Sorry, the Engagement Stays Broken

As the New Year's Eve bells were about to toll, my fiancé, Tristan, slid an annulment agreement in front of me.

"Blair's New Year's wish is to experience an engagement. Just play along. After tonight, we'll reinstate our engagement."

Wearing my custom engagement gown, Blair looked at me with red-rimmed eyes and a pout.

"Sienna, if you really mind, let's just forget it. With my failing health, who knows if I'll even live to see next year..."

Tristan immediately grasped her hand with heartache, then turned to glare at me. "Could you stop being so selfish for once?"

Throughout our three-year relationship, I had compromised time and time again, all because of his favorite excuse: "She's been sickly since childhood. As her childhood friend, I promised to grant her one New Year's wish every year."

My fingers brushed against the ultrasound photo in my pocket—the pregnancy confirmation I hadn't yet had the chance to show him. Looking at the face of the man I had loved for three years, I felt like an absolute joke.

"Fine, you both have my blessing."

I took the pen and signed my name without a hint of hesitation.

The stolen dress, along with my fiancé—I didn't want either of them anymore.

...

Tristan froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so readily.

He furrowed his brows, a hint of warning edging his tone. "Sienna, don't throw a tantrum. I can't let Blair down. Once her wish is fulfilled, we'll go back to being engaged tomorrow morning. You're usually so understanding, so don't make a scene today."

With that, he hurriedly led Blair by the hand toward the banquet hall.

I stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the man I had loved for three years stand on the spiral staircase, making his high-profile declaration.

"As everyone knows, Blair is in poor health. To fulfill her dream of having an engagement, I've decided to temporarily annul my engagement to Sienna. Tonight, Blair is the star."

An uproar swept through the hall. Instantly, all eyes turned to me like spotlights, filled with pity, curiosity, and pure schadenfreude.

The hushed sneers from the crowd pierced my ears like poisoned needles.

"My God, getting kicked out of her own engagement party. Sienna is an absolute joke."

"What's the use of being so outstanding? She still can't compete with Blair. Everyone in our circle knows she's just a second-choice accessory."

"Just watch. She's so soft-spoken, she'll definitely swallow her pride in the end just to keep Tristan."

Blair leaned into Tristan's embrace, looking timid. "I shouldn't have asked for this. If Sienna is unwilling, I definitely won't force it..."

"Don't pay attention to anyone else. Tonight is about you," Tristan murmured, sweeping a stray strand of hair behind her ear as if no one else existed.

Then, he took Blair's hand, picked up the diamond ring from the waiter's tray—the one meant for me—and slid it perfectly onto her ring finger.

It was a flawless fit. Under the gaze of countless eyes, he lowered his head, reverently kissed the back of her hand, and made his soulful declaration:

"Tonight, the place beside me belongs solely to my most cherished girl, Blair. Even if this is just a simulation, I want to make you the happiest leading lady in the world."

The hall immediately erupted in cooperative cheers and applause. They smiled at each other under the spotlight, looking every bit the perfect couple.

From the corner of his eye, he glanced at me with an air of absolute certainty. He was certain that, just like the past three years, I would be obedient and sensible, and that I would docilely crawl back once my temper faded.

We were the college's recognized golden couple, having just gotten officially engaged last month. When he proposed, kneeling in the snow surrounded by roses, he swore I was his only muse for the rest of his life.

When I discovered the surprise pregnancy, I thought this baby would be the best New Year's gift for us. But now, seeing Tristan with eyes only for his fragile childhood friend, I couldn't help but feel a wave of bitter sorrow.

Tonight was supposed to be the night Tristan and I officially announced our engagement to the world. It also marked our third anniversary.

During our freshman year, we both earned spots for an exchange program in Paris. With one sentence—"Blair is sick and needs someone to take care of her. I can't leave, so you should stay too"—I gave up Paris.

In our sophomore year, my design was shortlisted for the Rising Star Award. With one sentence—"Blair entered too, let her have your spot, she can't handle the stress of losing"—I withdrew from the competition.

And now, he wanted me to give up my engagement party, and my fiancé.

Perhaps it was the early pregnancy symptoms making my chest unbearably tight. I watched the farce unfold without defending myself, without a single hysterical scream.

I turned around and pushed open the heavy glass doors of the hotel.

Outside, a blizzard was raging. The sub-zero wind slashed at my face like knives, yet I felt more lucid than ever before.

It was in that moment I realized just how violently my hands were shaking.

The icy wind reddened my eyes, and as I blinked, warm tears fell without warning.

I took a deep breath. Through my thick coat, I rested both hands on my lower abdomen, as if I could already feel that tiny, vibrant life inside me.

The dull ache in my chest was miraculously soothed by a trace of tenderness.

I wiped my tears away in a haphazard motion and straightened my back.