I Canceled Our Wedding the Day Before, He Was at His Ex’s Somewhere in the Alps Chapter 03
After canceling the wedding, I went home to pack. I was moving out of the apartment Caleb and I had shared.
He sent me a text, a photo of the airport lounge. The caption read: [Work trip is over. So tired.]
I didn’t reply. I just stared at the bottom left corner of the photo. A slim, pale hand had accidentally slipped into the frame. A diamond ring sparkled on the ring finger.
I recognized that ring.
Last year, when Caleb and I were shopping for engagement rings, the salesperson showed us that one. It was the most expensive style in the store, only one pair in the entire city.
I loved it. But Caleb said it was too flashy and didn’t suit me. Turns out, it suited Jessica just fine.
I put my phone down and folded my clothes one by one, stuffing them into a suitcase.
When I picked up one of Caleb’s shirts, I frowned. There was a strong perfume smell all over it, jasmine. Tucked into the collar was a note written in lipstick.
[Jessica’s sleep shirt]
After seven years together, he had left a shirt stained with another woman’s scent in our closet.
I put the shirt back where I found it and went to pack the bathroom.
My phone buzzed again, it was Caleb, video calling me.
I answered.
On the screen, he wore a black coat. His usually cold, distant face had a hint of warmth.
“What are you doing?”
“Packing.”
“How’s the wedding planning going?”
“…Fine.”
“My flight lands tomorrow morning. I’ll be back in time for our wedding the day after.”
“Okay.”
“What’s wrong? You seem upset.”
“I’m fine. Just tired.”
“I got you a gift.”
He bent down and pulled a small white box tied with a ribbon from his briefcase.
“A friend got married and gave out some wedding chocolates. I brought them back for you, for good luck.”
“A friend?” I repeated.
He smiled, completely natural, not a trace of guilt. “Yeah, a friend.”
Just then, a woman’s voice came from beside him. “Caleb, can you check if my ring is loose?”
Caleb turned his head and answered, “One sec.” Then he looked back at me. “Emma, did you need anything else? I should probably go.”
I lowered my eyes and looked at the man on the screen. Finally, I couldn’t help but ask, “Caleb, do you actually want to marry me?”
He blinked, then laughed. “Of course. We’ve been together seven years. How many people get a seven-year relationship? Of course I want to marry you.”
I nodded.
My finger hovered over the screen and stopped at the family group chat.
Three minutes ago, I had typed a message: [After discussing it together, we’ve decided to cancel the wedding scheduled for the day after tomorrow.]
Back then, I still wanted to spare his feelings.
Now, I deleted the message, one word at a time.
I said, “Okay.”