As I was still wondering who was ying this prank on me. I started receiving more calls-this time about the engagement ring and the wedding venue.


    It suddenly hit me that this wasn’t just a simple prank. When I finally asked who had ordered all this, I learned just how crazy Alvin really was.


    It was all him.


    I knew Alvin wasn’t the type to y childish pranks just to mess with me, but the possibility of something more serious crept into my mind. I quickly dialed his number and said, “Alvin, what exactly are you trying to do? We’re over, so why are you ordering wedding dresses and rings? Who are you trying to fool?”


    “Don’t think I’m that petty,” Alvin’s voice came through the phone, calm but firm. You thought I didn’t care about you? You doubted my love for you? Well, let’s get married now. You should at least believe I just want to marry you.” His words made my disappointment in him deepen even further.


    “Alvin, do you really think that loving someone means putting them in a wedding dress and giving them a ring? Do not get why I broke up with you?” I asked, my voice trembling with anger.


    Alvin paused for a few seconds, then answered with a tone that was almost too casual. “Isn’t it because of Thea?”


    “Yes,” I admitted. “So, what are you going to do about her, the biggest obstacle in our rtionship?”


    you still


    For a long moment, there was silence on the other end. Then Alvin replied. ‘I won’t have anything to do with her anymore. I’ll make sure she leaves thepany. Is that okay?”


    He sounded reluctant, as if he was doing me some huge favor.


    “And then what? Are you just going to keep her hidden away like a secret mistress? I retorted, the words sharp.


    Alvin snapped, his voice rising with frustration. “Zoc, enough! How can you be this unreasonable? I told you, Thea is pregnant, and she’s all alone. Don’t you have any sympathy for her!”


    He nearly shouted, and I pulled the phone away from my car, not wanting my eardrum to explode from the force of his words.


    But even at a distance, I could hear his anger when he added, “Zoe, you’re a woman too. What if it were you? Like when your parents died in that car ident, and it was just you, alone in this world. If we hadn’t taken you in, how desperate and hopeless would you have been?”


    Taken me in? Those words stabbed into my heart like a sharp knife.


    So, in his eyes, I was just some abandoned child, and his family had graciously taken me in. That was all I was to him.


    “So, all the good things you did for me before were just pity, right?” My voice shook as I spoke.


    Alvin fell silent for a few seconds, before muttering, “No, you’re twisting my words.”


    “Alvin, I don’t need your pity. You can give your love and care to whoever you want. When I had nothing, and my parents were gone, you gave me your affection. But now, Thea is in the same position. Go love her,” I bit my lip, feeling an icy chill running through me.


    The love between us had turned into something unrecognizable. His affection had shifted into something else, and honestly. it didn’t even matter anymore. But to realize that all the care he showed me was just pity? That was too much.


    “Alvin, what you meant doesn’t matter anymore. Please, just stop bothering me, okay?” I was beyond exhausted.


    The constant pulling and tugging after a breakup was draining me.


    But Alvin scoffed. “Zoe, you’re mine. If I don’t let go, you don’t have the right to say no.”