The Breakup Party

The day before my wedding, I dropped my best man off at his hotel and saw my fiance, Chloe, checking into a room with her ex-boyfriend.

Just ten minutes earlier, she had texted me:

I'll be waiting for you tomorrow, my love. Come and take me home.

I swallowed my rage and filmed the video of them kissing in the hallway.

The next day, at our wedding, I played it for everyone to see.

The moment the video played, the reception hall erupted.

Chloe's younger brother was the first to react, pointing at the event staff and screaming.

What the hell are you people doing? Why would you play a video like this at a wedding?

How dare you embarrass the Thorne family! Is your company trying to go out of business?

Where's your manager? Get them out here

His voice trailed off as he, along with every other guest, became glued to the screen.

I nodded, satisfied.

Everyone, I announced, welcome to my breakup party with Chloe Thorne. From this day forward, we are finished. Please, eat, drink, and enjoy.

Realizing she was the star of the show, Chloe rushed toward me, desperate to explain. But I had already dropped the microphone and walked out.

The second I stepped outside the hotel, my father's call came through. I let my phone's AI assistant handle it. When I'd first told him I was marrying Chloe, he'd been so ecstatic he stayed drunk for three days, bragging to anyone who would listen about how his brilliant son was marrying a wealthy heiress.

He would be the last person to accept this wedding being called off.

Back at my apartment, the calls from my father were relentless. Annoyed, I finally just pulled the SIM card out of my phone. I tossed my wedding suit in the trash and found the nearest bar.

My social media, anything that connected me to Chloe, was blowing up with notifications. But I had a new phone now. I couldn't see their chaos even if I wanted to.

The bar owner saw me and strolled over, a friendly grin on his face.

Flying solo tonight, Ethan? Where's your fiance?

I glanced over my shoulder, a wry smile on my face.

She'll be here soon.

A second later, a familiar figure appeared.

Chloe was frantically pushing her way through the crowd, her eyes glued to her phone as she scanned the room.

A man who had been watching me from a distance a moment before moved toward her. She fought him off, shoving him away. I couldn't hear what he said, but it left a look of pure resentment on her face as she pushed him aside again and continued her search.

The man watched her go, his posture radiating a deep, lonely pain. The bar's flashing lights obscured his features, but there was something unsettlingly familiar about him. I assumed he was a friend of Chloe's who had spotted me and tipped her off. Yet, racking my brain, I couldn't place him.

It was the bar owner who broke my train of thought.

Ethan, your fiance is calling my phone now.

Your phone's on, isn't it? What's going on? You two have a fight?

I looked up, and he, thinking I wanted to answer, accepted the call. He even helpfully turned it on speaker.

Chloe's voice, frantic and loud, came through the phone. Ethan, honey, I know you're at a bar. Please just tell me where you are. Give me a chance to explain.

I hung up. The owner stared at me, bewildered.

Aren't you going to find her? Aren't you worried about her being out alone?

I glanced back at the spot where the mysterious man had been. He had already vanished back into the crowd.

She's not my fiance anymore, I murmured, my voice hollow. She doesn't need me.

It was past two in the morning when I finally stumbled home.

I looked up and saw her, Chloe, huddled by my front door. It was always her move after she'd done something wrong.

Ethan, I couldn't find you at the bar, and your phone was off.

You've had so much to drink. You can barely stand.

Come on, let's get you inside.

She greeted me with a bright, relieved smile, fussing over me as if nothing had happened.

I shoved her away. Get off me. Don't touch me!

She froze, her eyes filled with a wounded look. Honey, it was the wedding company. They were trying to mess with us. The video was a deepfake.

I've already called my lawyer. I'll find the proof, I promise

I filmed it.

My voice was cold as I looked at her. You couldn't even wait to get into the room. You were so into that kiss, it's no surprise you didn't see me standing right there.

The color drained from her face. She stood rooted to the spot, lost.

The alcohol in my stomach churned. I pushed past her, ran to the bathroom, and collapsed over the toilet, heaving until tears streamed from my eyes.

Chloe followed me, silently tending to me. She handed me tissues, found the hangover pills, and went to the kitchen to cook me noodles.

She didn't say a word.

But every second, the image of her and her ex, desperate for each other outside that hotel room, played on a loop in my head. Seeing her now, so full of care and concern, felt surreal and absurd.

Chloe, I don't want to see you again. Get out of my apartment.

Suddenly, there was a crash from the kitchenthe sound of a bowl shattering.

She was silent for a long moment. Then, she brought out the noodles and the pills, placed them on the table in front of me, and quietly cleaned up the broken porcelain.

Ethan, just take some time to cool off. I'll come back in a few days, and we can talk.

I was slumped on the sofa, my hand covering my eyes.

Get out.

I didn't touch the food. I spent the night on the sofa, wrapped in my own arms.

Early the next morning, a loud banging rattled the front door.

I opened it, and my father stormed in, nearly knocking me over.

Ethan! Have you lost your mind?

Chloe is from a wealthy family! Of course she's had boyfriends! Once you were married, you would have had everything! You're going to throw all that away over one little thing?

All our friends and family were there! How could you humiliate me like that?

My head was pounding. Dad, I said weakly, did you not see the video? She was with her ex, the day before our wedding

He waved his hand dismissively. Don't talk to me about that! She's a fourth-generation heiress! Men are lining up to marry her. This only happened because you couldn't keep her satisfied! If you were man enough to keep her focused on you, this never would have happened. You were about to marry up, to enter a whole new world, and you just walk away? You're thirty years old, Ethan! Where are you going to find another woman who can do more for you than Chloe?

Hearing those words come from him was no surprise. His greed knew no bounds, especially when it came to rich women.

But I had my limits.

Dad, if you love her so much, why don't you ask her to adopt you?

He sputtered with rage, his hand flying up to slap me. I'd been drinking all night on an empty stomach, and the stress sent a sharp, cramping pain through my gut. I shoved him aside and ran for the bathroom again.

Even then, he didn't stop yelling, telling me I was inflexible, that my lifestyle was unhealthy. But every sentence somehow circled back to Chloe.

She's beautiful, she's sophisticated, and her family is top-tier! You couldn't hold on to her, and now she'll find someone better looking, more successful, and more open-minded than you! You'll be left with nothing!

His words echoed down the hall and drilled into my ears. I thought of the heartbroken man at the bar last night. The delayed realization hit me like a sledgehammer, pounding against my chest.

You're a grown man, and you can't even clean up after yourself! What are these drops of blood on the floor?

Only Chloe would put up with you. Any other woman would have burned this place to the ground by now.

I slammed the bathroom door shut and crawled into bed, pulling the covers over my head. I curled into a ball, cocooned in the darkness, and finally let myself sob.