A Decade of Devotion, Then Letting Go

On the day of our engagement party, I couldn't reach Aidan Cross, the man Id loved for ten years. I waited for him at the restaurant for eight solid hours.
As night fell, he finally called me back, his voice tinged with a hollow apology.
Lia, Im so sorry. Something came up. I hope I didnt make your parents wait too long.
I massaged my aching legs and told him they hadn't.
His voice was laced with fatigue. Lets reschedule the engagement party. How about next week? Ill call your parents and explain.
My phone vibrated. My social media feed had refreshed with another picture of Aidan and Megan Chen, cozy and intimate. Our mutual friends were all cheering in the comments, congratulating Megan on the 25 lavish gifts Aidan had prepared for her 25th birthday.
The final gift had been a surprise visit.
Which meant that for the eight hours hed stood me up, Aidan had been on a flight to the next city over to celebrate his childhood friends birthday.
A new message popped up on my screen. It was from Megan.
Lia, the only person Aidan truly cares about is me. Are you really sure you still want to marry him?
I turned off the screen, no longer feeling the need to question him or spiral into doubt. I simply replied to Aidans text.
Dont worry about it. Were done.
Lia Stone was done trying to marry Aidan Cross.
1.
Dad, Ill do it. Ill marry Tim Cohen.
Im glad youve come to your senses, sweetheart. When it comes to love, you have to know when to cut your losses.
After hanging up, I made dinner, three dishes and a soup, just like any other night.
When Aidan got home, he was holding a bouquet of my favorite white freesias.
Went out of my way to get these for you. Dont be mad anymore.
Normally, I would have rushed over, taken the flowers, and thrown myself into his arms. This time, I just kept eating, my expression placid.
Still angry? How about I buy you flowers every day for a week?
He towel-dried his hair, a roguish grin on his face that was handsome enough to send hormones into overdrive.
I dropped my gaze, collected my plate, and walked into the bedroom.
Theres no need.
Aidan followed me, his placating tone much softer now.
Alright, Lia, I know I was wrong to miss the engagement party. But I already apologized, didnt I? You know how busy the Search and Rescue team is
I cut him off. What does your team have to do with you skipping our engagement party to go to Megans birthday?
He was speechless for a moment, his eyes darting away.
Lia, you know
I interrupted him again, my voice steady. Aidan, this has happened too many times.
On my birthday, he was with Megan, watching a meteor shower.
On our anniversary, he took her out for a candlelit dinner.
For five Valentines Days in a row, he lit up the city harbor with fireworks for her.
A chill settled in the air between us.
I took a deep breath. Aidan, you knew she was doing it on purpose, and you went anyway.
For eight hours, I stood there at our engagement party like an idiot, like a doll someone had thrown away.
My eyes burned, and I refused to say more.
Aidan frowned and pulled a small, cheap-looking pouch from his pocket.
Lia, its all my fault. I picked out a gift for you
Inside the flimsy pouch was a necklace. It was the cheap, complimentary item that came with one of Megans expensive designer birthday gifts.
A throbbing started in my temples, and it took every ounce of my self-control to suppress the wave of rage that threatened to boil over.
For all these years, no matter how deep our love was, Megan had always been wedged between us.
Aidans parents died when he was young. Megans parents took him in, fed him, clothed him, and raised him. He told me everything the day we started dating. He said he owed them a debt of gratitude, that he had to be good to Megan for the rest of his life.
I never objected to that.
But for her, he abandoned me, hurt me, time and time again. And every time I tried to have a serious conversation with him about it, he would just laugh it off, saying Megan was just a kid who didn't know the difference between platonic and romantic love.
But what about him? Did he know what love was?
2.
I closed the bedroom door, locking Aidan out.
The next morning, an exquisite breakfast was laid out on the table with a sticky note attached.
Honey, the team has a mission today. I had to leave early.
I ate the breakfast, then packed up everything that belonged to me, and moved back to my parents house.
Aidan came home just as I was wheeling my last suitcase out the door.
He panicked, his brows knitting together.
Lia, I already said I was sorry. Why are you still making a scene?
I loved Aidan. I really did.
In my sophomore year of college, our entire class went on a camping trip. A freak mudslide hit, followed by a wildfire. I remember it so clearly. So many rescue teams arrived, but it was Aidan, and Aidan alone, who snatched me from the jaws of death. I can still see the image of him shielding me from the flames, his body a desperate barrier.
He suffered severe burns and lung damage, and spent a full year in the hospital recovering. It was a debt I owed him, one I never forgot.
So when we fell in love afterward, I tried my best to understand him. When he left me for Megan, I tried not to make a big deal out of it.
But this was different.
I looked at him, my voice quiet. Aidan, Im not making a scene. Ive just given up.
The panic in his eyes was palpable. His knuckles turned white as he snatched the suitcase from my hand.
Youre not leaving. Lia, were about to get married. You cant be this childish.
A light rain began to fall outside. Im a sentimental person, but Im also cursed with a terrifying clarity.
I took out my phone and showed him the texts Megan had sent me.
Do you really still believe her feelings for you are just sisterly affection?
Aidans jaw tightened. Regardless, you are not leaving.
Lia, youre the one I love. I am absolutely certain of that.
A bitter smile touched my lips. Hed said that to me so many times.
He was telling me he loved me while holding a single freesia, right after Id seen a post of him giving Megan ninety-nine red roses.
He was kissing my forehead and telling me he loved me right after Id spent all night stewing a pot of soup for him, only to watch him turn and carefully feed it to Megan.
He held me in his arms, overjoyed, when I presented him with a model airplane Id spent three sleepless nights building for his promotion, only to give it to Megan because she casually mentioned she liked it.
He said he loved me, but he saved all his best for her.
As if to prove my point, his phone started ringing, a jarringly cheerful tune filling the room.
Prince, your princess is calling!
It was the ringtone Megan had set for herself on his phone. Id been jealous about it for a long time. Aidan had just brushed it off. Oh, come on, shes just a kid. Let her have her fun.
Megan was a year older than me. If she was a kid, what was I?
Her sickly-sweet voice filled the air. Brother, has sister-in-law calmed down yet? You should bring her to the restaurant. Ill apologize to her in person!
Aidan hung up and turned to me, his voice earnest.
Lia, Megan is getting married soon. Shes starting to realize her feelings for me arent romantic. Will you come have a meal with her? Please?
When I didnt move, his voice softened. If you still want to leave after that, Ill let you go.
3.
I went with him to the restaurant.
Megan was dressed like a little princess in a frilly pink dress and had ordered a mountain of food. Aidan was spinning like a top, serving me food one moment, and then serving Megan the next.
She was all smiles, her eyes crinkling as she looked at me. Lia, honey, I heard you and my brother are thinking of breaking up?
The engagement party was my fault. You should forgive him.
I guess only Aidan would consider those two flippant sentences a real apology.
I stared at her and forced a smile.
Fine. I forgive him.
The next second, Megans face soured. She stood up and slammed her plate on the floor.
Brother! Shes not even mad! Why did you make me apologize to her?
Aidan stood up, looking exasperatedly at me.
Lia, I thought you were angry. How are you suddenly not angry?
His tone was accusatory, as if I was the one being difficult. Of course. He always believed whatever Megan said.
People in the restaurant were starting to stare. The soft classical music did little to soften the sharp tension of the scene.
I picked up my bag. Im full. Im going to the restroom.
Megan followed me, blocking my way with a belligerent expression.
How can you be so shameless? Ive been trying to sabotage you for ten years, and youre still desperate to marry my brother?
I washed my hands, my voice calm. I broke up with him. Your business with him has nothing to do with me anymore.
Megan slapped herself hard across the face, then started tearing at her own clothes. A strange, secretive smile played on her lips. Since you put it that way, you can do me one last favor.
She ran out of the restroom, sobbing, and threw herself into Aidans arms.
Brother! She hit me! She said I ruined her engagement party, so shes going to ruin my life!
I dont want her as a sister-in-law! Please dont marry her!
Aidan looked at her reddened cheek, his own eyes turning red with anger as he glared at me.
Lia! Its bad enough youre being childish and threatening to leave, but now youre hitting people? When did you become like this?
I couldnt help but laugh.
Megan huddled in his arms, her sobs weak and breathless. As if afraid Id reveal the truth, she urged Aidan to take her away.
He gave me a look of profound disappointment and then escorted her out of the restaurant.
I was left standing alone, the subject of whispers and pointed stares.
It wasnt the first time Aidan had abandoned me. Whenever Megan and I fought, he always comforted her first, then came to me later. And his excuse was always the same.
I told you when we started dating that I had to repay their kindness.
Yes, he had a debt to repay. And because of the debt I owed him, I had tolerated it for all these years.
The truth was, I had gone to the restroom because I was afraid I would lose control and actually hit Megan. She had claimed she wanted to apologize, but she had been wearing the diamond ring Aidan gave her. And around her neck was another chain, holding several more rings.
For ten years, I had hinted to Aidan that I wanted to get married. He never took the hint. Yet, every year, at Megans request, he bought her another diamond ring. He treated our future as a joke, all for her.
On my way home, Aidan called.
Lia, I got Megan to sleep. You need to apologize to her for what happened.
I had never once hung up on Aidan.
This time, I slammed the phone down.
4.
For the next week, I was busy with wedding preparations.
Aidan didnt call again.
Megan, however, sent me a string of taunting messages.
Serves you right. Getting the silent treatment from my brother?
Let me tell you, youll never be more important than me. Hes drawing me a foot bath right now.
As long as Im around, you will never be the one my brother loves most. ?
It wasn't the first time she'd said things like that. I used to show them to Aidan, but he never took them seriously. Hed just wave it off. Megans just a kid. Its normal for her to be jealous that her brother has a girlfriend.
A ten-year-long bout of jealousy.
Whenever I upset Megan, Aidan would give me the silent treatment until I was the one begging for his forgiveness.
This time, I was done playing their twisted family games. I blocked Megan.
The wedding required a set of expensive, traditional jewelry, and as it happened, the Cohen family was hosting an auction that evening where a perfect set was being sold.
I arrived in my evening gown and ran into Aidan and Megan at the entrance.
Megans eyes were filled with envy. Well, look who it is. Someone has a short memory. Werent you just saying you were done? Still trying to cling to my brother?
She wasn't wrong. I had swallowed my pride for him many times. I would meticulously track his movements, fly to whatever city he was in, and present him with a gift, humbly asking him to take me back. I had done that for ten years. All because when we first got together, I had sworn to always be understanding of his need to repay his debt.
The auction proceeded smoothly. Aidan bought Megan several beautiful pieces of jewelry and some valuable art. To his credit, he was incredibly capable. Hed become the captain of the Air Rescue team at a young age, and the companies hed invested in over the years had all seen explosive growth. He had never been stingy with me over the last decade. It was only when Megan was involved that I was always pushed to the bottom of the list.
When the bidding for the jewelry set began, I raised my paddle.
Megan scoffed from beside him. You and my brother havent even had an engagement party, and youre already trying to buy your wedding night jewels? You have no shame.
Aidan frowned at me, his displeasure clear. Lia, stop this. We cant get married unless Megan gives us her blessing.
I ignored them both and continued to raise the price.
Three million.
Megan, incensed, suddenly shouted, Light the sky lantern!
Lets see how much money you have to fight me with!
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. The auctioneer, thrilled, continued to call out higher prices. I kept bidding, quickly driving the price to an astronomical figure.
Megans face was pale with rage. Lia! Are you just trying to buy this set to force my brother to marry you?
Im telling you, forget it! I will not approve!
I will not allow an old woman like you to marry my brother!
Aidan watched from the side, his brow furrowed. Lia, you just slapped Megan last week. Cant you just let her have this one?
I couldnt help but laugh coldly. He was a brilliant man. How could he not see that last weeks drama was all her own doing? He just didnt want to call her out on it, and now he was using it as an excuse to make me back down.
I could live without his love. Megan could have him. But this jewelry set was mine.
I raised my hand and made a specific gesture.
Megan stared, then burst out laughing. Lia, did studying agricultural science make you stupid? Ive already lit the sky lantern. What is that gesture supposed to mean?
Aidans face darkened. Lia, stop making a scene! Dont embarrass yourself here!
I looked at them both, a slow smile spreading across my face.
Do you want to know what real embarrassment looks like?
The next moment, the noisy auction hall fell silent. A figure emerged from the shadows of the high platform, stepping into the spotlight.
Allow me to tell you what that gesture means.

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