He Gave Roses to His First Love, So I Took Back My Heart

After a successful heart transplant, Layla has spent three years waiting for her childhood sweetheart, Dr. Irvin Stephens, to propose. On their shared birthday, she arrives at a high-end restaurant in her red dress, only to find him presenting a thousand roses to his colleague Selena Sherwood, who shares her birthday. Irvin hands Layla the same white dress he has given her for a decade, then orders an identical one for Selena on the spot.

When Irvin demands Layla surrender the seat of honor to Selena, he threatens to move into the hospital and leave her alone in the dark, certain she is too easy to soothe to resist. The table falls silent as Selena takes the seat across from her instead, and Irvin follows. Every dish is spicy or seafood, none of which Layla can eat, so she swallows her birthday noodles in silence while Irvin fills Selena's plate.

As Layla rises to leave, Irvin insists she cut the cake first, carrying it toward her. For one hopeful moment she wonders if this is all a prank before a proposal. Then he walks straight past her to Selena's side.