Jaidyn's Pov
I gaped in disbelief at the tall man, whose blonde curls framed his fine, somber face. Cayden and the others looked in our direction and so did Anthony. He looked at me with his pure gray eyes widening, but his eyes settled on me and Traian's clasped hands His jaw tightened.
He screamed out "Jaidyn" as he came up to approach me, but Traian cut him off right away. His fists are clenching and unclenching as his spine tenses.
Cayden stated in frustration, "I attempted to stop him but he continues on claiming that he knows Jaidyn”
Anthony retorted, "And that is true! Jaidyn is my fiance!"
Jane hissed, "Was”
Traian glances my way as I pinch his hand. His blue eyes sparkle with dread and worry. Is he concerned that I may disregard him? Anthony was just now part of my past. Nothing more. When he chose to end our relationship, I didn't have any plans to go back to him even when I didn't meet Traian here. He had already caused me enough pain. I am aware of my worth.
I smiled at Traian and carefully drew away my hand from him, muttering, "I will be okay"
He begrudgingly let me. I turned to face Anthony, who was a few meters away from us, and walked over to him.
I sternly asked, "What are you doing here?" Seeing him brings back that bitter pain.
He takes a step forward toward me but I take a step back. As soon as he noticed it, he halted and turned to face me. He stated inconsolably, "I am here to bring you home. You didn't come home for a month and you didn't call me once. I was worried”
I inhaled deeply and then cast my gaze over my friends. They shouldn't hear these chats, which are undoubtedly not good.
"Let's talk somewhere else," I said and was about to turn around when my mom called for me.
"Jaidyn, are you sure?"
I nodded at her and smiled in an attempt to ease her worries before starting to head to the forests where I came from. I cast a quick look at Traian, who was closely observing Anthony. I kept going till we were some distance from my parents and the others. We stayed silent, and the only sounds were the chirping of the birds and the wind blowing.
"I am not going with you" I firmly stated.
"Yes, you will. I am your fiance, Jaidyn. We are supposed to be married" Anthony replied exasperatedly.
"Did you forget that you broke up and cheated on me? You are the one who called off the engagement, Anthony. And I am not coming to you again"
Anthony reached out to take my hand, but I pulled it away, "Jaidyn, let's talk about this, please. I'm sorry about that. I-I didn't mean everything and what.... what I have with Tiffany was just a fling"
I immediately wiped the tears that had spilled, "You mean everything, Anthony! I begged you to stay with me and take back those words but you didn't! I sat in our apartment for days hoping you would apologize but you didn't. You didn't come back to me after." I didn't even realize how upset I was with this man since I'd been holding back so much frustration. I sneered, "And honestly, I don't care who you are banging; I don't really care anymore about you so get off my business and leave this place."
As I was ready to turn away and leave, he firmly grabbed my hand and tugged me back. I grit my teeth as his tight grip stings.
"Is it because of that man? Are you banging him huh? Is that why you can't forgive me for just those simple mistakes?!"
"Simple? It's simple for you, Anthony? Well, newsflash, it's not for me," I said with a sardonic chuckle, gesturing toward the trees where we had all been dropped off. "And for your sanity, yes, I was attracted to that man over there and I was sleeping with him"
"You fuck him behind my back, Jaidyn; we did the same thing!"
"I did that when we were already broken up. But you cheated on me for years until I am planning my whole life with you! We are different!" I yanked my hand from his hold but he didn't let me go.
"Give me another chance. I will make everything right. Just one chance, Jaidyn, please" Anthony pleaded, grasping both of my hands.
I shook my head and gave up on pulling my hand,"Stop, Anthony. Stop this" my voice cracked, "We can't fix our relationship anymore. It was already crushed into pieces. We have no trust anymore with each other. We can't be together anymore and I know you are aware of that"
Anthony implored, "No, Jaidyn, no, please. I'm sorry." He knelt down in front of me with tears welling up in his eyes.
The action brought grief to my heart. Seeing Anthony beg for us to be together devastated me because he became a significant part of my life. But we will never be going to work again as a couple. I sobbed because I felt sorry for both of us.
I held his face while stooping down in front of him. "I know you are aware that this will not work anymore. Let's free each other now, Anthony"
He held my palm against his face and muttered, "I-I can't. I love you, Jaidyn."
My heart no longer skipped a beat as he said those three words. I didn't feel any ardor for him as he confessed or apologized. There was just sympathy and remorse.
"I am truly grateful to you for loving me, Anthony, for eight years. I didn't regret meeting you or loving you in this lifetime" I swallowed and smiled through my tears, "But this is the end of that eight-year relationship. Our story has ended already and we both know that"
I kept an eye on him, waiting for him to speak, but he just stayed on the ground, his head hung low. He eventually stands up, blotting his tears, and turns to face the sun that is peeping through the gap in the trees. While the silence between us once more spanned, he ran his hands through his hair.
"You've already made up your mind, don't you?"
I nodded, "Yes"
He turned to look at me. His eyes glistened with rejection." Is that what you truly want? For me to let you go? Because even though I know that this won't work again, I want to still try. And only if you said those words again….." he takes a deep breath, "Only I can only let you go. Tell me we can’t be together again"
I looked at gray eyes, remembering the million times I stare at those gray eyes, "I….I’m sorry, Anthony. This is no longer us"
He nodded, “That f*cking hurts” and ran his hands through his face before wrapping his arms around me, and kissing my forehead.
"I'm sorry for everything" he whispered and started to walk to the path we came from.
Tears ran down my cheeks, and I bit my lower lip. And with that, I say goodbye to my eight-year relationship.