Goodbye, My Lost Love

Chapter 2

I let out a soft chuckle, my tone light. "It's just a dress. If she wants it, let her have it." Without another glance, I grabbed my bag. "I've got work at the lab. I'm heading out."

William stood frozen, watching me walk away without a word.

That evening, for the first time in months, he came to pick me up. In his hands was a small mango cake, held out like a peace offering.

The problem? I was allergic to mangoes.

Ava was the one who loved them, not me. After all this time, he still hadn't figured that out.

"I thought you might forget to eat while working," he said, like the cake could somehow fix everything. Like I'd just smile and accept it. Like I always had.

So I did.

I plastered on a bright, grateful smile. "Wow, thank you! That's so sweet of you."

He hesitated, caught off guard. No complaints. No argument.

On the drive home, he kept sneaking glances at me. "Victoria… are you mad?"

I was lost in thought, wrapping up my project, making sure my juniors had everything they needed. His words barely registered. "Huh? Sorry, what?"

Maybe my tone was too flat.

Because the next second, he slammed on the brakes. Hard.

My head snapped up as he turned to me, grip tightening on the wheel. "Is this about the dress? You're still mad, aren't you?"

"What?" I blinked, genuinely confused. "No. Why would I be?"

He stared at me, searching my face. But all he found was indifference.

Jaw clenched, he started the car again. His voice was hoarse. "You've changed. You're not like this… not like you used to be."

He wasn't wrong.

A year ago, things were different. Then Ava came back, fresh from graduation, and suddenly, our once peaceful relationship became a war zone. And she was at the center of every battle.

"She's like a sister to me! Stop being so ridiculous!" he used to snap whenever I questioned their closeness.

The worst fight we ever had?

He completely lost it, jabbing a finger at me, eyes blazing with frustration. "Victoria, you're unbelievable! If I wanted to be with Ava, do you really think I'd still be with you? You're just a broke student living off me. If we broke up, how would you even survive?"

We spent a month in cold silence after that. In the end, I swallowed my pride and apologized. Just to keep the peace.

But love doesn't shatter in one big explosion. It erodes, piece by piece, like ice melting under the sun. The constant fights, the exhaustion, Ava's smug little smirks… they drained me until I had nothing left to feel.

I gave him a small, almost apologetic smile. "You're right. I wasn't very mature before. But I've grown up now. I'll do better."

The truth? I wouldn't be around long enough to prove it.

That night, while William was in the shower, my phone lit up.

Ava had posted nine pictures.

In every single one, she was wearing my wedding dress, grinning as she clung to my fiancé.

"Getting married to the one I love! OH!"

Dozens of their friends had liked the post. One comment stood out: "Wait… isn't that William in the background?"

Ava's smug reply: "Yes! My brother spoils me the most!"

I stared at the screen for a second. Then I liked the post, set my phone aside, and climbed into bed.

The mattress dipped as William slid in beside me. A moment later, his arm wrapped around my waist, his skin cold against mine.

"Victoria…" he murmured, his breath warm against my ear as his hand slipped under the hem of my nightgown, fingers tracing along my skin.

I shifted slightly, creating space between us.

Then, gently, I took his hand in mine. "William, I'm tired tonight. I don't want to."

In all our years together, I had never refused him.

Every fight used to end the same way, his patience, his teasing, his persistence breaking me down until I gave in, until I begged for him. And afterward, he'd hold me close, whispering sweet words, promising me he only loved me, telling me not to be jealous anymore.

But tonight?

Tonight, I felt nothing.