Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 68

Ryan was like a jealous little dog. As soon as he heard Jason's words, he immediately pulled me behind him, eyeing him warily.

Jason didn't even glance at Ryan; his gaze was fixed solely on me.

That look of infatuation, one I hadn't seen in his eyes for a long time, was now there again.

It made me want to laugh a little.

What was the seven years I spent with him worth?

"Elena, look, I brought the wedding dress you bought back then."

"After we return, let's have the wedding, okay?"

"You said you wanted to go to Melbourne for our honeymoon. We'll go right after the wedding."

"I'll give you everything you want. You—"

I stepped out from behind Ryan, interrupting his rambling.

"Jason."

"We're not kids anymore."

"What's the purpose of your visit today?"

"Are you remembering me now because Grace is unhappy with you?"

Jason shook his head and took a step forward.

Ryan suddenly grabbed my hand. Sensing his insecurity, I immediately tightened my grip and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Our small gesture didn't escape Jason's notice.

He had no choice but to face Ryan's presence.

"Elena, I don't believe you could fall in love with someone else in such a short time."

"You're with him just to make me angry, aren't you?"

I felt a bit helpless and, at the same time, exhausted.

"Jason, you could fall in love with Fu Ling. So why can't I be with someone else?"

He shook his head, his eyes reddening more.

"No, I didn't touch her, I just—I just didn't want you to force me to marry you."

"You know my parents' marriage fell apart, I'm scared, I'm scared we'll end up the same way."

"Elena, you know how much I love you. Will you come back with me?"

My expression remained unchanged, and even after hearing Jason's explanation, I had no intention of going back with him.

"I can't go back."

"You know my bottom line."

Jason's face froze, and even his body seemed to tremble.

I had once held him in our rented apartment and told him that my bottom line was not to cheat, not to lie.

But now, he'd broken both of those promises.

He was, after all, the man I had loved for seven years, and seeing his increasingly hunched back made me feel a little compassion.

But it was only compassion.

"You should leave."

"We have no future."

I tightly grasped Ryan's hand and walked away ahead of him.

He stood there motionless for a long time.

The wind in Toronto was strong, and it blew the bag he was holding out of his hands.

Then the wedding dress was blown by the gust of wind, swaying in the air.

But he was like a worm in my stomach, understanding every thought of mine.

My heart raced as I tightly grasped my wedding dress, wanting to walk toward him.

He truly fulfilled every promise he made to me.

With him, I experienced what it meant to love wholeheartedly.

I had a son and a daughter with Ryan, and later, he went ahead and got a vasectomy.

When asked why, he said it was to give me peace of mind.

Ryan said his world was small, and that having children would be up to them.

For him, guarding me alone was enough for this life.

I rolled my eyes. "That's not an excuse to leave our one-year-old daughter with a nanny, is it?"

He was always worried I'd get tired, hungry, or hurt myself.

But Ryan, I'm an adult. How could I starve myself?

But Ryan, I realized the highest form of love is care and concern.

Thank you for making me realize that I still deserve to be loved and cared for.

Later, Ryan and I went back to Vancouver a few times.

Jason's secret stalking was eventually noticed by Ryan. Ryan reported him to the police, and the once-gifted artist ended up detained.

I later heard that his paintings couldn't be sold anymore. At some wine party, he mentioned he had lost his muse forever.

Once a rising star, the artist was now nowhere to be found.

Some said he went to find his muse, others said he drowned himself in a lake.

There were many rumors, but I didn't inquire further.

Because I had a better love waiting for me, one I could build and cherish slowly.