living room waiting for him.
His phone buzzed on the table.
The caller ID said "Secretary Hart."
I answered.
Myla's voice came through—shaky, almost tearful.
"Mr. Cross... I know I shouldn't bother you on your day off, but Mr. Smith from Star Tech keeps insisting on taking me to brunch."
"I want to say no, but I'm worried it'll hurt the new deal..."
Knowing Damon's personality, I answered for him.
"Myla, Damon has plans today. He's not available."
"If you can't handle it, then quit."
Silence on the other end.
Then she hung up.
Damon came out of the bedroom. Walked over.
"Who just called?"
I did what I always did—started fixing his tie.
"Your secretary."
"What'd she want?"
"Mr. Smith asked her to brunch. I—"
Before I could finish, Damon jerked upright.
The tie yanked against my nail. It snapped.
A sharp sting spread through my fingertip.
His brow furrowed immediately. His face darkened.
"Smith?"
I didn't answer.
Just stared down at my broken nail.
Damon's expression shifted. He grabbed his phone, typed fast, hit send.
Then kissed me.
"Take an Uber. Use my card for whatever you want."
"You know what Smith's like. She can't handle him alone."
And just like that, he was gone.
Didn't even notice me wincing in pain.
I pulled out the first aid kit, disinfected the nail and wrapped it in a bandage.
By then, I didn't feel like trying on wedding dresses anymore.
So I called Kira to go shopping instead.
Didn't want to call a car. Rented a bike and pedaled slowly.
Then my luck got worse.
A car ran a yellow light and hit me.
Before I could even process it, both the driver and the car were gone.
A gash tore across my shin. I collapsed on the pavement, shaking from the pain.
A girl got out of her car—called 911 for me and stayed by my side.
Her phone rang over and over.
She was late for work. Her boss and clients were furious.
I felt bad. Told her she could go.
She just smiled at me.
"It's fine. I can deal with it."
"Right now, you're what matters."
Those five minutes after I called Damon—my mind was spinning.
Three months ago, I'd been craving crab.
He said he didn't like shelled food. Told me to go with Kira and he'd pay.
But today? He went with Myla.
He hated when people messed with his schedule.
I couldn't even try on a wedding dress with him.
But he'd promised to drive me. Then ditched me the second Myla called.
And that charger.
I'd used it once. He gave me the silent treatment for a WEEK.
But now? Myla plugged her fan into it like it was nothing.
For ten years, I'd been waiting for Damon to break his rules for me.
Just once.
Waiting for him to pick up when I called during a crisis.
Waiting for him to adjust his plans for me.
Waiting for him to put me at the top of his list.
For ten years, I followed his rules, bent to his moods, loved him carefully.
But at this moment, the only person who put me first—was a stranger.
That's when I understood.
He NEVER loved me.
And I shouldn't keep pretending he did.
Lying in the hospital bed, I opened the group chat with both our parents.
Typed. Deleted. Typed again.
Finally hit send.
Not long after I closed my eyes, my wound became infected.
My fever spiked to nearly 104.
Only Kira stayed by my side. Ran around taking care of everything.
Early the next morning, I was woken by muffled sobbing.
Chapter 3
I opened my eyes groggily, my whole body aching.
Evelyn was at the door, staring at Damon.
"How can you be this stupid?"
"She's lying here hurt and you ran off to take care of your secretary?!"
"Tell me the truth—did you cheat on her?"
"I've known Isla for ten years. She wouldn't break up with you unless you really messed up!"
Damon frowned.
"Mom, you don't get it. I couldn't just leave Myla yesterday—"
"But you could leave Isla?!"
Evelyn was shaking. Her voice cracked.
"God, Damon. You're exactly like your father."
She turned. Saw me awake. Rushed over.
Looked at my bandaged leg, her eyes reddened again.
"Sweetie, I'm so sorry. I raised him wrong."
"You shouldn't have to deal with this."
"Please. Can you give Damon another chance?"
I was still confused when my phone screen lit up.
Message from Dad.
Every line was him—steady, protective.
After I announced the breakup last night, he'd sent the wedding money back to the Cross family immediately.
"Isla, we'll always respect your choices. Always have your back."
"Home was always there."
My chest tightened warmly.
I looked up at Evelyn and spoke firmly.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Aunt Evelyn."
"I'm just... not meant to be part of your family."
"If my mom were here, she'd say the same thing."
Evelyn froze when I mentioned Mom.
They'd been best friends since high school.
Stayed close even after life pulled them to different cities.
Then by chance, they both moved here, continuing that friendship for years.
My sophomore year, Damon's dad cheated.
Evelyn found out and asked Mom to come with her to confront him.
During the confrontation, things got physical.
Mom got stabbed. Kidney ruptured.
She survived but never fully recovered.
Died a year before I graduated college.
Evelyn never forgave herself. Treated me like her own daughter after that.
Finally, she let out a tired sigh.
"I won't push you."
"But keep the wedding money. Call it a gift from me."
"I just hope your mother doesn't blame me."
She pressed the card into my hand.
"Get some rest."
Then she shot Damon one last glare and left.
Damon walked in. Saw the card. Thought I'd caved.
"Look, yesterday was my fault. I promise I won't ignore your calls again."
"Once you're out, we'll do the wedding photos. Book the venue."
"Our parents are old. They can't handle this drama."
As he spoke, he reached for my hand.
Then his gaze froze on my bare ring finger.
"Where's your ring?!"
I lowered my eyes.
A faint white mark still circled the base of my finger.
"Threw it out."
Damon's hand stopped midair. His jaw tightened.
"Isla, what exactly do you want from me?"
"Fire Myla."
"No."
He rejected it almost instantly.
"Why not?"
"She's less capable than every assistant you've fired before."
I stared at him. Just facts.
He looked uncomfortable, irritation creeping into his tone.
"Isla, you're thirty. Stop acting like a teenager."
"We've been together ten years. Everyone knows we're getting married."
"If we break up now? That's basically the same as being divorced."
Even though I'd already decided, that still stung.
I couldn't believe the man who used to cry when I said yes was the same person standing here pissed off at me.
"Damon, don't fight because of me."
Myla walked in, eyes red.
"Isla's right. I'm not good enough. I already turned in my resignation."
Tears rolled down her face. She looked at me.
"Isla, I truly never wanted to ruin your relationship with Damon."
I smiled coldly.
"You already did."
Then I shoved the card Evelyn gave me into her hand.
"This is the wedding money from your boss's mother."
"It's yours now."
Myla froze and looked helplessly toward Damon.
His expression darkened completely, anger flashing in his eyes.
"Isla, don't regret this!"
He grabbed Myla's wrist and headed for the door.
Right before he left, I called out.
"Damon."
He paused. Still holding her wrist.
"Ten hours. Be out of my place."
