The Last Time I Looked Back

"Argh!" Logan suddenly cried out as if I had shoved him with all my strength, then fell hard to the floor.

"Logan!" Vanessa gasped.

She rushed over in panic and helped him up before turning to me, anger burning in her eyes.

"Daniel, what is wrong with you?" she snapped. "Logan is still recovering. He has multiple injuries from the accident. How could you push him? If you're angry, take it out on me. Why would you bully someone who's hurt?"

Logan's eyes reddened.

"I was in a car accident. I almost died," he choked out. "Vanessa, you've been my best friend since we were kids. I just wanted you to stay with me for a while. Is that so wrong?

"Why does he have to make our friendship sound so dirty? Why would he put his hands on me? Does he want me dead?"

I gazed at the red marks he had left on the back of my hand. Then I looked at Vanessa, who was protecting Logan as if he were the man she was about to marry.

A bitter ache cut through my chest like a blade.

But somehow, I laughed.

Because in that moment, I was finally done.

For years, I had only heard about how much she favored Logan over me. Now that I had seen it with my own eyes, there was nothing left for me to hold on to.

I didn't explain myself. I simply turned and walked away.

Vanessa froze, as if she hadn't expected me to be so calm. Then she hurried after me and grabbed my arm.

"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I didn't mean to snap at you just now. Logan is emotionally unstable. Wait outside for me for a bit. Once I calm him down, I'll take you home."

I pulled my arm free and walked away without looking back.

It had started snowing outside. The air was freezing, and I couldn't get a taxi, so I stood there and waited for Vanessa to come out and drive me home.

But instead of Vanessa, one of her friends, Evan Carter, hurried over.

"Daniel, I'm sorry," he said awkwardly. "Logan just tried to cut his wrist, and Vanessa is busy calming him down. She probably won't be able to leave for a while, so she asked me to take you home first."

He looked at me and let out a deep sigh. "Daniel, Vanessa loves you. It's just that Logan grew up with her, and she's always valued old friendships. Please don't blame her or misunderstand her relationship with Logan. There's really nothing between them. I can promise you that."

Hearing that, I felt nothing. I almost wanted to laugh.

"It doesn't matter anymore." I held out my hand. "Give me the keys. I can get home myself. And do me a favor, will you? Tell Vanessa that she and I are over."

Evan stared at me in shock.

I took the keys from him and left.

On the way home, Olivia called. She had just landed.

She asked when I would be home, whether I was wearing a coat, and whether I knew it was snowing outside. They were simple questions, but somehow, they felt more genuine than anything Vanessa had said to me in a long time.

Near the end of the call, Olivia suddenly went quiet.

Then she asked, "Our parents will meet tomorrow to talk about the wedding. I want to confirm one thing. Are you really switching brides, Daniel? Was that just something you said in the heat of the moment, or do you regret it now?"

I was surprised by how serious she sounded, but I answered without hesitation, "I don't regret it."

There seemed to be a faint smile in her voice. "Good. Then I'll see you tomorrow."

After the call ended, I contacted my manager. The company agreed to approve my resignation early.

I let out a long breath, picked up my suitcase, and prepared to leave.

Yet as soon as I reached the entrance, I ran into Vanessa, who had rushed back home.

She stormed toward me, furious.

"Daniel, what's wrong with you?" she demanded. "Why would you say something like that in front of Evan? You're breaking up with me over an IVF? Don't you think that's ridiculous? We're about to get married."

I ignored her anger and carried my suitcase toward the door.

She grabbed my arm and argued, "After the baby is born, I'll cut Logan off completely. I already made that clear to him at the hospital. I've compromised this much for you. I'm even willing to give up the friend I grew up with. Isn't that enough?"

The Bride Vanessa Never Saw Coming

I looked at her calmly and replied, "Breaking up with you is not up for discussion. This is a notice. Let go."

Vanessa was furious. She took a hard breath, trying to hold herself together.

"Daniel, I know you're jealous, and I know you're using a breakup to threaten me," she snapped. "But our wedding is only days away. You know how much this marriage means to both of our families."

Her voice sharpened. "If you call off the wedding now, how are you going to explain it to your parents? Don't act like I don't know how hard it is for a man to find a wife these days."

Then she lifted her chin. "Let me make this clear. If you leave today, I won't attend the wedding. Don't come crying to me when your family is humiliated, because that won't be my responsibility."

I pulled my arm out of her grip and left without hesitation. 'Regret it? Why would I? Her wedding is canceled, but mine is going ahead exactly as planned.'

I returned to Havenbrook with my suitcase, and as soon as I got home, my parents pulled me aside and asked why I had broken things off.

I told them everything about Logan asking Vanessa to do IVF for him.

My mother immediately hugged me and cried. My father stayed silent for a long while before finally saying, "Thank God you didn't marry her."

My lips trembled, but I could not stop the tears from falling.

I wasn't crying for Vanessa; I was crying for the version of myself that had once traveled between cities for love. I was mourning the relationship I had fought so hard to save, only for it to end in the bitterest way possible.

Over the next few hours, several of Vanessa's friends messaged me to ask when the wedding would be held.

Only then did I realize Vanessa hadn't told anyone we had broken up.

So I replied to all of them with the same message, 'Vanessa and I have canceled the wedding. Please don't make plans to attend.'

Later that day, I went to a bridal boutique near my parents' house. I took photos of a few new wedding dresses and suits, then sent them to Olivia.

Since the wedding was rushed, I needed to know whether she had any preferences.

When I got back home, I saw two familiar figures standing downstairs.

One was Vanessa. The other was Logan.

Vanessa looked much more worn out than before. Her face was pale, and worry filled her eyes when she saw me.

She walked toward me.

"Daniel, stop making this harder than it has to be," she pleaded. "I've been really exhausted lately. When I heard you say we were breaking up this morning, I was too angry to respond. I'm sorry, okay? Please forgive me."

Then she glanced at Logan.

"I know you misunderstood everything, so Logan came with me today to explain. If you really don't agree, then we won't go through with the IVF."

The moment Logan saw me, he dropped to his knees and cried, "I know this is all my fault. I won't do the IVF anymore. As long as you forgive us, I promise I won't bother your life again."

Then he looked up at me with reddened eyes. "But you can't use the wedding to threaten Vanessa. You obviously still went to the bridal boutique today. If you keep threatening her like this, she'll take it seriously."

Vanessa quickly helped him up.

When she heard what he said, her expression darkened for a second. Then relief flickered across her face.

She straightened as if she had regained her confidence.

"Daniel, I won't hold this whole canceled-wedding stunt against you because I love you," she declared. "But love has limits. Don't bully me like this again, okay?"

Her tone softened, as if she were giving me an order wrapped in forgiveness. "Stay home and rest for the next few days. On Friday, we'll go back to Ravenport and have the wedding as planned—"

"Oh, Daniel!" a neighbor called out before Vanessa could finish. "I heard you're marrying Ms. Hart. Don't forget to invite me to the reception!"

I smiled at her. "Of course, Mrs. Walker. How could I forget you?"

Vanessa froze. Her face went blank with disbelief.

"Ms. Hart?" she repeated.

Then she turned to me, her voice rising. "Daniel, who exactly are you marrying?"