The engagement party had been in full swing for quite some time, yet my fiancé was still nowhere to be seen. I tried calling him a countless number of times, but there was no response. It wasn't until I stumbled upon a post from his childhood friend, Elle, that everything became clear:

"Someone's been out on business for days, but as soon as I asked, he's here swimming with me," read her post. The photo showed her and my fiancé posing by the pool. In the background, his tuxedo jacket was tossed aside casually. Faced with a room full of guests, I declared that the engagement was off. After six years of loving him, I was utterly drained.

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Once the guests had left, Jack called. I felt a surge of irritation but inexplicably answered anyway. His voice came through, cold and impatient, "Come pick us up at the Lakeside Club."

I took a breath and replied with an equally detached tone. "I'm nearby." The club was just a stone's throw from the hotel where the engagement was supposed to happen.

"What are you doing nearby?" he asked, confusion quickly replaced by realization. "Ah, I forgot about today. Let's just reschedule the engagement. Come and pick us up."

I didn't reply, so he continued, "It's just an engagement, no need to make a big deal out of it. Hurry up and grab us."

Just an engagement, as if my sincerity, my efforts, and even my family heirloom—the Victorian-style wedding dress—were trivial. He insisted on going on a business trip, promising to return the day before the engagement. Yet when he finally arrived, it was to spend time with Elle instead.

I hung up, feeling a tightness in my chest. Jack had just posted another update on social media:

"My little athlete never misses a workout." The picture was of Elle showing off her figure in a swimsuit by the pool.

A wave of indescribable revulsion washed over me, accompanied by a bitter laugh. It was then that I realized just how unnecessary I had become in this relationship. Six years of persistence crumbled to dust in that moment.

Jack Jimenez stumbled into the house at two in the morning. The living room was cluttered with several suitcases, all packed with his things. I barely glanced at his rumpled collar, noticing a faint hint of something suspicious.

He frowned, his voice laced with irritation, "Joanna, what the hell is going on?"

I paused in the midst of packing, my tone cold, "We're breaking up. You're moving out."

"Is it really necessary?"

"I only forgot today was our engagement. You know how slammed I’ve been lately."

I let out a bitter laugh and shot back, "So slammed you forget your own engagement but not too busy to enjoy a dinner date with someone else?"

"What about my wedding coat?"

A flash of guilt crossed his face as he pressed his lips together.

"I have no idea where your wedding coat ended up. I'll compensate you."

He whipped out his phone, ostentatiously punching in numbers. "Is twenty thousand enough?"

The anger I'd been bottling up all night finally exploded. "It's not enough! You know how much that wedding coat means to me!"

"It belonged to my grandfather—it's irreplaceable!"

He snorted impatiently, "So what? Fine, I'll add another ten grand, happy now?"

With a "ding," my phone notified me of a thirty thousand deposit. He looked unfazed, "Alright, I'm exhausted. Let's chill out tonight."

With that, he retreated into the guest room, slamming the door behind him.

As I stared at the closed door, the last bit of warmth in my heart went cold. I picked up my phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Jaiden, can you help me find a reliable moving company..."