John stood there with a guilty expression, holding out a cup of tea. Peace? He offered with a smile that had once seemed so sincere and warm. Ashley tipped the cup and walked past him into the living room.
Sitting on the couch, she took a sip and said, I’ve thought about your proposal. John immediately brightened, sat down next to her, and took her hand. So you realize I’m right? Ashley gently freed her hand.
John, I cannot transfer the apartment to you. His face changed instantly, the smile vanished, and his eyes narrowed. So you’re choosing the apartment over me? He asked sharply.
No, Ashley replied calmly. Ashley, I’m choosing respect for myself and my decisions. I spent years buying this apartment.
It is the result of my work, my sacrifices, my responsibility. I am not willing to give it up at the demand of someone who thinks they have a right to it just because they are a man. Don’t twist my words.
John shouted. It’s not about being a man. It’s about family tradition, a tradition where a woman must give her property to a man just because he is a man.
Ashley retorted, call it what you want. The essence doesn’t change. John jumped to his feet.
So you don’t trust me? You think I’ll take your precious apartment and throw you out on the street? It’s not about trust, Ashley said wearily. It’s about principle. I will not give up ownership of what I earned through my work just to conform to someone’s idea of what a family should look like.
You’re just selfish. John burst out. You only think about yourself.
What about me? What about our relationship? Ashley smiled bitterly. You put our relationship at risk yourself by issuing this ultimatum. You said it yourself.
If I don’t transfer the apartment, there will be no wedding. So don’t try to turn everything upside down. John paced the room like a trapped animal.
You’ve misunderstood. I just wanted to follow my family’s traditions. What’s wrong with that? Nothing, Ashley said.
Except that these traditions require me to give up my property. Sorry, but I’m not doing that. I thought you loved me.
John stopped abruptly and looked at her accusingly. But it turns out you only love your apartment. Ashley shook her head.
No, John. I loved you, the person I thought I knew. A person who respected me, my achievements, my independence.
But now in front of me stands a completely different man willing to end the relationship if I don’t meet his demands. I don’t know this man. And honestly, I don’t want to know him.
John froze, absorbing her words. Then his face twisted in anger. Fine.
So it’s like this. He drowned through his teeth. You choose the apartment, and I choose my family and our traditions.
There will be no wedding. A heavy weight seemed to fall from Ashley that she hadn’t even realized she was carrying. So be it, she said quietly.
John clearly expected a different reaction. Tears, pleading, attempts to change his mind. When none came, he grabbed his phone and quickly dialed a You were right.
She refused. Yes, I already told you no. Ashley couldn’t hear what Dolores was saying.
But from John’s changing expression, she understood that the conversation was not going the way he had expected. But mom, how am I supposed to? No, I understand. But all right, all right.
I get it. He hung up and turned to Ashley, his face a mix of confusion and anger. What’s wrong? She asked.
Didn’t mom approve of your decision? None of your business. He snapped. But there will be no wedding.
That’s clear. And you’ll regret this. Ashley shrugged.
I highly doubt I’ll regret two years spent on a relationship with someone who turned out to be not who I thought he was. But I will never regret my decision not to give up my apartment. John stood in the middle of the room, clearly unsure what to do next.
He had lost control and now look both angry and lost. So what now? He finally asked. Now you pack your things and leave, Ashley replied calmly.
And I’ll take care of canceling the wedding. You’re kicking me out. Our wedding is tomorrow and you’re just throwing me out on the street.
You’re renting the apartment, Ashley reminded him. And yes, I want you to leave today. I need space and time to think and decide what to do next.
John looked at her in disbelief, which gradually turned into anger. You know I didn’t expect this from you, he said. I thought we loved each other.
And you, and I did love you, Ashley cut him off. Until I realized that for you, our relationship was just a way to get an apartment. That’s not true.
John exclaimed, I love you. I just care about family traditions, so much that you’re willing to break up if I don’t comply. Ashley asked, strange kind of love, don’t you think? John opened his mouth to argue, but no words came.
Ashley was tired. Listen, let’s not turn this into an endless argument. It’s obvious we have different values and priorities.
You chose your traditions. I chose my independence. That’s where we part ways.
John stood for a few more seconds, staring at her fiercely, then abruptly turned and went to the bedroom. Fifteen minutes later, he came out with two hastily packed bags. I’ll get the rest later, he said.
As you wish, Ashley replied evenly. Leave the keys on the table. He silently placed the keyring down, gave her a long look as if expecting her to change her mind at the last moment.
But Ashley simply waited in silence until he left. You’ll regret this, he said finally. You’ll realize what you’ve lost.
Goodbye, John, Ashley said quietly, opening the door. He lingered on the threshold for a few seconds, then picked up the bags and left without looking back. Ashley closed the door and leaned against it, feeling tears streaming down her cheeks.
Not tears of regret over her decision, but tears of exhaustion and disappointment. Two years of a relationship, a year of living together, almost six months of wedding preparations. All ended over a ridiculous demand made a day before the ceremony.
Ashley looked at the clock. It was only 11 a.m. M. It felt like an eternity since John had blurted out his family tradition line. She walked into the living room and picked up her phone, deciding it was time to inform her parents of what had happened.
But first, she called Brittany. She needed her best friend’s support. Brittany answered on the first ring.
Hey, bright to be. How’s the mood before the big day? Ashley took a deep breath, trying to control the tremor in her voice. Brittany, there’s no wedding.