He Tilted the Umbrella, I Called Off Wedding

The thunderstorm came suddenly, trapping me under the office building.

Ethan Quinn rushed over with an umbrella, but it tilted without hesitation toward the girl beside him.

Sophia's shoes can't get wet. Wait here for a bit. I'll take her to the car first, then come back for you.

I watched his shoulder getting soaked.

The scene was so familiar.

Years ago, he would've gotten himself completely drenched just to keep the umbrella entirely over me, afraid I'd get touched by a single raindrop.

"Don't bother." I slipped off my heels and tossed them into a nearby trash can. "Mr. Quinn's umbrella is too small to cover two people. Don't strain yourself."

I walked barefoot into the pouring rain.

Behind me, Ethan called out.

"Violet!"

I didn't turn back.

The rain pounded painfully against my soles. The pebbles on the ground dug into my feet.

I'd been pampered since childhood. As a kid, I'd cry for hours just from stepping on seashells at the beach.

Ethan knew this better than anyone.

He used to laugh and say my feet were only meant for carpets, that they couldn't endure any hardship.

But today, even though he saw me abandon my shoes, his first instinct was still to tilt the umbrella toward Sophia White.

When I got home, I was dripping water everywhere.

My mom was coming down from upstairs. When she saw me like this, her face immediately darkened. "Who did this?"

"Who did it doesn't matter anymore. I've figured things out."

I bent down to get my slippers. My sole had been scraped raw in one spot, and it hurt to step down.

Ethan used to get anxious over small injuries like this, as if they were major incidents.

In senior year when I twisted my ankle, he carried me on his back for two blocks to the hospital, then cut up and threw away the shoes that had hurt me the next day.

Looking back now, I realized a man's devotion could have an expiration date.

I'd just finished my shower when my phone rang.

I thought Ethan had finally remembered me.

When I answered, his first words were, "Violet, Sophia got caught in the rain and her shoes are wet. Do you have any new clothes you haven't worn? I'll have my driver come pick them up."

I said nothing.

"Violet Smith, did you hear me?"

I laughed. "I heard you."

"Why don't you send her my unused boyfriend while you're at it?"

I hung up immediately.

The next second, Ethan sent me a message.

"Stop being passive-aggressive. Sophia is timid and can't handle you acting like this."

My mom sat across from me and spoke slowly. "Are you going to continue with this?"

I didn't play dumb. "No. I'm done."

She nodded, as if she'd expected it all along.

"You and Ethan grew up together. Your father and I always thought that even if he wasn't the brightest, he would at least treat you sincerely. Turns out we misjudged him."

I bent down to apply medicine to my foot. The alcohol stung sharply when it touched the wound, making my hand tremble.

My mom took the medicine from me. "Move back home tomorrow. Your father bought that wedding apartment for you anyway. No need to let someone else benefit from it."

I hummed in agreement.

That apartment had been decorated before Ethan and I got engaged.

I'd picked the living room sofa, the dining table, even the dishes in the kitchenI'd carried them back piece by piece from business trips.

Back then, I felt marriage was close, and Ethan was close too.

Only now did I realize that being close doesn't mean you won't drift apart.

At one in the morning, Ethan called again.

"Are you still throwing a tantrum?"

"No."

"Sophia just got a fever. She's been blaming herself, saying she shouldn't have bothered me to pick you up. Come by tomorrow if you're free and tell her not to overthink it."

I almost thought I'd heard wrong.

"I'm supposed to comfort her?"

"Violet, she was scared today too."

"She was scared, so I have to make her feel better?"

Ethan was silent for two seconds.

Then he said, "You weren't this petty before."

I hung up on him.

Early the next morning, I had the driver take me to the wedding apartment.

I'd only planned to grab a few clothes.

But when I opened the door, I saw a pair of soaked white sneakers in the entryway.

There was half a cup of warm milk on the table.

And Sophia White, wearing my pajamas, sat in my usual spot, looking up at me timidly.

"Violet, don't misunderstand..."

Ethan walked out wearing an apron, holding freshly baked bread.

"Good timing."

"Sophia had a fever last night, so I let her stay over."

The pajamas Sophia wore were ones I'd bought for my birthday last year. I'd washed them once but never worn them. The rabbit-fur slippers on her feet were also mine.

Even the cup in her handsthe small chip on the rimI'd accidentally made that myself.

Everything was mine.

"Violet, I'm sorry." Sophia immediately stood up, her voice soft. "Ethan said you had lots of clothes, so I just grabbed something. I'll wash it and return it."

What really disgusted me wasn't that she wore my clothes.

It was Ethan standing there, accepting all of this as reasonable.

I pushed my suitcase inside and said flatly, "No need to return it. You can have everything."

Sophia froze.

Ethan frowned. "Violet, don't be so cutting."

I smiled slightly. "I'm generously giving things away. Isn't that gracious enough?"

Ethan set the porridge on the table, his expression unpleasant. "You know Sophia is sensitive right now. Why do you have to be like this?"

I didn't bother arguing.

I went straight into the bedroom to pack.

Several dresses were missing from the closet. I didn't ask. The perfume I used regularly on the vanity had been opened. The engagement venue catalog in the nightstand drawer had been rummaged through messily.

As I packed, Ethan followed me in.

"Why are you taking so much stuff?"

"I'm moving out."

"Just because of one night?"

I zipped up my suitcase and finally looked at him. "Ethan, do you think that as long as you say 'Sophia isn't feeling well' or 'Sophia is timid,' I should give up everything?"

He looked stunned.

Then quickly frowned again. "I didn't mean it like that."

"But everything you do means exactly that."

As I reached the door, Ethan suddenly spoke. "Tomorrow night is my mom's birthday. Don't make a scene."

I paused.

"Don't worry."

"I'll be more dignified than anyone."

Mrs. Quinn's birthdayin previous years, I'd picked the gifts, ordered the cake, even reviewed the guest list for them.

The Quinn family had been close to ours for years. Everyone in our circle knew that this future daughter-in-law cared more than their actual son.

Mrs. Quinn used to hold my hand and say with a smile, "When Ethan marries you, he'll be so blessed."

Looking back now, that blessing was probably wasted.

That afternoon, Ethan sent me the birthday party itinerary.

His last message read:

"Sophia is meeting so many elders for the first time. She'll be nervous. Don't target her later."

I read it and tossed my phone aside.

Julia Brown had just come over to drop something off. She couldn't help cursing. "Is he sick? You're not even married yet, and he's already setting rules for you on behalf of the other woman?"

"Not the other woman," I corrected her. "I'm not married yet. At most, I'm the one who got cut in line."

Julia laughed at my comment, then felt sorry for me. "Are you really just going to let this go?"

"Let what go?" I looked down, selecting earrings. "Storm into the Quinn house and make a scene? Or grab Ethan and ask when he became this disgusting?"

Julia fell silent.

She knew better than anyone how Ethan and I had gotten this far.

Sophomore year, when the Quinn family ran into trouble and their funds dried up, Ethan stayed up every night with bloodshot eyes. Afraid he'd collapse, I transferred all the money from my account to him. Later, my dad pulled the Quinn family out of trouble for my sake.

Back then, Ethan held me and said he'd never let me lose in this lifetime.

Yet just a few years later, he made me lose to a "timid" Sophia White.

That evening, I'd just changed into my dress when Ethan called again.

I didn't answer.

He called persistently three times.

Finally, I picked up, and he got straight to the point. "Where did you put that emerald necklace you prepared for my mom?"

"Sophia's dress tonight has an open neckline. I want her to wear it."

That necklace was left to me by my grandmother. I'd been willing to give it to Mrs. Quinn as a birthday gift because I thought we'd soon be family.

But now, Ethan wanted to give it to Sophia White to wear.

When I didn't respond, he sounded impatient. "Violet, don't be difficult right now."

I slowly removed my earring, looking at myself in the mirror.

"Ethan."

"Yeah?"

"I'll give your mom a big gift tonight."

"What do you mean?"

I smirked.

"You'll find out soon enough."

When I arrived at the Quinn house, most people were already there.

As soon as Mrs. Quinn saw me, she smiled and waved. "Violet, come here. I thought you weren't coming today."

I handed her the gift box. "It's your birthday. Of course I'd come."

Mrs. Quinn pulled me to sit down, looking very pleased. "You're always so thoughtful."

I didn't respond to that.

Because the next second, I saw Sophia White.

She wore a light pink dress, standing next to Ethan. The dress was a limited edition I'd ordered last month. Ethan had said it was too expensive and not worth it, so he didn't let me buy it.

Even more ridiculousshe wore a thin diamond necklace around her neck.

Not my emerald.

But it was also something I'd left in the apartment drawer.

Halfway through dinner, someone at the table started teasing.

"Ethan, when are you and Violet getting married? We're all waiting to attend your wedding."

Mrs. Quinn smiled and chimed in. "Soon, soon. After they finish this busy period."

I was about to speak when Sophia suddenly stood up to toast everyone.

She got nervous, her hand shook, and she spilled wine all over her dress.

Her eyes immediately reddened. "I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy..."

Ethan immediately got up to grab napkins and crouched down to wipe her hem.

One of the aunts at the table laughed meaningfully. "Oh my, Ethan really cares about this girl."

Another person glanced at me and deliberately said, "Violet has always had quite a temper. Hope she doesn't overthink things."

Before I could speak, Sophia hurriedly waved her hands.

"No, no, Violet's been very good to me. Last time I wore her pajamas, she didn't even get upset."

This one sentence was more clever than her deliberately reddening her eyes or pretending to shake.

One phrase"didn't even get upset"put me on the spot.

If I minded, I was petty.

If I didn't mind, she'd continue occupying my things while playing innocent.

Ethan also looked at me, saying quietly, "Violet, it's my mom's birthday today."

That phrase again.

As if that one sentence meant I should endure everything.

I picked up my bag and headed straight upstairs.

Ethan's lowered voice immediately followed.

"Violet, where are you going?"

"To get a gift."

I didn't look back.

I knew the Quinn family study well. When Uncle Quinn traveled for business, I'd help organize where documents were kept and where spare keys were.

Ethan always said that after we got married, with me managing the house, he could relax.

Looking back now, I really had made things too easy for him.

So easy that he thought I'd never leave.

After entering the study, I first took out a document folder from the drawer.

It was a supplementary agreement my dad had asked me to pass to Uncle Quinn last month. I hadn't looked at it carefully then.

Last night when I moved out, my mom reminded me. Inside, it clearly statedthe thirty million our Smith family had given the Quinn family as working capital was lent on the condition of our engagement.

If the engagement was called off, the money had to be returned within seven days.

I'd just come downstairs with the document folder when Ethan was already waiting at the staircase.

He was barely containing his anger. "What exactly are you trying to do tonight?"

"Give a big gift."

"Stop this."

"Am I causing a scene?" I looked at him. "Since I walked in, have I smashed any glasses or flipped any tables?"

I walked around him and returned to the dining room.

Everyone at the table looked at me.

I placed the document folder on the table and pushed it in front of Uncle Quinn.

"Uncle, Auntie, today is your birthday. I didn't want to bring this up on this occasion. But if I don't say it now, I'll look too oblivious."

Mrs. Quinn's smile stiffened slightly. "Violet, what's wrong?"

I took out a ring from my bag and gently placed it on the table.

Ethan had bought it for me last year, saying he'd officially propose this year on my birthday.

Ethan's expression changed instantly. "Violet!"

I ignored him, looking only at Mr. and Mrs. Quinn.

"I'm calling off this marriage."

"Also, regarding the money our Smith family previously gave the Quinn family, according to the agreement, please return it by next week."

Mrs. Quinn's knife and fork clattered onto the table.

Ethan was the first to react. He grabbed my wrist. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Ethan." I pulled my hand free bit by bit. "The one who's really lost it isn't me."

"It's you, still thinking I'll keep standing in place waiting for you to choose."