Ch. Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 25 Mr.chatterbox for her, Mr.Icebox for me? Ice melts and so did my love. 25

Chapter 4 

We’d been together five years. 

If I was going to end this, I at least owed us both a proper goodbye. 

Face to face. 

But when I woke up the next morning, Sean was already gone. 

For once, he’d actually texted me. 

[Taking Emma to that new spa resort she wanted to check out. Back this afternoon.] 

I stared at the message for a long time. 

Then I texted back: [I told you last night. I need to talk to you.] 

His reply came fast. 

[Stop.] 

I knew right away. It was the AI again. 

I didn’t reply. I started packing instead. 

Not that there was much to pack. Five years in this apartment, and everything I owned fit in one suitcase. 

I waited all afternoon. Then into the evening. 

Sean never came home. 

Around eight that night, I saw Emma’s Instagram story. 

A photo of the resort at night. Lights everywhere. She was throwing up a peace sign. 

The caption: [This place is amazing. Never leaving lol. Good thing I have Sean here with me.] 

Someone commented: [Isn’t that place like $500 a night? Must be nice.] 

She replied with a blushing emoji: [Can’t put a price on happiness. And Sean’s paying anyway~] 

Chapter 4 

I stared at my phone. 

And then it hit me. 

Sean must’ve told Emma I wanted to talk to him. 

So she made sure to keep him busy today. 

She probably thought I was going to complain about wedding planning again. 

She’d been doing this since we started planning. 

The day we were supposed to taste cakes, her stomach hurt. 

The day we were picking invitations, her laptop died. 

The day we were touring venues, her power went out and she was scared to be alone. 

After a while, Sean stopped showing up altogether. 

This time, I did want to talk about the wedding. 

But not to plan it. 

To cancel it. 

The next day, Sean still hadn’t come back. 

I texted him. 

[Are you coming home today?] 

[Yeah.] 

[I need to talk to you. It’s important.] 

[OK.] 

[If you don’t come back today, don’t blame me for what happens.] 

[Stop.] 

Three replies. All from the AI. 

After midnight, nothing. His chat went silent. 

Chapter 4 

I should’ve been sitting in front of a mirror right now, getting my hair done. 

There should’ve been a wedding car waiting downstairs. 

Friends and family laughing outside the door. 

Instead, the apartment was silent. Empty. Just me and a suitcase by the door. 

My phone lit up. 

Finally, a message from Sean. 

[I’ll be at the venue on time tomorrow.] 

[Can’t do morning. I’m running with Emma. Let’s skip the whole pickup thing. Just meet me on the venue.] 

The morning of our wedding, and he was going running with another woman. 

I laughed. Only Sean would do something like that. 

This time, I didn’t reply. 

I opened his profile. 

Blocked him. Deleted his number. Didn’t hesitate. 

Then I grabbed the suitcase I’d already packed and left for the airport. 

Five days ago, when I canceled the wedding, I’d booked a flight out for today. 

If Sean had chosen me-even once in those five days-I might’ve stayed. 

But he didn’t. 

He never did. Not once in five years. 

The plane landed. 

I checked into a hotel and slept better than I had in months. 

Back in the city, Sean arrived at the venue around ten, Emma and his family in tow. 

No flowers at the entrance. No welcome sign. No poster with our names on it. 

Chapter 4 

Sean frowned. He grabbed a staff member walking by. 

“Where’s the wedding today?” 

The staff member checked her tablet, confused. 

“There’s no wedding today.” 

She paused. Then it clicked. 

“Oh, wait. There WAS one scheduled. But it was canceled five days ago.” 

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