He Let Her Steal the Food Off My Plate,So I Called Off the Wedding

The beef noodles I'd ordered had barely landed on the table when Sarah Summers started plucking the meat away slice by slice, grinning as she did it. "Beth Henson, Sam says you don't eat much, so I'll take some off your hands."

"Perfect!"

Samuel Pruitt didn't stop her. He praised her, fond and indulgent.

Yet last week, when I accidentally drank a mouthful of Sarah's yogurt, he blew up at me and stayed furious for three straight days.

The memory cooled my face. I stood to leave.

"You're making a scene over a few slices of beef?"

Samuel grabbed my wrist. "Sarah meant well. She didn't want you to waste food. You should be thanking her."

"Fine, if it's that big a deal, I'll pay you back fifty bowls."

I met his accusing stare.

All at once this relationship felt suffocating. I lowered my head and messaged an old classmate.

"Didn't you want me to start a company with you before? I'm in. I'll put up five hundred thousand."

"What? Isn't that your wedding-home money?"

"I'm not buying it. And I'm not getting married."

...

Samuel watched me keep my head down, thumbing at my phone, and his brow creased. "Who are you texting?"

Before I could answer, Sarah jumped in. "Beth, surely you're not running home to complain to your family over something this small?"

The next second, Samuel's face darkened.

"You're a grown woman, still tattling to your parents."

"We're getting married in a month. What are you stirring up trouble for, at a time like this?"

I found it almost funny.

Six years I'd been with him. Steamed buns and cold water. Days I worked five jobs. The times I ran a high fever and wouldn't spend a cent on even a single pill to save money...

Never once had I complained to my parents. Never once had I said it was hard.

And this was what it earned me, this ugly suspicion of his.

I pulled my hand free and answered calmly. "I'm just chatting with a friend."

"Come on. You think I don't know you?"

Samuel gave a scornful little laugh. "It's a few slices of beef. I'll pay you back."

"Boss, fifty bowls of beef noodles! No takeout. She'll eat them right here!"

The whole room stared.

The owner rushed over to confirm, sure he'd misheard. Samuel just paid on the spot.

The payment chime rang out.

It went into my heart like a needle, and my fists closed tight.

Bowl after bowl of beef noodles came to my table.

The stares around me grew sharper.

Six years together, and I never dreamed Samuel would humiliate me like this, in front of a whole room of strangers.

"Sam, I can't eat any more."

Sarah spoke up again.

The bowl in front of her was almost untouched. She'd only taken my beef to get under my skin.

"Then don't."

Samuel smiled at her, indulgent, then turned to me. "Sarah and I are heading back first. Take your time."

The two of them left the noodle shop pressed close together, walking farther and farther away, exactly the way this thing between Samuel and me had walked away for good...

I pulled back my blurred gaze and handed the fifty bowls out to the customers who'd just come in.

On the way home.

A fine rain had started to fall.

I had no umbrella, and I didn't call a car. I just walked back to the rental, and through the half-open bedroom door I saw Samuel putting Sarah to sleep.

Telling her some sweet little bedtime story I'd never once heard.

He must have caught the sound of my footsteps.

Samuel turned, saw me, made a shushing gesture, then picked up his phone and typed something quietly.

A moment later his message came through.

【Keep it down, don't make any noise. Sarah just fell asleep.】

Yet yesterday, when I was resting with a headache, Samuel brought Sarah over to hang out.

Sarah cranked the music to full volume, laughing, jumping rope.

The noise made my ears ache.

Samuel didn't stop her. He handed her fruit and snacks, thoughtful as ever.