Seven Years, I Finally Stopped Waiting

My boyfriend never stayed up late, yet he pulled an all-nighter just to watch the sunrise with my best friend. He insisted it was for work and told me to stop overthinking it. Felix Grant and I had been together for seven years, but I never knew where I stood with him. I stuck with him when he had nothing and helped him build his company from scratch. But in all those years, he'd never spent more than a hundred dollars on a gift for me. He said having money didn't mean we should start wasting it. So I limited myself to less than a thousand dollars a month. Then he spent a fortune at an auction on a necklace just to make Gracie smile. My eyes stung with anger. "Lixi, how is this fair?" He frowned and pulled Gracie into his arms as she trembled. Then he turned to me, clearly annoyed. "Gracie liked the necklace. That's it. Can you stop being so difficult?" My best friend, Gracie Bennett, gave her usual sweet smile and stepped between us. "Lix, don't be so mean to Eunice. Didn't you buy her a gift too? Give it to her." Felix tossed a cheap plastic bag at me. "Gracie picked it out for you. You should thank her." Gracie glared at him and pointed at the stuffed animal inside, the cheap kind sold at roadside stalls. "I told you to say you picked it out for Eunice yourself." Her teasing tone cut straight through me. I dug my nails into my palms, suddenly tired of all of it. In three days, Felix and I would have been together for seven years. Fine. I'd prepare one last gift for the two of them. Chapter 1 Three days earlier, I had received an offer from a Fortune 500 design firm in London. But accepting it meant leaving Felix and moving across the ocean. The night before Christmas Eve, I stood outside the private karaoke room, torn over what to do. "Felix, aren't you bringing your girlfriend with you tomorrow?" I smoothed my clothes with shaky hands, forced myself to smile, and reached for the door. Then a soft voice stopped me cold. "We already have reservations at that seafood place that's almost impossible to get into. We'll hang out with everyone another time." My breath caught. I froze. Felix didn't correct her. Laughter spilled from the room as a Christmas song drifted through the door. I hesitated, unsure whether I should go in. Before I could decide, the server opened the door. The room fell silent. "Eunice, over here." Felix waved me over with a smile. I sat down without a word. Soon, the conversation picked up again, with Gracie still at the center of it all. Her long, golden waves gleamed under the lights. "Not happy?" Felix finally noticed how quiet I was and gave me a puzzled look. "No." "Then stop acting like everyone's wronged you. Can't you just try to get along with people for once? Why can't you be more like Gracie?" His irritation was obvious. I said nothing and stared at the half-eaten food in front of me. "Have some more, Gracie. We ordered the shrimp just for you!" one of his friends said. The crowd burst into cheers and laughter. The man beside Gracie threw his arms wide and started singing "All I Want for Christmas Is You" to her. Gracie ducked her head with a shy laugh. Felix was carefully peeling shrimp and placing them on her plate. The room was warm, but a chill ran through me. Felix was a severe germaphobe. Once, I had forgotten to sanitize my hands before helping him with his tie. He had slapped my hand away, glared at me, and thrown the tie away. Yet now, none of that seemed to bother him. Without looking at me, he dropped a shrimp onto my plate. "Lix, Eunice is allergic to seafood. You forgot again?" Gracie gasped dramatically. His hands paused for barely a second. Then he went right back to peeling Gracie's shrimp, carefully removing every vein. When he finished, he switched plates with her. "I checked the beef for you. No cilantro. "And stay away from the mango juice. "If any of you give Gracie either of those again, I'll personally kick you out of this city." The table exploded with laughter again, and someone started singing the same line: all I want for Christmas is you. Gracie met his eyes shyly, then shot him a playful glare. "It's only a mild allergy. You're overreacting. They didn't know, so don't blame them." She propped her chin on one hand, the matching ring on her middle finger catching the light. "Felix and Gracie are crazy about each other! He even remembers all his girlfriend's little likes and dislikes." I gripped the rosary bracelet around my wrist and glanced at the man beside me, careful not to show any emotion. My heart hammered against my ribs. Gracie quickly laughed and corrected him. "You've got it wrong. I'm not his girlfriend! Eunice is. Eunice, don't mind him!" The man's face stiffened with embarrassment. "Sorry. The way you two were acting, I just thought..." Felix said nothing. Apparently, he saw nothing wrong with the misunderstanding. I gave them a bitter smile. "It's fine. They do look good together." Felix frowned. "What are you upset about this time? Gracie already cleared things up. What more do you want?" "I don't want to fight. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve," I reminded him, done with the conversation. He hesitated before answering awkwardly. "I have work tomorrow. I won't be home." I knew I should leave it there, but I couldn't. "Is it really work or do you have something more important to do than spend Christmas Eve with me?" The table fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward the three of us. Chapter 2 "Work, of course." Felix looked at me coldly, as if my calm question had caught him off guard. Gracie frowned and reached for my hand. "Eunice, how could you think that? Lix is your boyfriend. Why would he lie to you? Besides, if he doesn't work, where will your pocket money come from?" Her hand casually brushed the ruby pendant at her throat, making it sparkle beneath the restaurant lights. Felix had given it to her for her birthday earlier that year. I ignored the little show and turned to Felix. "Then I'll come to the office with you tomorrow." He said nothing. "Great! When you're both done, the three of us can have dinner together," Gracie said, clapping her hands. Then she paused, frowning thoughtfully. "Though I don't know if we'll be able to get a table this late." "Don't worry. I'll take care of it." Felix dropped another shrimp onto her plate. I said nothing. Apparently, that was enough for them to take it as a yes. Colored lights lit up the giant Christmas tree as night settled over the city. Rodeo Drive glittered like a fairy tale, packed with holiday tour buses, laughter, and twinkling lights. By the time dinner ended, it was fully dark. Gracie tugged at the hem of Felix's coat and shifted coyly from foot to foot. "Lix, I don't feel safe taking an Uber by myself this late. I'm scared." He patted her head gently. "I'll take you home." Then he looked at me. "You can walk. The exercise will be good for you." I almost laughed. I hadn't always been this weak. When his company was just starting out, there had been one business dinner after another. I couldn't stand watching people pressure him to drink, so I took every glass they handed him. Eventually, I drank so much that I ended up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. He had stayed at my bedside all night. His eyes red, he had held my hand and promised, "I'll treat you well from now on." The memory faded, leaving me back in the cold. "It's even more dangerous for me to walk alone at night. Why can't you drive me home?" Everyone immediately jumped to Gracie's defense. "Eunice, you're being unreasonable. Gracie scares easily. Give her a break." Gracie blinked at me with a wounded look. "I only asked Felix because I'm afraid of the dark. I'm sorry, Eunice." She was apologizing, but I could hear the smugness in every word. Felix stepped in front of her protectively and snapped at me. “She’s just jealous. You have nothing to apologize for.” "Felix." I called after them as they headed for the Maybach. I never called him that. I used to call him by the same nickname Gracie used. Lix. But whenever I did, he would frown and tell me he hated it. So I started calling him Lixi instead. Back then, I never questioned why Gracie was still allowed to call him Lix. Now I understood. He hadn't hated the nickname. He'd hated hearing it from me. That privilege belonged to Gracie alone. Felix turned back, his voice suddenly softening. "Wait here. I'll come back for you after I drop Gracie off, all right?" For a moment, my vision blurred. How many times had I believed promises like that? The first time, he had promised to go to church and have an angel pendant blessed for me. Then Gracie had tugged on his sleeve and sweet-talked him into giving it to her instead. The second time, I had called him late at night with severe stomach pain. Gracie had answered his phone. "Sorry. I couldn't sleep, so I asked Lix to stay with me." The next day, he hadn't even come to the hospital. He'd sent his assistant with nothing but a bowl of plain oatmeal. The third time, he had promised to take me to my favorite art exhibition. We were right at the entrance when Gracie called, and he left without a second thought. He took the invitation with him, leaving me stranded outside. "Miss, we can't let you in without an invitation." The security guard had looked me up and down with open contempt. Later that day, Gracie posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Felix having fun at an amusement park. There had been so many broken promises that I'd stopped counting. "There's no need." My throat tightened as I forced out the words. For once, he tried to reassure me. "Stop making a fuss. I'll be back soon." His voice faded into the noise around me. He knew exactly how fragile my health was, yet he was still willing to leave me waiting in the snow. Maybe he thought I'd always be there waiting for him. Maybe he thought I had nowhere else to go. "Eunice, please think it over. This really is an amazing opportunity." A message popped up on my phone from Enora Walsh, my college friend in London. Felix had once held both my hands and begged, "Eunice, don't leave Los Angeles. Stay with me." Back then, the warmth of his hands had felt almost scorching. I stared at Enora's message. I had three days left to give her my answer. Chapter 3 The lone light in the alley flickered weakly in the darkness. The snow slowly climbed past my knees until every step became a struggle. This was supposed to be the most romantic time of year, filled with family and celebration. Yet all I felt was a cold that sank into my bones. The wind cut across my face like tiny blades. By the time I reached home, I could barely feel my arms or legs. But there was no heat inside. The month before, Gracie had come over. She had wrinkled her nose and complained to Felix. "Every time the heat comes on, this place smells weird." Just like that, Felix had the heating system removed from the house where I spent most of the year alone. The house was supposed to make up for all the time he couldn't spend with me. But it was in his name, which meant every decision was his to make. I slid down the wall and sat there all night, unable to sleep. The only light came from Felix's laptop. He had left it open. So was his entire chat with Gracie. Gracie demanded, "I want strawberry cake. Get me some. I'm waiting for you at home." Her final message was a photo of herself covered in hickeys. I closed my eyes and closed the page. Gracie had always been emotionally unstable. Whenever anyone got too close, she would scream, shake, and throw things. Felix was the only person she allowed near her. Once, I had rushed forward to stop her from hurting herself, but she grabbed a fruit knife and slashed my arm open. I screamed and grabbed my bleeding arm. Blood splattered across the tile. Felix thought I was in his way and shoved me aside. I fell, and the knife sliced across my face. Blood and tears ran down my face and neck. He barely reacted. Instead, he pulled Gracie against his chest and glared at me furiously. “You know she’s unstable! Why would you provoke her? When did you become so cruel?” That was the first time I truly understood that his heart already belonged to someone else. Daylight crept through the curtains, chasing the darkness from the room. Finally, the front door opened. Felix came in, glanced toward the dining table, and frowned. Then he spotted me and walked over. "You didn't make lemon tea for me? What, are you throwing another tantrum?" The accusation was familiar, though there was still a faint trace of concern in his voice. I grabbed his hand. "Is Gracie asleep?" Something flickered across his face. He jerked his hand free, and the strawberry cake he was holding fell to the floor. "Eunice, you know I think of Gracie as a sister. Stop suspecting us every time we're together." I said nothing. My eyes fell on the smashed cake lying at our feet. The messages flashed through my head. Strawberry cake. Gracie's favorite. And the one flavor I hated most. Every time he brought one home, I forced myself to smile and eat it anyway. "Felix, I hate strawberries." His irritation flared. "What more do you want from me? Enough with the tantrums. I’m really busy." Whatever fight I had left disappeared. I didn't want to argue anymore. "Tomorrow, have someone pack up my things and get rid of them." Felix let out a cold laugh. "You're always like this. No wonder everyone likes Gracie better. They're all tired of dealing with you. "You're coming to dinner tomorrow. Gracie will be upset if you don't. Don't make me have someone drag you there." I stared at him. "What am I to you, Felix? Did you ever love me?" Tears blurred my vision. Then a familiar ringtone cut me off. Felix hated being disturbed during his free time. Whenever I had an emergency, I had to call four or five times before he would even answer, and then he'd complain about it. But now, his private phone had barely started ringing before he answered. Within seconds, he was speaking softly to whoever was on the other end. Then he turned to me. "Gracie's power went out, and she's scared of the dark. I'm staying with her tonight. Don't wait up." My chest tightened. The words came out before I could stop them. "Felix, I'm afraid of the dark too." I remember how he used to stay up with me all night when I was scared, singing to me and telling me stories until I fell asleep. I went still. "Her or me. Choose." "I'm sorry. Gracie needs me more." Felix walked out. The door slammed shut behind him. Only then did I let myself cry. In the darkness, my phone suddenly lit up. I stared at the job offer from London. This time, I made my decision. Chapter 4 The next day, Felix moved our Christmas Eve dinner up to noon. It would be the last time I ate with him. He had chosen one of the most famous three-Michelin-star restaurants in Los Angeles, where a meal cost more than 400 dollars per person. He had reserved the chef's table with its special Christmas menu. Almost every dish featured Gracie's favorite food—seafood. For me, there was only the cheapest garden salad on the menu. Felix held a piece of crab to Gracie's lips. At some point, Gracie glanced across the table at me and smiled. "Eunice, is the salad okay? If you don't like it, say something. I'll have Lix get you something else." There was just one problem. Everything else on the menu was seafood. Felix offered Gracie another bite. "Eunice will eat anything. She's not picky." They flirted right in front of me without the slightest shame. Anyone looking at us would have thought they were the couple celebrating Christmas together. I looked like some stranger who had invited herself along. My stomach twisted painfully. "Could we get a glass of milk?" Felix shot me an irritated look. "They don't serve milk here. Can you stop embarrassing us?" Then, after a moment, he sighed. "Never mind. Just wait until we're done. I'll get you some from a convenience store." The stomach pain had plagued me ever since the alcohol poisoning. Back then, Felix had cried, apologized, and promised he would never let anyone put me through that again. The harsh sunlight made my eyes water. I swallowed the pain and tried again. "Lixi, you—" "Lix, I want milk too. Can you ask them to bring us some?" Gracie cut me off, resting her chin on one hand as she looked sweetly at him. "Eunice can have whatever I don't finish." The words drained what little warmth I had left. "All right." Felix called the server over immediately and handed him a thick stack of cash. Gracie looked at me with a sweet smile. "Eunice, Lix doesn't mean it when he's harsh with you. Don't be mad at him." Then she swatted his arm playfully. "Didn't I tell you to be nicer to Eunice?" Gracie took a sip of her milk. A second later, Felix was gently wiping her lips with a napkin. "I don't really like convenience store milk. Eunice, how do you drink this stuff?" Felix's expression softened in a way it never did for me. "Do you want something else? I'll ask the server to get it for you." Then he turned to me. "Eunice, thank Gracie for the milk. Where are your manners?" By then, all the color had drained from my face. My stomach felt like it was being torn apart. "Go on. Drink it," Felix urged. "Eunice, what's wrong? Did I say something to upset you? Or are you too disgusted to drink from my glass?" Gracie stood and carried the glass toward me, looking as if she might burst into tears at any second. I watched her without a word. The next second, she spilled almost the entire glass over me. "Eunice! I'm sorry! I didn't—I swear I didn't mean to!" Gracie's voice trembled. Whether it was from fear or excitement, I couldn't tell. Milk soaked through my clothes as another violent cramp tore through me. Felix immediately pulled Gracie away and checked her hands. "Did you get hurt?" Even the server, who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, muttered irritably as he cleaned the mess. "Seriously, you can't even hold a glass properly? Look at this mess. Some people really don't know when they're intruding on a couple's date." I frowned and opened my mouth to defend myself, but Felix cut in first. "Eunice, go clean yourself up." I went to the restroom. When I came back, they were all gone. "Ma'am, your total is 1,086 dollars. How would you like to pay?" At the same time, my phone buzzed. "Gracie got bored and wanted to go for a drive, so we left. Get home on your own. Pay the bill before you leave." I took a slow breath. I didn't even feel like crying anymore. Only the pain in my stomach remained, coming in sharp waves. Heat spread through my entire body. "Felix, let's break up." Minutes passed without an answer. Then his reply finally came. "You threaten to break up every time you're upset. Do whatever you want." A photo from Gracie appeared on my screen. My breath caught. The instant I saw the photo clearly, she deleted it. "Oops. Wrong person. You didn't see that, did you, Eunice?" But I had. Gracie was kissing Felix in the car. There was no doubt in my mind. She had sent it on purpose. I turned off my phone and pressed one hand against my stomach, breathing slowly through the pain. "Card, please." I paid the bill with what little I had left in my savings. Then the server's voice faded away. The restaurant blurred around me. And everything went black. Chapter 5 When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. The doctor frowned at me and asked why I had waited so long to come in. I didn't know how to answer. As soon as I returned to Felix's house, I packed my things and moved out. Then I sold the ring I'd worn alone for years. It was one of a matching pair we'd bought for our fourth anniversary. Yet no matter how much I begged, Felix never wore his. "Can you stop bothering me about stupid things like this? Don't you have anything better to do?" That was why almost no one even knew we were a couple. Then, one day, Felix suddenly started wearing a ring. That same day, Gracie posted a photo on Instagram. "A gift from a certain someone! So beautiful." I recognized the hand holding hers immediately. Felix. Thinking about it now, I almost wanted to laugh. I had deliberately booked a hotel near the airport so I could get some rest before my flight. A loud banging on my door jolted me awake. "Eunice, open the door! We need to talk! How long are you planning to keep this up? Come home already!" My head throbbed. I hadn't expected Felix to find me so quickly. I opened the door. Felix grabbed my arm, his bloodshot eyes fixed on me. The scent of sweet perfume clung to him. Gracie's perfume. “Eunice, I never agreed to break up!” Then his gaze fell on my bare hand, and his expression changed. "Where's your ring? What happened to it? You never take that thing off!" I looked at him blankly. "We broke up. Why would I keep wearing it?" He stared at me, as if trying to figure out whether I was serious. Then he scoffed, his earlier panic disappearing behind a look of contempt. "So this is all an act because you're jealous of Gracie again? There's no way you'd actually leave me. You're just trying to get my attention. Nice performance. You almost fooled me." I pressed a hand to my stomach and clenched my jaw against the pain. "You really think too highly of yourself. Why would I still love you?" "Eunice, there really is nothing between me and Lix." Only then did I notice Gracie crouching nearby. "Eunice, I'll beg if I have to. Please don't leave Lix because of me." She rushed over, grabbed my wrist, and bowed deeply. Felix pulled her upright immediately. The sudden movement knocked me aside, sending me crashing into the door. I gasped as pain shot through me. "Why are you bowing to her? She only acts like this because we've spoiled her too much." Just then, the rosary bracelet on my wrist snapped. Beads scattered across the floor. I froze. Then I quickly crouched down to gather them. Felix's mother had given me the bracelet when we first started dating. She had held my hand and carefully wrapped it around my wrist. "I wish you both well," she had said. Maybe it breaking now was a sign. Felix stared at the beads scattered across the floor and fell silent. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then stopped. "Eunice, come home when you're done being angry. We'll be waiting for you. I still owe you your seventh-anniversary gift." I picked up the beads one by one, then gave him a bitter smile. Before he could say anything else, I threw them at him. "We're done." I shoved them both out and slammed the door. Then I opened the window and stared out at the dark night. Without hesitation, I sent an email. A reply arrived soon after. "Your report has been received and is under review."