When Love Fades

"You want to sleep with me?"

　　Jerome Brook's hand on my waist was burning hot. His dark eyes locked onto mine, his throat rolling.

　　Just when I thought he was going to get angry, he nodded unexpectedly.

　　"Yeah."

　　Jerome gently kissed the corner of my eye, his voice hoarse.

　　"Aubrey Parker, I want you, but I also want to love you."

　　***

　　The oatmeal container swayed in my shaking hand as I froze at the office door, witnessing Tristen Sterling kiss a girl passionately in a tight embrace.

　　His friends around erupted in applause and cheers.

　　"Thanks for being here today, guys. You have all witnessed my successful proposal to Eliza Ahmed. Please come and join us for the engagement party tomorrow."

　　"Sure! Tristen, everyone knew you had your eyes on Eliza all along."

　　"You've already got the engagement party set up? Couldn't wait, huh?"

　　Tristen smiled as the girl shyly nestled in his arms and lightly punched him twice.

　　"Aubrey..."

　　Someone called my name, and the lively atmosphere turned ice-cold.

　　I steadied my breath, pushed the door open, and walked in.

　　The woman in his arms tried to pull away, but Tristen held her tighter.

　　I pretended not to notice and spoke in my usual gentle tone.

　　"You said your stomach hurt this morning, so I made you oatmeal..."

　　"Let's break up. I have grown tired after all these years, and besides, I have always loved Eliza. She has accepted my proposal."

　　Tristen cut me off expressionlessly.

　　I lowered my gaze and stared fixedly at his hand.

　　A brand-new ring gleamed on his middle finger.

　　Our promise ring now floated in a glass of whiskey on the table.

　　My eyes flicked to the faint hickey on his neck. My throat felt raw as I forced out the words.

　　"And me? What were these five years to you?"

　　"Just a way to kill time." Tristen chuckled carelessly.

　　Six ruthless words crushed me, stripping away every last shred of dignity.

　　My heart ached with pain.

　　I slowly tightened my grip on the thermos. "Fine. Then we're done."

　　"Leave the oatmeal. Eliza hasn't eaten yet."

　　I paused for a moment, then brushed past his outstretched hand, and threw it straight into the trash.

　　Ignoring Tristen's darkening expression, I turned around and walked away quickly.

　　At that moment, the love I had clung to for five years finally shattered.

　　All the rumors and whispers over the years—maybe I should've seen this coming.

　　***

　　As soon as I got in the car, the dizziness overwhelmed me. I leaned back, closing my eyes for a brief moment when my phone buzzed.

　　It was a message from Tristen's group chat.

　　I'd begged him for weeks to add me to the group chat, though he'd done it reluctantly.

　　"Tristen, Aubrey loves you so much. Why don't you just take her back? She looks as good as any celebrity."

　　Tristen's reply burned my eyes: "She's boring in bed."

　　"I bet she'll come crawling back to you. She'll probably even settle for being your mistress."

　　"She has been following you since she graduated from college. Will she come to disrupt your engagement party tomorrow?"

　　"Dare she ruin my engagement party, she won't even get the chance to be my mistress."

　　I could picture the smug, mocking expression on Tristen's face as he typed those words.

　　But the next second, all the chats were retracted.

　　They seemed to remember that I was still in the group chat.