The Necklace
When I found out the truth, I went straight to Samantha and demanded an explanation.
My eyes were bloodshot with anger, but she did not look guilty at all. She did not apologize for lying to me, nor did she even try to explain herself.
Instead, she took out her phone and played the video she had recorded of me apologizing to her. "Ryan was sick. That part was true, wasn't it? So how exactly did I lie?"
Then she smiled and shook the phone in front of me. "Go ahead and make a scene. Tell everyone, if that makes you feel better. Once they see this video of you begging me to forgive you, they'll only think you're crazy."
She pushed me so far that I ended up hyperventilating and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Only then did Samantha seem to realize she had gone too far.
When I woke up in the hospital, she was sitting beside my bed, her eyes tearful and red, apologizing repeatedly. She promised to make up for the missed engagement party and said we would hold another celebration in a week.
She looked so sincere that I forgave her again.
Thinking back on it now, I couldn't believe how stupid I had been.
If Samantha had truly loved me, she wouldn't have hurt me and lied to me over and over again.
We had been together for seven years. I proposed ninety-nine times, and she made our engagement party a public humiliation ten times.
I had nothing left to give.
The only option was to cut her out of my life myself.
From then on, Samantha and I would have no further contact.
I looked at Ryan's message, but this time, I didn't explode the way I used to. I simply deleted the conversation and ignored it.
Over the next few days, Samantha went out drinking and partying every night. Every update she posted was tagged at some bar, lounge, or club, and Ryan was almost always right there beside her.
It was as if she had completely forgotten she still had a boyfriend. We hadn't even officially broken up, but she was already enjoying single life.
That was fine with me.
I had no intention of seeing her again anyway.
After packing everything I owned, I called Linda and apologized again for what had happened at the engagement party.
I knew she had always cared about me. The only reason she said those harsh things was because I refused to listen and kept returning to Samantha, despite how badly I was treated.
"Aunt Linda," I asked, "you used to suggest I move abroad and work with my cousin. Is that chance still open?"
She was stunned at first. Then her voice filled with surprise and relief.
Back then, she had been strongly against my relationship with Samantha. She had advised me many times to study abroad and build a better life elsewhere, but I had rejected her every time.
"Of course it is," she replied. "As long as you're really done with Samantha and that whole mess, I'll support you."
Once we agreed that I would leave at the end of the month, I quickly contacted a real estate agent and listed my house for sale.
I bought the house in cash five years ago.
At the time, I had imagined it would be the home where Samantha and I would build our future.
Now there was no point in keeping it.
While I was packing, one of my closest friends suddenly sent me a video.
He was so angry that his words came out in a rush. "Caleb, watch the video I just sent you. Isn't that necklace around that b*stard's neck yours?"
I opened the video.
It seemed to have been filmed from inside a bar booth. Samantha was tipsy and leaning against Ryan's chest, while Ryan sat there wearing an elegant vintage emerald necklace.
My whole body went cold.
That necklace had belonged to my mother before she died, and it was one of the few things she had left me.
I had given it to Samantha as a promise, something more meaningful than any ring or gift I could ever buy.
Three years ago, she told me she had accidentally lost it. She cried, blamed herself for days, and I comforted her like a fool.
Now, it was hanging around Ryan's neck.
I went downstairs, got into a taxi, and headed straight to the bar using the location my friend had sent me.
I hadn't planned to see Samantha again, but I was not leaving my mother's necklace with him.
