It had been five years since I started dating Ross Jenner. His family invited my mother and me to their family home in Fellaton to discuss our wedding plans and to spend Valentine's Day together.

It was past 10:00 PM when my mother and I landed, but Ross wasn't there to pick us up because his college junior, Laurel Elledge, had just arrived in Fellaton.

He told me to figure out a way to get a cab to the house myself.

In a strange place, unfamiliar with the area, it wasn't long before we found ourselves in danger. Just over ten minutes outside the airport, we were robbed.

My mother was injured while trying to protect me, and she collapsed, bleeding heavily.

Desperate, I held onto her, frantically trying to call Ross.

Each call was abruptly cut off, and when I finally reached him, he sounded irritated.

"Jennifer, you're an adult, so stop acting like a child. You couldn't even hail a cab on the street? Laurel just got to Fellaton and isn't feeling well. I need to take care of her."

Without waiting for a response, he hung up.

I tried calling again, only to find that I had been blocked.

In the end, my mother's injuries were too severe, and she bled out before the doctors could save her.

As I stared at her lifeless body, tears flowed uncontrollably.

When I finally checked my phone again, the first thing I saw was a picture Ross had posted on Twitter.

In the photo, he was kissing Laurel and holding a bouquet of roses.

[Spending Valentine's Day with the one I love most.]

I quietly threw the gifts I had brought from home into the trash.

Then, I left a comment, which said, [Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.]

I had barely set my phone aside when Ross Jenner called.

"Jennifer, are you done throwing your tantrum? We invited you and Diana to Fellaton with good intentions. You're late, and I'll let that slide, but why did you leave that comment on my Twitter? My siblings came all the way from Bulgoria to welcome you, and Laurel even prepared a home-cooked meal for you even though she's sick."

I listened to his angry words in silence, my heart completely dead at that moment as I looked at my mother's body.

When he finished speaking, I calmly responded, "It's not appropriate for us to spend Valentine's Day together. You two go ahead and enjoy the meal."

"What did you say?" Ross's voice immediately rose in anger. "The reason I invited you here was to discuss our marriage. If you're going to act like this, forget about the wedding."

"Fine, as you wish." I agreed without hesitation. "Let's break up."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

Ross and I had met at work in Ameesia. We had encountered all kinds of problems a couple would in our five years of dating, but we had never mentioned breaking up.

Ross seemed unable to comprehend what I had just said. After a pause, he asked, "Do you even know what you're saying?"

I softly replied, "I do."

Just then, Laurel Elledge's voice came through the phone.

"Ross, can you help me find some painkillers? I think I might have a fever."

Ross immediately became worried and hung up. Before doing so, he said one last thing to me.

"Jennifer, you initiated this. I hope you don't regret this in the end."

Staring at the phone as the call ended, I silently put it away.

I handled all the necessary arrangements by myself, bringing my mother's body back home for her funeral.

For the next couple of weeks, Ross didn't reach out once. It was as if he had completely vanished from my life.

I occasionally checked Twitter, but Ross hadn't posted a single update. Meanwhile, Laurel was posting almost every day.

Petra Tower, Renaissance Hall, Imperial Galleria...

In every photo, Ross and Laurel were touring all of Fellaton's famous landmarks together.

The comments under their photos were full of enthusiasm.

[Finally, Ross and his dream girl are together.]

[Wow, Laurel, you and Ross are so perfect for each other.]

[I can't wait for the wedding! I'll be your best man!]

I recognized many names in those comments—people who were once friends of both Ross and me.

If this had been before, I would have felt hurt, angry, and probably fought with Ross. But now, nothing stirred inside me.

On a quiet weekend, I stayed home alone, snacking on chips and watching TV.

In the evening, Ross suddenly appeared.

I glanced up at him briefly but didn't speak. Instead, I redirected my focus to the TV.

He walked over, towering over me, and said casually, "What's wrong? Haven't heard from you in a while. Are you mad at me? I haven't seen you in so long. I really want to hug you."

He spoke in that familiar sweet tone, bending toward me.

I smelled the woman's fragrance on him and instinctively recoiled in disgust, turning my body away.

Ross froze mid-motion.

In the past, whenever we fought, his gentle embrace always managed to calm me no matter how angry I was.

Ross straightened up, frowning deeply.

"What's your problem now?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I stood up and moved to the nearby couch, putting some space between us.

His expression soured further, as he impatiently tried to explain.

"I shouldn't have let you and Diana take a cab that day. I admit I was wrong about that. But Laurel was sick. Would you rather I left her, a sick person, just to pick you up? My family did everything to welcome you, but you didn't show up. Do you know how much that hurt my family? I did everything I could to explain to them, or else my parents would never approve of our marriage."

He pulled out an envelope from his bag.

"Inside, there's the wedding ring my parents prepared for us, along with the honeymoon fund. They want us to get married in a month. Please take care of the wedding arrangements. I'll call Diana shortly. She'll be thrilled."

I took the envelope from him and placed it aside, not interested in looking at it.

"Ross, we've broken up. And from now on, don't call my mother. She won't be answering your calls."

Ross paused as he picked up his phone, visibly irritated.

"I'm going to tell Diana about your attitude right now. She's been so good to me, and you have no right to stop me from calling her."

I shot him a look, my breath sharp with hurt.

We had been together for five years, and my mother had always treated him like one of her own, even better than she treated me. Every time I brought him home, she would personally cook for him. Once, when he fell ill from the local climate, my mother stayed up all night, taking care of him without a second thought. Over those five years, I could see how much my mother truly cared for him.

So, when Ross's family invited us to Fellaton, my mother agreed without hesitation. Before we left for the trip, she had even started preparing days in advance, doing her hair and buying expensive gifts for his family, all to make a good impression. That day, she wore the pocket watch my father had given her years ago. At that moment, my mother wasn't just representing herself; she was carrying the love and care that my parents had given me.

When we landed, Ross asked us to take a taxi and hung up the phone. I was furious and wanted to keep calling him, but my mother stopped me. She tried to console me, suggesting that Ross was probably dealing with some urgent matter. Not wanting to upset her, I listened to her advice.

But now, I couldn't believe that her kindness had cost her life abroad. I almost wished I could turn back time and slap some sense into myself.

Ross's voice interrupted my thoughts, and I snapped back to the present as he looked at me, about to dial my mother's number.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

I glanced at him, unable to hide my sarcasm. His expression twisted with annoyance, and he seemed ready to argue, but before he could say anything, the sound of a ringtone interrupted.

It wasn't the usual ringtone he always used, but a woman's overly dramatic voice singing a song.

At the sound, Ross immediately dropped the idea of arguing with me and hurried outside onto the balcony to answer the call.

I could just make out him saying, "What? She's in the hospital? I'll be right there."

Ross quickly grabbed his jacket and rushed out the door without even looking at me. Watching his cold back as he walked away, I felt a twinge of bitterness, though it quickly faded.

Perhaps from the moment Laurel appeared in his life, everything between us had changed. And now, it was time for me to leave.

I remembered a conversation I'd had with my mother years ago. She'd said that her greatest dream was to travel with me. I had promised her I would take her on a trip.

Now, my mother was gone, and I had yet to fulfill that promise.

I decided I would take her portrait and visit the world for both of us. My first stop would be Euchoth. My mother had once told me that the reason she fell in love with my father was because of the stories he'd shared about that place.

As I was researching for the trip, Laurel's Twitter had another update.

I clicked on it without thinking, but I instantly regretted it when I saw the photos.

In each one, Ross was the star, and he was smiling gently, a smile I had never seen directed at me.

A breath caught in my chest as a sharp pang of jealousy and sorrow filled my heart.

In the five years we were together, Ross had never once been this tender toward me. Even when I was rushed to the hospital with a sudden case of acute gastritis from working non-stop, he never once made me a meal himself.

But now, seeing him so caring and considerate with Laurel, I finally understood the difference between love and indifference.

After Ross left that day, we didn't see each other again. He didn't return home, nor did he go to work.

I didn't care where he was; it no longer mattered to me.

A week later, my assistant called, saying the company needed me to present a project report to the shareholders. Since I was the project leader, my presence was required.

I had already made up my mind to leave Ross for good, and I didn't want to be involved with company matters anymore. But hearing the assistant's slightly pleading tone, I remembered how hard my team and I had worked on this project for months. I couldn't just abandon it at the last minute.

"Okay, I'll be there on time," I finally said, reluctantly agreeing.

Five years ago, after graduation, I had received job offers from other companies. But Ross's startup was facing a huge crisis, so I gave up those opportunities and decided to help him. I threw myself into the company and worked tirelessly alongside him.

In the years since, I had put everything into the company. What started as a tiny, struggling startup had turned into a growing business. Thanks to this success, Ross's wealthy family had accepted me and even invited me and my mother to Fellaton to discuss our marriage.

The venue was grand and lavish.

I arrived, but before I could even greet the project team, Ross pulled me aside. He didn't ask how I had been or explain why he hadn't come home in days. Instead, he ordered me coldly, "Jennifer, you don't need to present at the project briefing. We've arranged for a new spokesperson."

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought someone had swapped Ross for someone else. I was the lead on this project from the very beginning, and no one knew it better than me. Now, at the final moment, he was telling me I wasn't needed.

I couldn't understand how Ross could be so clueless, like he had lost his mind.

Then, I heard a familiar voice from the stage.

"Good afternoon, shareholders. On behalf of the company, I'd like to welcome everyone..."

It was Laurel, standing there in an elegant outfit, radiating confidence and pride.

As soon as I saw her, everything clicked into place. To Ross, this project was nothing but a platform to show off for someone he favored.

"Is this who you arranged?" I glared at him, cold fury in my eyes.

Ross awkwardly rubbed his nose, avoiding my gaze. "Jennifer, since you're the project leader, you'll still need to explain things in detail to the shareholders later. Look, I know you don't really care about fame and fortune, and you're already successful in your own right. But Laurel—she's still new to the company. Giving her this chance to perform will help her career a lot."

He kept explaining, but not once did he apologize for putting Laurel in my place.

Looking at Ross, I felt like I was seeing a stranger.

There was a time when I was his everything. He would share his joys and his failures with me, and he would always praise my abilities. But after Laurel joined the company as Ross's assistant, everything started to change. He no longer shared any details about work or his life with me, and he began traveling often, disappearing without a trace.

It was my mother who first noticed something was off.

"Jennifer, I haven't seen Ross at home lately. Are you two fighting? Has a new female assistant come into the picture? You need to keep an eye on that..."

At the time, I shrugged it off and even made excuses for them.

"Mom, that assistant is Ross's junior from college. He's always treated her like a sister. If it were meant to be, they would have already gotten together back then. There's no way they'd wait this long."

Looking back now, I realize how blind I was. I was too trusting and naive. I felt like cursing myself now—how could I have believed all those lies Ross told me?

Ross, seeing I hadn't responded, thought I was still the same obedient Jennifer. He assumed I would just go along with whatever he said.

Smiling, he continued. "Jennifer, I've been so busy lately that I forgot to ask how the wedding plans are coming along. In just over a week, we're getting married. Are you excited?"

I didn't respond.

Wedding? Screw his wedding!

Even if I did get married, Ross would never be the groom.

Ross didn't notice my lack of reaction and kept rambling on.

"I'm sure Diana will be so happy for us. I wanted to tell her personally about the wedding, but I can't seem to get through to her on the phone. Did she change her number and forget to tell me?" Ross asked, looking at me expectantly.

But I hardly heard him because the presentation on stage was finishing. The room erupted in applause.

Laurel, smiling smugly, graciously thanked the audience before stepping off the stage.

Seeing her, my frustration deepened.

In her speech, she acted like the project leader, as if she had been the one handling everything. But she hadn't contributed a thing to this project from the beginning.

Everyone who truly understood the project was whispering behind her back, their eyes filled with contempt. But Laurel couldn't see any of it—her focus was entirely on Ross.

"Ross, I hope my presentation didn't embarrass you. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."