Chapter 3

The next morning, I woke up early, planning to tell Austin about my decision to leave his company.

But Austin was already up, busily working in the kitchen.

On the dining table sat a beautifully plated breakfast with a heart-shaped pancake. I hadn't seen him make anything like this in years.

He had learned to cook breakfast back in college when he was pursuing me, transitioning from burnt, messy plates to delicious meals.

As I walked over to take a seat, Austin quickly snatched the plate away. "Elena, what are you doing? Yours is over there."

He pointed to a plain bowl of oatmeal. I stared at the heart-shaped pancake. "Then who is that for?"

"Who else? Chloe. She lost a big match last night and was super bummed out. I wanted to make her something nice to cheer her up."

"Why the heart shape?"

"Oh, come on, girls love that aesthetic stuff. Are you seriously jealous of a pancake?"

I nodded slowly, wanting to see how he would react.

Austin clearly didn't expect me to admit it. He paused, then laughed it off. "Elena, stop playing. You’re way too old to be getting jealous over stuff like this."

"If Chloe hears you, she’s going to laugh her head off."

I thought he would reassure me, but instead, he practically called me old.

We had been together for ten years. Compared to Chloe, who was fresh out of college, I was older—but I was hardly "old."

At that moment, I looked at him and wondered if he was just joking or if he genuinely meant it.

He kept grinning, completely oblivious to how insulting his words were.

My mother's warning echoed in my mind: *“Elena, listen to me. Austin isn't the one. He’s too immature. A boy who has never had to struggle will never know how to cherish you.”*

I had refused to listen back then, desperate to prove her wrong.

But now, that stubborn determination finally crumbled.

Still, I decided to ask him one last question. "Austin, my mom asked when we’re finally getting married. What should I tell her?"

Austin’s brows furrowed instantly. He always got annoyed whenever the topic of marriage came up.

"Elena, why are you bringing this up now? I told you, the company is in a critical expansion phase. I need to focus on making money so I can give you the dream wedding you deserve."

"Besides, I literally don't have the time right now."

Chloe walked out of her room right then. She picked up the heart-shaped pancake plate, looking at me with envy. "Wow, Elena, you’re so lucky to have a boyfriend like Austin. You should be more understanding. Marriage is just a piece of paper anyway. As long as you love each other, that's what matters!"

Seeing them chime in together like a rehearsed duo, I got my answer.

I had told him a thousand times that I didn't need a lavish wedding, just a simple ceremony. But he never listened.

He had plenty of time to play video games with Chloe, but he had no time to marry me. He couldn't even give me a straight date.

I unlocked my phone, opened my email, and sent a message to the hiring manager at the new firm: *[I’ve changed my mind. I’d like to join your international relocation program. I want to start fresh.]*