The woman’s eyes stayed locked on the man.

“Why are you scared?”

His face tightened.

“I’m not.”

She swallowed hard.

“Yes, you are.”

The boy remained beside her, his hand still open.

The man stepped forward.

“After everything I’ve done for you, you’re really going to choose him?”

Her face crumpled.

“That’s the problem.”

He froze.

She wiped a tear from her cheek.

“You keep calling it love every time you decide for me.”

Silence swallowed the room.

The man’s voice dropped.

“I took care of you.”

“You controlled me.”

His eyes widened.

She looked down at the boy’s hand.

Then placed hers inside it.

The man went pale.

“Please.”

She shook her head.

“You never asked what I wanted.”

Her fingers tightened around the boy’s.

Then she looked back at the man one final time.

“And the worst part is…”

Her voice broke.

“I was going to marry you because I thought no one else would ever stay.”