Part 1Comments Guide: Win Her Back

An hour before our flight, my fiancé, Mason, abruptly abandoned me. He chose instead to take his childhood sweetheart, Seraphina, to celebrate Valentine’s Day. They strolled hand-in-hand, taking countless photos. The omnipresent commentary, a constant stream of scrolling text only I could see, offered its usual reassurances:

[This man’s love is just awkward and proud, darling. If you just cling to him, you’ll see his heart is always only for you.]

[Ten years you’ve been together, does this one time really matter? He’s just a child, waiting for you to coax him.]

[He’s just putting on a show for the supporting character; he’s thinking of you every single second.]

I was utterly sick of hearing those words. I didn’t cry, didn’t make a scene, and unlike usual, I didn't frantically chase after him. Instead, I quietly slipped off my engagement ring and accepted my company’s assignment, resolutely embarking on a ten-year journey abroad.

* * *

The airport entrance was bitterly cold. I stood in the biting wind for nearly two hours, but Mason’s car never appeared. He had told me he’d finish work early today, meet me, and we’d fly to London together. On Valentine's night, my favorite singer was holding a concert there. Going to a beloved concert with the person I loved most had always been my dream. I’d begged Mason for years, and finally, last month, he agreed. I was so thrilled I couldn’t sleep for nights, spending a month planning every detail of the trip. But now, my overflowing joy was slowly turning into anxiety.

He hadn't arrived yet; could something have happened on the road? I immediately called him to check. Usually, I wouldn't call him lightly, to avoid disturbing his work. Thankfully, he answered quickly.

“Mason, where are you? Is there traffic?”

A calm, distant male voice responded after two seconds of silence: “I’m in the departure lounge. Boarding in five minutes.”

My mind went blank for a moment. I instinctively apologized, “I’m so sorry, I must have misread the time! I’ll be right there!”

He said flatly, “You didn’t misread it. I changed the time.”

I was momentarily stunned. The next second, I heard him say, “Seraphina said she didn't want to spend Valentine's Day alone, so I’m taking her to the concert. It’s not safe for you to travel alone, so don’t go. Just stay home.”

I was instantly speechless, feeling as if an invisible hand had gripped my throat, making it impossible to breathe. “It’s Seraphina again. That New Year’s Eve, you also said she didn’t want to be alone and left me home to be with her. Have you forgotten, I’m your fiancée?”

A sigh came from his end. “Yes, you’re my fiancée. You already have me, but Seraphina has nothing. At least on Valentine’s Day, I can’t let her be lonely.”

I sniffled, but my nose was still burning and stinging. I sneezed three times in quick succession. “Mason, I’m cold.” My expectations and pride were slowly shattering in his silence, yet I wouldn’t give up. “If you don’t come out, I won’t go back. I’ll wait for you.” I quickly hung up, turned off my phone, and hunched my shoulders, waiting quietly in the cold wind.

This was my infallible trick. In the past, the moment Mason heard me sneeze, he would drop everything and rush to me, personally taking me to the clinic for a check-up, only relaxing once he was sure it was nothing serious. If I refused to take my medicine, he’d become agitated, coaxing me in every possible way until I swallowed it. Even when we were in different places, he’d insist I keep video calls open, even when sleeping, saying he wanted to see me every second, or he wouldn’t be at ease. Even if the whole world called me a desperate doormat, I stubbornly believed – he was simply bad at expressing love, not that he didn't love me.

Now, I clenched my fists, nervously watching the exit, thinking I’d see him any second. But ten minutes later, I saw his assistant rushing towards me.

“Ms. Willow, Mr. Caldwell has already boarded. He asked me to take you home.”

The cold wind whistled, messing up my carefully styled bangs. The airport’s large window reflected my disheveled, tear-streaked face. My vision blurred for a moment, then cleared, and I saw those familiar scrolling messages.

[Don’t be sad, sweetie, Mason is just a stubborn, soft-hearted tsundere! Don’t overthink it, hurry and chase him, don’t let them have a moment alone!]

[Scorpio men are just like that, honestly, he’s secretly hoping you’ll chase him! Every time you show up, he’ll be grinning to himself!]

[Seraphina is just a flavor enhancer for your relationship, she means nothing! Be a good girl, rush and chase him!]

My eyelids drooped. For the first time, I asked them, “Why am I always the one getting hurt? Why am I always the one apologizing, always the one chasing him?” My tears were hot and salty, streaming down my face. The messages grew sparser, uniformly urging me to understand Mason. I looked at my lonely shadow on the ground and let out a self-mocking laugh. “Maybe he does love me, but I’m tired of digging for it.”

With that, I dialed my boss. “Boss, I’ve changed my mind. I’m willing to accept the assignment. Ten years abroad.”