Meadow's POV
Caleb and I ate in silence, both of us waiting for who was going to speak first. The atmosphere between us was tense, as we both waited for someone to spill the beans. I was sure Caleb knew what this dinner meant but refused to say anything. I, on the other hand, couldn't bring myself to speak. My shaky hands made cutting the steak a difficult task. Caleb noticed and took it away from me. (Always so sweet.)
"Here," he said gently, handing me his already cut steak while he busied himself with mine. He didn't look at me, his expression neutral. That was one thing I found intriguing about Caleb — it was impossible to read him.
"Caleb," I called softly.
"Eat first," he interrupted, still not looking at me.
"You're not looking at me."
Caleb stopped and looked up. My heart skipped a beat. Would I be able to do this? Would I be able to handle it like I thought I would? My heart bled as I looked at the love of my life — the man I had deluded myself into believing I'd spend forever with. Caleb's brown eyes, matching his brown sweater, looked sad. There was a mix of desperation and helplessness in them.
"I'll be back," I said and rushed to the restroom. It was getting harder to hold back the tears. I knew this day would eventually come, but I didn't expect it to hurt this much. I dropped my purse on the slab, and it was like all my senses were heightened. I swallowed the lump in my throat and took two deep, shaky breaths, trying to hold in the tears, but my willpower was weak. I broke down.
The emotions were overwhelming. It felt like the worst pain ever. I didn't know where it was coming from, and I didn't know how to stop it. I thought of Caleb waiting for me, but that only made the pain worse.
Narrator's POV
Caleb was distressed. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't intervene — it was an internal family issue. When he saw the news and then got Meadow's call for dinner, he knew he had to make a decision. But now that he was here, he was devastated. He loved Meadow like he had never loved anyone before. What started as a fling had blossomed into something magical. Their years together were beyond anything he had imagined.
But now she felt far away — like a treasure he couldn't afford. He was still lost in thought when he heard her from behind.
Meadow's POV
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," I said, taking my seat.
"No biggie," he replied.
Silence…
I wanted to tell him straight, but I decided to stall a little.
"You saw the news."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he shot back. His tone was calm as usual — anyone else would've thought he wasn't angry. But after knowing him for three years, I knew he was pissed.
"I'm sorry," I stated simply.
"That isn't changing anything."
"I know," I answered, placing my hands on the table, playing with the wine glass to distract myself.
"I'm not going to let this happen," he said again.
"It's too late, Caleb."
That was when he snapped. He hit the cutlery on the plate so hard that it made me jerk. It was now his turn to control his temper, and he was close to losing it. He ran his fingers through his hair and covered his face with his palm. Then he stood up and, without warning, took me by the wrist and led me out of the dining room. His grip remained tight on my hand even in the elevator. He took me to the VIP room in the restaurant and closed the door behind him.
"You're really going ahead with this, Meadow?" he said as he forcefully let go of my hand.
I tried my best to remain calm, but Caleb was on edge. His patience was hanging by a thread. He was struggling to hold himself together.
"It's my duty," I defended.
"F**k those duties, Meadow! This is your life we're talking about here. You're smarter than this, come on!" he argued.
"You have to understand that this was decided since my birth. It's a critical decision that could affect my future — and the future of my workers. You should know this yourself, Caleb. We're both business people."
"Then let's get married, okay? Let our companies merge instead. Must it be that asshole's company, huh?!" Caleb said instinctively.
"Snap out of it, Caleb! It's not my decision to make. In this world, you can't lead your enterprise with that mindset. This is what I have to do for my family!" I was forced to yell back at him. He wasn't making it easier.
"You knew about this, so why did you agree to date me? Just a little fun to pass the time? Is this how little I matter, Meadow?"
His words stung, but in a way, he was right. I was letting go too easily. I wasn't even fighting for him, so I completely understood how he felt.
At this point, I was already calm and accepting the reality of the situation. But I needed him to understand me too. This was how I was raised — I didn't have a say in most crucial aspects of my life, and I'd gotten used to it. I just got carried away when I fell in love with Caleb.
I walked toward him and cupped his face in my palms. Then I began.
"You know better than anyone that what we had was — and will always be — real. But there are some things that are impossible to have, and this relationship is one of them. So, let's end it here, Caleb, please."
There were tears in my eyes, hanging desperately to my eyelids, threatening to fall.
With tears in his eyes too, he held my palm closer against his cheek and rested his forehead on mine.
"You know you're the only one I want."
With utmost composure, I closed my eyes and let the warm liquid fall down my cheeks.
"The one thing you might never have."
"Meadow," he said calmly again, his forehead still resting on mine.
"Let's break up," I interjected. I couldn't let this go on any longer.
He didn't let go. He held my face to his shoulder.
"I don't want to lose you," he whimpered.
"I'm sorry, Caleb," I whispered back in a shaky, teary voice, then slowly broke away from his embrace.
"Mead… Meadow, please!!!" I heard him say, but I couldn't bring myself to stay there anymore.
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