No More Waiting for Love

I had moved out of our house, but my boyfriend—the one I had given up everything to run away with—had no idea. Neither did his possessive younger brother, the one who used to knock on my door calling for me.

My boyfriend's first love had taken up all their attention. They no longer listened when I played the piano. They even forgot about my cat fur allergy and brought that woman's cat home.

My boyfriend, Ian Blake, had snapped, "If anyone's leaving, it's you. There's no way Eva's cat is going anywhere."

His brother, Sebastian, had said, "Sienna, Eva is my girlfriend. How could I give up her cat for you?"

When I woke up in the hospital after going into anaphylactic shock from my allergy, I decided to leave them.

Back home, I made my first call to my mother. "Mom, I'm ready to accept the arranged marriage."

When Mom heard my voice, she choked up for a moment, but more than anything, she sounded happy. This was the first time in the five years since I ran away with Ian Blake that I was not going against her.

"Sweetheart, trust me. I only want what's best for you. I don't want you to suffer. You'll be happy if you marry the man we choose for you." She went on and on over the phone. I could not help but grip the phone tighter.

In the past, I was blind and chased after so-called freedom with Ian. My actions only ended up letting my parents down.

I asked, "Mom, what about… Dad?"

"Don't worry. Your father is glad to hear that you're willing to come back."

I felt a tingle in my nose, and I could no longer hold back the tears.

"Come back soon, okay? Your dad and I will be waiting for you at home."

"Alright… I'll be back home tomorrow."

Just then, Ian pushed the door open and walked in. He happened to catch the last few words of my conversation. His brows furrowed slightly. "Home? Which home are you going back to?"

Flustered, I quickly wiped off my tears and ended the call without answering his question. Instead, I asked, "Can you take Eva's cat away?"

Once I left, the cat might end up starving alone at home.

Ian looked annoyed. "You're crying over a cat now? Are you really throwing a tantrum over this, saying you wanna go home? Don't forget that you ran away with me. The Xenos family disowned you a long time ago."

I looked at the ground and smiled bitterly. I thought to myself, 'So, this is what it's like when someone stops loving you. They even forget everything in the past.'

Still, I patiently explained, "I'm severely allergic to cat fur…"

Ian frowned but still said coldly, "Sienna Xenos, Mimi is only staying here for a few days. It's only for a short while."

He tried to persuade me with a long-winded explanation, but the playful ringtone of his phone cut him off. It was his custom ringtone for Eva.

The moment Ian answered the call, Eva's vague sobs sounded from the other end of the line. "They… forced me to drink… I'm scared… Please come quickly…"

Concern immediately washed over Ian's facial features as he grabbed his car keys and rushed out the door.

"Eva, don't be afraid. I'm on my way. Don't worry. They wouldn't dare do anything to you. After all, you're my… girl."

He left so quickly that he forgot his jacket on the couch—as well as his girlfriend who was still standing right there, watching him.

I stared out the window at snowflakes wafting down, feeling my heart sink. Ian had loved me before, so I knew exactly what he was like when he truly loved someone. I knew the truth even though he kept insisting that he only saw Eva as his sister.

Just then, the cat woke up, stretched lazily, and padded over to rub against my leg. Instinctively, I took a step back.

I had just been discharged from the hospital. I didn't want to end up back there with another allergic reaction.

Not knowing when Ian might return, I dished out all the cat food onto the floor and placed several bowls of water around the house as well. With that, the cat would not starve even if they were gone for a month after my departure.

When I was done, Sebastian walked in. Seeing me alone at home, he smirked, backed me into the wall, and trapped me against his chest.

His voice was gentle, but his eyes were cold. "Sienna, did my brother leave you for another woman again? Are you regretting not choosing me back then?"