Calling Off The Engagement

Audrey Mercer sent the text message with a smile spreading across her lips: [Honey, I just landed. See you at City Hall in half an hour.]

Today was the day she and Adrian Hawthorne were scheduled to obtain their marriage license. From their romance during college to their formal engagement, and now to this long-awaited day, five full years had passed.

Audrey leaned back against the seat of the taxi. The morning sunlight poured through the window, casting a warm glow over her face. She smoothed the skirt of her pale dress, checking the digital clock on the dashboard every few minutes.

The driver caught her expression in the rearview mirror and chuckled. "Rushing straight to City Hall right after a flight? You must have someone special waiting."

"Yes, it is Valentine's Day," Audrey replied with a bright smile. "I had to book the appointment two weeks in advance just to secure a morning slot."

The driver nodded in understanding. "Young folks really know how to make memories. My daughter tried to snag an appointment for today, but the system filled up in seconds. She had to settle for tomorrow instead."

"Congratulations to her," Audrey said.

"Thank you, and congratulations to you as well," the driver said as he pulled the car up to the curb.

Audrey thanked him, paid the fare, and stepped out onto the wide stone steps of City Hall. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of winter frost. Couples holding small bouquets of roses walked past her, their faces flushed with excitement. Audrey stood by the entrance, clutching her handbag where the appointment confirmation paper rested safely.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty.

Adrian still had not responded to her message.

Audrey pulled out her phone and dialed his number. The phone rang for a long time, the mechanical buzz stretching her patience thin. Just as she thought the call would drop into voicemail, the line clicked open.

Adrian's voice sounded flat, devoid of any warmth. "Yeah? What is it?"

Audrey tightened her fingers around the phone. "Adrian, where are you? I'm already waiting outside City Hall. Our appointment time is almost up."

"Drey, I can't come right now," Adrian said.

Audrey felt a strange chill run down her spine. "What happened? Didn't we agree to get our marriage license today?"

"Something came up," Adrian replied, his tone indifferent. "Let's just reschedule for another day. Any day works. It's not a big deal."

Not a big deal. The words struck Audrey like a physical slap. She had spent two weeks staying up late to secure this specific Valentine's Day booking. She had caught the earliest red-eye flight back into the city without sleeping a wink.

Before she could speak, a sweet, feminine voice drifted through the receiver.

"Adrian, are you on the phone? Everyone is waiting downstairs for us to join them for breakfast."

Audrey's heart plunged into an icy void. She recognized that voice instantly. It belonged to Giselle Finch.

Giselle was the girl the Hawthorne family had taken in eighteen years ago. Adrian had always shielded her, treating her like precious glass. When had Giselle returned from her studies abroad?

Audrey opened her mouth to ask, but the line went dead. Adrian had hung up on her.

Audrey stood under the blinding sun, her fingers turning white against the screen. The previous night, Adrian had sent her a short message saying he was exhausted and going to bed early. Yet he was currently having breakfast with another woman.

Her phone vibrated in her palm. A new message popped up from an unfamiliar number.

Giselle: [Audrey, was that you on the phone with Adrian just now? I just arrived back in the country yesterday. Adrian threw a big welcome party for me last night. I drank a little too much and ended up staying over. Please don't get the wrong idea. Would you like to join us for breakfast?]

Audrey stared at the text. Every polite word felt like a deliberate mockery. A cold, hard knot formed in her chest, replacing the grief with sudden clarity.

She typed a reply without hesitation: [Send me the address. I'm coming over now.]

***

Half an hour later, Audrey stepped out of an elevator into the opulent hallway of Amber Grill. Soft classical music played from hidden speakers, but as she approached private room 808, the sound was drowned out by familiar laughter.

The heavy wooden door was cracked open a sliver. Audrey stopped just outside, her leather heels silent against the plush runner.

"Adrian, isn't today the day you and Audrey were supposed to get your license?" a man teased from inside.

"Yeah, I heard Audrey stayed up late half a month ago just to lock down Adrian on Valentine's Day," another voice chimed in.

Someone else scoffed. "Why bother? Adrian doesn't love her anyway. Everyone in our circle knows the only one in his heart has always been Giselle."

Inside the room, Giselle lowered her chin, putting on an act of shy modesty. "Please don't say things like that. Adrian is just my brother."

Audrey stood frozen outside the door, the blood draining from her cheeks. She peered through the narrow gap.

Adrian was sprawled lazily in the center booth, his posture relaxed. His long arm was draped casually across the back of Giselle’s chair, his fingers resting near her shoulder in an open display of intimacy. From the doorway, it looked as though he was holding her directly against his side.

Adrian looked down at Giselle, his expression soft and attentive. "Giselle, do you really only see me as a brother?"

Giselle looked back at him, her voice wavering with hesitation. "Adrian, are you really not going to get the marriage license with Audrey today?"

"No. I already told her," Adrian said without a hint of hesitation.

Seeing Giselle’s shoulders tremble under the table's teasing gaze, Adrian leaned closer to her ear.

"Giselle, no one is more important to me than you," Adrian murmured.

The guests around the table broke into loud cheers and applause.

Standing in the dim corridor, Audrey felt an excruciating ache split her chest open. For five years, she had cooked his meals, organized his schedule, and waited patiently for his affection. She had believed his distant nature was simply part of who he was. Now she realized he was capable of warmth—he had simply chosen never to give it to her.

A young man returning from the restroom rounded the corner and froze when he spotted her.

"Audrey? You're here too? Why aren't you going inside?" he asked loudly.

Before Audrey could move, the man pushed the door wide open.

The laughter inside cut off instantly. The room fell dead silent as every pair of eyes turned toward the doorway.

Adrian pulled his arm back from Giselle's chair, his brows knitting together in immediate annoyance. "Drey, what brought you here?"

Audrey stepped across the threshold, her chin held high despite the hollow ache inside her. "Am I not welcome here?"

Giselle quickly stood up, offering a timid, polite smile. "Audrey, come sit here. You can take my seat."

Adrian reached out and caught Giselle by the forearm, pulling her back down into the booth. "Stay where you are, Giselle. You don't need to give up your seat."

The protective gesture landed like a physical blow against Audrey's pride.

"Keep sitting," Audrey said, her voice steady and detached. "I didn't come here to eat breakfast."

Adrian frowned, his irritation deepening. "Audrey, what are you doing? Didn't we already agree to get our marriage license another day?"

Audrey looked directly into his eyes, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Forget it. I'm calling it off."

Adrian blinked, clearly unprepared for those words. "What did you say?"

Audrey took a slow, measured breath and smiled coldly. "I'm calling off the engagement. You made it clear that Giselle is the most important person to you. Since that is the case, let's end this. You can be with whoever you want."

Adrian sat rigid, his eyes narrowing as dark disbelief washed over his face. "What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

"Since she is the one you care about, why don't you take my appointment and register your marriage with her today? Consider it my parting gift to both of you," Audrey said.

She reached into her coat pocket, pulled out the folded paper confirmation from City Hall, and flung it straight at his chest.

The paper hit Adrian's shirt and drifted down onto the carpet by his shoes.

"Audrey, that is enough," Adrian warned in a low, dangerous tone. "Giselle just returned from abroad. Can't we discuss private matters in private?"

One of the men at the far end of the table scoffed into his glass. "She is just throwing a tantrum. Everyone knows she is obsessed with Adrian. If his grandfather hadn't forced the issue, she wouldn't even have the status to stand here and shout."

Giselle raised her hands in distress, looking close to tears. "Audrey, please don't listen to their teasing! Adrian is truly just my brother!"

Audrey looked at Giselle's innocent expression and let out a sharp, scornful laugh. "What a devoted brother. What kind of brother skips his own marriage registration just to keep his sister company after a party? Are you sure he is just your brother and not your secret lover?"

Adrian slammed his hand down against the table, his face dark with fury. "Audrey, shut your mouth. Apologize to Giselle right now."

Audrey looked at the man she had loved for five years, feeling nothing but cold contempt. She raised her fist into the air, her voice cutting through the silent room like a blade.

"I swear I'll never marry Adrian Hawthorne. If I ever go back on this, may Adrian be cursed to never have kids."