My heart shattered into pieces as I processed his words. So this was it. My fiancé had been keeping secrets, and I was nothing but a fool. Who was I to him? I looked at his familiar figure, disappointment flooding my veins. Even without hearing the other side of the conversation, I knew whatever was said would crush me further.
He continued, “I love her. I can’t give up Lila.”
His words fell like ice water over my heart. I stood frozen, the weight of his confession crushing me. This was more than I could bear. If he loved Lila so much, then I had no place in his life.
I took a deep breath and walked up to him, knocking lightly on the table. He quickly hung up, turning around with a look of panic in his eyes.
“When did you get here?” he asked, feigning surprise.
I forced a smile. “Just arrived. Who were you talking to on the phone?”
He scrutinized my expression, his relief palpable when he saw no signs of emotion on my face. He walked toward me and pulled out the chair closest to me. “Just a work call. They wanted to remind me about a meeting later.”
I nodded, not calling him out on his pathetic excuse.
“Let’s eat. You can leave early after lunch,” I suggested, trying to sound casual.
He waved over the waiter to serve our food, then turned back to me. “How are the pearls? Did they meet your expectations?”
My smile faltered, but I nodded. “They’re nice, but I was surprised to find out I have another set exactly like my custom-made pearls.”
I let my words hang in the air, watching as his expression shifted slightly.
“Maybe there was a mix-up. I can check this afternoon,” he said, but his eyes darted away.
I felt my heart turn to ice, knowing it was all lies. He looked at me, probably wondering why I was so quiet. I had always been the one to fill the silence, to share my thoughts and dreams with him.
At first, he was patient, even engaging. But ever since Lila came back from her training, he grew more distant. He’d interrupt me or change the subject entirely, saying, “Girls are cuter when they talk less. Just be quiet, Calla.”
His comments stung, but I’d brush it off, thinking he was joking. I didn’t realize how obvious his disinterest had become until now.
Looking back, I felt foolish. How could I have ignored the signs?