Broken Engagement, Berlin Escape

Ellis

have dialed is

The chilling finality of those words slammed into me, crushing me. The vague unease I' d felt,

ly registering. "She's gone," I whispered, my voic

s. We were getting engaged. I burst into the lobby, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my

slamming against the wood. "Katelyn, open u

aring at me with a frown. "Sir, you can't be

to steady my breathing, but my body was trembling

in that room, I cannot give you any i

e's there!" My composure was crumbl

ghtly. "I'm not supposed to, but... Kate

ank, a deafening roar filling my ears. She checked out. She left

e wouldn't. We... we were getting married. Sh

t, after dinner, after our romantic reconciliation. The one I' d

, a numb despair

left early this morning. And... she waited for you all night, y

blow. A gut punch. She waited. Al

, dismissive reply: "I'm busy!" I had hung up on her. I had abandoned her to a mugger

squeezing the breath from my lungs. Pain, sharp and agoniz

the tears that now streamed down my cheeks. The bustling London streets, once symbols of

d an arm around me, offering a handkerchief to wipe my face. "Graham, honey, what's wrong? Did she

e a guttural growl. "Don't

ews! She left you. She probably couldn't handle the l

.. angry. She's upset. I'll find her. I'll make her understand." My eyes da

to call for a taxi. "No! You can't just run after her

rying to snatch it back. She held it away

our grasp, clattering onto the wet pavement. As I bent to retrieve mine, Britney'

t. And the comment, from a friend: "OMG, Britney, that couple's bracelet is so cute! Stil

Couple's bracelet. My mind reeled. Britney had told me it was

. The manipulation. The innocent act. It was all a calculated game.