Chapter 3 of Loving Her Was My Only Mistake

The dozens of photos my coworkers had dumped into the group chat flooded back into my head all at once.

In every single one she was leaning into Mike's arms, smiling with a softness I'd never seen on her.

Maybe the only one who'd ever felt happy was me.

I flipped the photos face-down on the cabinet and turned to start packing.

Clothes, shoes…

My hands stilled only when I got to the ties.

The one lying most prominently in the organizer box was the birthday gift Samantha had given me last year.

I thought about it, then dug out every gift we'd exchanged over the years.

Since I'd decided to break up, there was no reason to keep any of it.

The first year, the second year.

Every gift we gave had its match in return.

Only the third year was missing—Samantha's anniversary gift and her Valentine's gift to me.

Because she'd filled in the wrong recipient, they'd all been delivered to Mike instead.

I sent Samantha a message.

【The things I gave you, I've already thrown out. What you gave me is in the bedroom cabinet.】

【Do whatever you want with it.】

By the time I finished packing everything, there was still no reply in the message thread.

I opened the group chat. They were still going strong, only just now wrapping up.

Mike had posted on social media.

【You say he's someone you're settling for, an obligation, that you have no choice. It's okay. I'll wait for you as long as it takes…】

No comments, no likes. This was posted for me alone to see.

I liked it, shut off my phone, grabbed my suitcase, and headed for the door.

Whatever the two of them wanted to become after this had nothing to do with me anymore.

The moment I opened the door, I came face-to-face with Samantha, breathless.

The instant she saw me, she seemed to let out a breath of relief.

The next second, her brow furrowed again, her tone edged with reproach.

"Why come back all of a sudden without a word? I was running around frantic looking for you."

I didn't answer. I only found it laughable.

Frantic, really.

So frantic she'd finished a whole meal, walked Mike through the entire proposal, and only then found the time to come looking for me.

Samantha squeezed her way inside.

Under the indoor lights, she finally saw the suitcase in my hand.

Her expression changed.

"It's this late—where are you going?"

I looked at her, my face blank.

"Moving out. I'll come back later for the rest."

Hearing that, Samantha didn't rush to keep me. Instead, impatience flooded her in an instant.

Just like before, when she'd called me by the wrong name and I'd lost my temper, and she'd promised over and over that she didn't love her ex anymore.

She drew a deep breath, forced her patience, and pulled the proposal ring out of her pocket.

"Enough. I swear I love only you—is that good enough?"

"Today really was an accident. And I only treated my coworkers to dinner because the deposit was already paid and I didn't want it to go to waste."

As if it were nothing more than grabbing some cheap barbecue at a roadside stand with coworkers, she soothed me halfheartedly.

"I explained everything to Mike, too. Look, I even got the proposal ring back."

"Let's just leave it here."

Samantha seized my hand and, without so much as asking, slid the ring onto my ring finger.

But it was far too loose.

The moment I lowered my hand, the ring slid straight off and rolled right to Samantha's feet.

The air went quiet for a beat.

Watching the stunned look on her face, I laughed, dripping with irony.

"Another accident? Filled in the wrong size when you ordered the ring?"

When that ring had been on Mike's finger, it fit like it had been made for him.

For once, Samantha looked a little guilty.

She picked the ring up, cleared her throat a few times, covering the awkwardness on her face.

"It was an accident. I'll have someone resize it later."

"Don't bother."

I cut her off coldly.

"When I said we're breaking up, I meant it. Let's just end it here."