15

15

Bethany's POV.

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, barely recognizing the woman looking back at me.

My eyes were hollow, rimmed with dark circles from a night without sleep. My lips were dry, pressed into a thin, uncertain line.

No amount of cold water splashed on my face could wash away the guilt and hurt and betrayal clinging to me.

I had to end it. I wasn't going to make a chance for excuses or for any second chances.

Mason had betrayed me, and I... I had betrayed myself too in the process. I tightened my grip on the sink breathing heavily as I stared at myself in the mirror.

Today was the day I was going to end everything.

***

The soft clinching of dishes and the low him of conversation filled the small cafe as I stepped into it. I was supposed to me meeting Lily here and then we'd catch up. And then I'd go to Mason's office and drop his damned engagement ring.

I looked around the cafe and quickly noticed her sitting on a table not too far away from where I was standing. With a sigh, I walked up to he, my shoulders slumped, and sat across from her without any major greeting.

She raised her head and frowned immediately she noted me. "Damn. You look like hell," she murmured, eyeing me in a way that made me feel a little bit unpleasant.

I managed a weak laugh. "Gee, thanks."

Her expression softened. "Beth, I'm serious."

I said nothing, looking away from her and she spoke again. "Don't tell me you're still hung up on what happened?"

I sighed and shook my head, rubbing my face. "You say that like it's nothing to be hung up about, Lily. Mason and I have been together for over three years and… and he has been cheating on me all those while. Now I have to throw away the relationship and love that we've been building for three years and…fuck, I don't even know if any of it was real."

"Bethany, I-"

"It's fine," I answered, giving her a weak smile and sighing, staring at the tea that the waitress brought and dropped in front of us.

"I ordered tea for us," she explained, giving me an apologetic look and I smiled again.

"No, it's fine, really." I stared at the tea for a moment longer and said, "I have to break off the engagement with him."

"That son of a bitch." Her reaction was exactly what I needed—anger where I couldn't muster any. "I kept telling you so didn't think he was right for you."

"I don't think now is the time for you to be telling me you told me," I replied her and she gave me an apologetic smile. "But yeah, I should've seen it sooner." I murmured with a sigh.

"No, don't do that. This isn't on you. Mason is a selfish asshole who doesn't know how good he had it." I let out a shaky breath.

Lily leaned forward, gripping my hand then she finally noticed the ring still on my finger. "What are you still doing with this?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, eyeing the ring.

I sighed, removing it from my finger and rubbing my face. "I didn't give it to him that day," I explained with a weak smile.

"What are you going to do?" She asked, eyeing the ring with disdain.

"I need to end it properly. No texts, no calls. Face-to-face. I need to tell him what a shitty person he really is and throw his ring to his face," I explained.

Lily nodded slowly, then smirked. "Want me to come with you?"

I blinked, surprised.

"I can wait outside, but I'll be there. Just in case," she offered.

A small smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah. I'd like that," I replied with a nod of my head and smiled wider.

"Let's go," she said, getting up and leaving a few dollar bills for the tea we didn't even touch. We left the cafe and took her car to Mason's office. I was quiet the whole time, preparing my mind on what I wanted to say.

It didn't take long for us to reach his office, and I got down from the car, running a hand through my hair and staring up at the tall building.

Lily came up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Come on," she said quietly. "Let's go."

"Yeah," I replied with a nod of my head. "Let's go."

The receptionist barely glanced up as Lily and I stepped inside.

I swallowed hard, my palms clammy.

"You've got this," Lily whispered, giving my arm a reassuring squeeze.

I nodded, taking a deep breath.

The receptionist looked up this time, giving me a forced smile.

"Miss Whitmore, Mr. Grant is in a meeting."

"I'm not leaving," I said, my voice steady.

Her smile thinned. "I'll let him know you're here."

Moments later, Mason's office door swung open.

And there he was.

Mason Grant.

Perfectly put together in a tailored suit, phone in hand, barely sparing me a glance.

"Bethany. This isn't a good time."

I stared at him, my heart pounding in my ears.

No apology. No explanation. Just cold indifference. Of course, what had I been expecting though? For him to fall at my feet and grovel? He had made it perfectly clear that he wasn't that kind of man, and that he didn't give two shits about me and how I felt.

"I need to talk to you," I said firmly.

Mason sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Make it quick."

He stepped aside, letting me in.

I glanced back at Lily, who gave me a tight nod before I entere his office.

The door shut behind me with a soft click. His office was as pristine as ever—everything in its place. Except me.

I stood there for a moment, unsure of where to begin. Mason leaned against his desk, checking his phone.

"So? What's so important?"

I blinked, stunned by his complete lack of emotion.

"So you're not going to apologize?" That got his attention and he looked up at last, raising a brow.

"Apologize about what?" He demanded.

"Apologize about cheating on me and making me feel like I was the problem?" I reminded him.

His face didn't change. No flicker of guilt, no remorse. He simply sighed.

"So that's what this is about."

This is what this is about?

My throat tightened. "Yes, Mason. This is exactly what this is about."

He tossed his phone onto the desk, crossing his arms.

"Look, Bethany, I don't have time for this. Things happen. People make mistakes."

I gaped at him. "Mistakes?" I echoed.

Was he serious?

"Mason, you didn't trip and fall into someone else's bed! You made a choice!"

His jaw tightened.

"Lower your voice."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I embarrassing you?"

He pushed off the desk, his posture stiff.

"I'm not doing this right now."

"Yes, you are!" I snapped.

My hands trembled, but I refused to back down.

"I deserve better than this. Better than you sneaking around behind my back and acting like it's no big deal."

His eyes narrowed.

"Oh, spare me the lecture. You think you're perfect?"

The words hit like a slap.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Mason smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"You've been distant for months. Always stressed, always tired. I needed—"

"Don't you dare blame me for your choices!" I cut in. His expression darkened.

"You don't understand how things work, Bethany. Relationships aren't black and white."

My stomach turned.

"No, Mason. You don't understand. Loyalty isn't optional. You don't get to sleep with someone else and expect me to just get over it." Silence stretched between us. Then Mason shrugged.

"If that's how you feel, then maybe this isn't working. You were right. We need to break things off.

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. "That's it?" I whispered.

He didn't answer. Slowly, I slid the engagement ring off my finger and placed it on his desk.

"This is over." Mason's gaze flicked to the ring, then back to me. No reaction. No fight. Nothing.

I expected anger, regret—something.

But he just… watched me. Like I was nothing. I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

"Mason?" He turned away, reaching for his phone.

"We're done here," he replied icily and I froze. The words hung in the air like a punch to the gut. Just like that. I came here prepared for a fight, to confront him, to make him understand the pain he caused.

But he didn't care. Not at all. I stood there, rooted in place, as Mason casually scrolled through his phone like I wasn't even in the room.

Like I didn't matter.

My breath caught in my throat.

I wasn't sure what hurt more—his betrayal or how easily he was letting me go.

The walls of his office seemed to close in, and for the first time, I felt small.

So small.

And Mason didn't even look up.