From the moment I first met Ashley, I was captivated by her smile and fell in love with her deeply.

Her smile had the power to light up a room, radiating warmth and cuteness.

I had been secretly enamored with her for five years.

Unfortunately, she had always been infatuated with another man named Isaac.

I didn't mind and silently remained by her side for five years.

After Isaac went abroad, she proposed to date me.

At that time, I felt that I was the happiest person in the world.

In the first three years of our relationship, we were in love, and I noticed that Ashley was dependent on me.

I thought our happiness could last forever.

However, as soon as Isaac returned from abroad, I began to notice that she was coming home later and later. I finally realized that her heart had always belonged to him.

She started lying to me, saying she was out for business dinners. However, every time she was drunk, Isaac would take her back.

Isaac even asked me, her boyfriend, to take good care of her.

How ridiculous!

It appeared I was the other man.

I had mentioned many times that they should pay attention to boundaries. However, Ashley perceived it as me impeding her social life, resulting in our relationship becoming increasingly tense.

I began to brainwash myself to believe her, but what about her?

When I was carefully preparing for our anniversary, she appeared in another man's bed. I caught her cheating, yet she denied it.

This relationship should have ended long ago. I had been deceiving and touching myself one-sidedly.

The following morning, I called a locksmith and had the door lock changed.

I packed up all the belongings related to Ashley and arranged for a courier to deliver them to Isaac's place.

Since they were so inseparable, I would quit and give them what they wanted!

After doing all this, I took a taxi to the hospital.

Six months ago, my mother was diagnosed with leukemia, and she had been undergoing chemotherapy, requiring an extended stay in the hospital.

I juggled two jobs every day, taking care of my frail mother and my cheating girlfriend.

I was truly exhausted.

Actually, this was good. I felt relieved.

In the ward, my mother was resting with her eyes closed.

I stood at the door for a while, lacking the courage to go in.

Every time I visited my mother, I had to find an excuse for Ashley, saying that she could come when she was available.

Regrettably, now that we had broken up, I could never bring Ashley to see my mother.

I let out a long sigh.

Once I got a new girlfriend, I would definitely bring her to meet my mother.

After all, as my mother said, I was a good man, and there would be someone who liked me.

The sound of opening the door woke up the sleeping mother.

As she opened her eyes and saw me, a gentle smile appeared on her pale face.

"You're here!" My mother got out of bed to greet me. "I had a hunch that you would come!"

After saying that, she looked around behind me with a smile, and her expression became increasingly depressed.

I knew she had been hoping for Ashley's presence, but she would not come.

I carefully helped her to the bed, suppressing my sadness.

"Mom, you're still unwell! Don't get out of bed."

My mother smiled and nodded.

Masking her disappointment, she inquired with a smile, "Where's Ashley? Why didn't she come with you? Did you get her mad again?"

I paused while putting down the fruit, not sure how to explain.

Given my mother's fragile physical condition, I didn't think she could handle it if she learned we had broken up.

After all, she liked Ashley very much and had always been looking forward to us getting married and having children.

Unfortunately, I couldn't fulfill her wish.

Noticing my silence, my mother said, "I understand that she is busy with work, and I've told her to take good care of herself! Tell her to get more rest."

I nodded and responded, "Okay."

My mother then continued, "I'm old, and I don't want to be your burden.

"If you two could get married earlier, I would be able to see you start a family, and I would leave this world without regrets."

My eyes welled up with tears, and I tried hard to suppress the bitterness.

"What are you talking about, Mom? You will live a long life," I said.

I gently fed my mother food. She ate it slowly, coughing from time to time.

When I pushed her out for a walk, I suddenly saw Ashley and Isaac coming out of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, hugging each other while talking and laughing.

I quickly turned the wheelchair in a different direction.

My mother paused and asked, "Why another way? The air here is pretty good."

I calmly replied, "Nothing. I just suddenly remembered that the flowers over there are blooming, and I wanted to take you there to see them."

"Alright," my mother said, not saying anything further. However, Ashley kept calling me.

"Why don't you answer the phone?" my mother asked in confusion. "You've screened it several times."

I turned off my phone and pushed my mother to the flowers. "Just scam calls."

My mother nodded and said nothing more.

In the evening, as I was about to head upstairs upon arriving home, Ashley abruptly appeared and stopped me.

"Hold on!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with anger. "Gregory! Why didn't you answer my call?"

I looked at her calmly and asked, "Why should I bother answering the call of an irrelevant person?"

"You betrayed me, and I'm kind enough not to block you."

Ashley stared at me, a look of disbelief written all over her face, as if she couldn't believe those words had just escaped my lips.

"You changed the door lock and sent all my things at Isaac's place. Are you determined to break up with me?" Ashley's face turned red with anger, and she couldn't even speak clearly.

Looking at her, I retorted, "What else? Do you think I'm joking? Do you have any objection to me changing the locks of my own house?"

Ashley was too incensed to speak.

I continued, "Don't forget, you've lived here for five years, and it was I who paid the rent all these years. Have you ever paid it once?

"So what does it matter to you if I decide to change the locks?"

Unable to argue, Ashley continued acting unreasonably. "Did I agree to break up?! What gives you the right to move my things out?!

"I'm the only one who can break up with you and dump you! Who do you think you are? How dare you dump me?"

I fixed my gaze on her, not wanting to say anything.

I didn't understand when Ashley started to become like this.

She just used to be somewhat spoiled and arrogant.

With no intention to engage with her any further, I walked around her and left.

However, she immediately chased after me and yelled, "Gregory, if you don't bring my things back to me tonight, I will tell your mom that you bullied me!"