I really thought I’d made myself clear with Aaron. Crystal clear. Especially after what happened—me spending the night with another man, right in front of his face. I figured that would be the final nail in the coffin. Aaron had always been so proud, so big on his ego. And besides, he still had Nancy waiting for him back in the States. There was no reason for him to keep hanging on to me.

At least, that’s what I thought.

But a few days later, as I walked out of the office, the street outside was buzzing with noise. Crowds had gathered, people pointing up at the huge LED billboards lighting up the buildings around us. At first, I didn’t understand what the fuss was about. Then I got closer—and my heart dropped.

Aaron.

He’d made a whole damn video—editing together clips of our “happiest” moments, all sunshine and smiles, like we were still in some fairytale. The entire thing was on loop and, of course, he’d included that scene where he proposed to me, down on one knee. My face on the screen looked so happy, so certain. For a split second, I found myself lost in that memory.

Back then, Aaron was good to me. He really was. He never went against my wishes. The moment I was upset or even a little off, he was the first to notice. He knew me like the back of his hand. I kept telling myself it was temporary—that the honeymoon phase would wear off eventually and the real him would come through.

But it never did. He stayed thoughtful for ten straight years. Three thousand six hundred and fifty days. He carved himself into my bones without me realizing it. I got used to it. I got used to thinking he’d always be that way.

But no one stays the same forever. Right when I thought we had the rest of our lives ahead of us, Nancy showed up. Maybe it was fate throwing us a curveball, testing the strength of what we had. Too bad he failed.

I gave him chance after chance. And he still chose her. So no—I’m not going back.

Aaron must’ve misread my silence, thought he was getting through to me. The next thing I knew, he was walking toward me with a massive bouquet—ninety-nine irises—and dropped to one knee.

“Cassidy, everything that happened—it was my fault. I let someone else cloud my judgment. I’m not asking you to forgive me right away. Just give me a chance.”

“A chance to make up for everything I’ve done wrong.” His eyes were red, bloodshot, but glowing with desperate hope.

I kept my expression neutral, my gaze steady. “I thought I already made myself clear the last time you showed up. We’re divorced, Aaron. That chapter is closed. I’m engaged to someone else now, so please—leave. What you’re doing now? It’s crossing a line. You’re disrupting my life.”

Compared to last night, I felt like I was speaking to a stranger. He went pale. He let out a broken laugh, like he’d been punched in the gut. If I still hated him, at least it would mean I cared. But the truth was… I didn’t feel anything anymore. Not love. Not anger. Not even pain. Just… numb.

Aaron must’ve sensed it too, because the light in his eyes dimmed. And then, like a man drowning, grasping at anything, he forced a smile and reached out his hand, “Cass, you’re just upset right now, right? Ten years… Ten years can’t just vanish like smoke. You’re mad. I get it, I’ll apologize a thousand times if I have to.”

“I know I hurt you. I know what I did must’ve cut deep. But please… let me spend the rest of my life making it up to you, okay?” His voice cracked and his hand trembled, reaching for me like I was still his to hold. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears.