Dahlia's POV
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "Cobb, your mother never thought I was worth your time. She made it clear that my ordinary family and my mom's condition were burdens she couldn't tolerate."
I took a steadying breath. "Now that we're done, you can finally have your perfect life with Ivana. I genuinely hope you two are happy together. Just don't contact me again."
I ended the call before he could respond. Flora had never hidden her disdain for me—my middle-class background wasn't glamorous enough, and my mother's illness was an inconvenience she refused to acknowledge.
In her eyes, I was nothing but dead weight. She only tolerated our relationship because I was so devoted to Cobb that I never fought back.
But she made sure to chip away at me whenever possible, always in front of Cobb, always with that sweet, concerned smile that fooled everyone but me.
I kept quiet because I thought it was temporary. I believed Cobb and I had a future worth protecting, even if it meant enduring his mother's passive-aggressive attacks.
What a fool I'd been. I was nothing more than a convenient punching bag for both of them.
And Ivana? She played her part perfectly, always the fragile victim who needed saving. Every time I expressed interest in something—jewelry, clothes, experiences—she'd somehow end up with it instead. At first, I told myself it didn't matter. She was important to Cobb, practically family.
But it was never about the material things. She wanted Cobb himself, and he let her have him piece by piece while keeping me on the sidelines with scraps of attention.
Every holiday, every special occasion, she made sure to insert herself into our plans, proving over and over that she came first.
I was exhausted from competing for my own boyfriend's affection. The game was rigged from the start.
"Dahlia? What are you doing here?"
I looked up to find Taryn approaching, her expression caught between surprise and worry. Her eyes were slightly red, as if she'd been crying.
"Aunt Taryn." I forced a smile and linked my arm through hers. "How's Mom holding up?"
"She's stable," Taryn replied, studying my face intently. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Is it true what she told me? Did you really break up with Cobb?"
I nodded.
"Are you out of your mind?" Taryn's eyebrows shot up. "Cobb has everything—looks, family money, connections. What more could you want?"
Her stare felt like she was trying to see straight through to my soul.
When I remained silent, she pursed her lips. "Did he dump you?"
"No."
Taryn stopped walking entirely, gripping my arm with both hands. "Then why would you throw this away? Did you have a fight? You can't just break up every time you disagree—men get sick of that drama."
I knew she wouldn't drop it until she understood. After a moment's hesitation, I pulled out my phone and handed it to her.
Taryn's face changed as she watched the video. Suddenly, she sank down onto a nearby bench, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Aunt Taryn, please don't cry. People will think I'm the villain here." I gently pulled her back to her feet, fighting to keep my own emotions in check.
"You did exactly what you should have done. We don't need men who treat women like garbage." She stood up, wiped her eyes, and cupped my face tenderly. "Your father would be so proud of you for walking away."
The mention of my dad sent a sharp pang through my chest—grief mixed with anger at how unfair life had been.
I swallowed hard. "Aunt Taryn, please don't show Mom that video."
"Of course not. I'll handle your mother and smooth things over about the breakup."
Relief flooded through me. Having Taryn's support felt like finally having someone in my corner.
When I walked into the hospital room, the sight of my mother's pale, fragile form in the bed hit me like a punch to the gut. Guilt crashed over me in waves.
For years, I'd been so consumed with Cobb that I'd barely visited. A few rushed holiday trips were all I'd managed to squeeze in.
"Dahlia?" Mom's face transformed the moment she saw me, and she struggled to sit up. "What brings you home?"
I rushed to her side, carefully helping her settle back against the pillows. "Mom, I'm here. And I'm staying this time."
She stared at me in disbelief. "You're really not leaving again?"
I nodded, still holding her shoulders. "What, don't you want me around?"
"So you and Cobb really did break up?" Mom's forehead creased with worry. "I thought you two were finally getting married. What happened?"
"Relax. If you don't get better soon, you'll be stuck with Dahlia whether you like it or not," Taryn interjected from the doorway.
Mom shot Taryn a withering look before turning back to me. "Tell me the truth. What went wrong? Why did you break up?"
She reached under her pillow for her heart medication, and the disapproval in her eyes intensified as she swallowed the pill. I hesitated, then let out a hollow laugh. "Because I fell in love with someone else."
Taryn choked on her water.
Mom's face went red. "Dahlia, how could you do such a thing?"
I shrugged, unrepentant. "Mom, you can't force these things. People change, feelings change. When it comes to love, settling for less than what you deserve is a mistake that hurts everyone involved."
My words hit their mark. Mom clutched her chest, glaring at me with a mixture of fury and heartbreak.
"Alright, that's enough," Taryn interrupted, pulling me toward the door. "Dahlia needs to eat something. You two can finish this conversation after you've both calmed down."
I wiped my mouth and glanced back at my mother, her eyes puffy from the emotional upheaval I'd just caused.
I managed a weak smile. "Mom, I haven't eaten all day. Let me grab some food, and you should rest for a bit."
With that, I walked out with more attitude than I felt. Once the door closed behind me, I exhaled deeply.
My phone rang, and I quickly answered when I saw the caller ID.
"Wait, you actually went through with it? You really broke up?"
Lorena's voice was filled with amazement.
"Yep. Sold my condo, just landed, and now I'm at the hospital with Mom—"
"Oh my God!" Lorena's excited shriek nearly burst my eardrum. "Dahlia, are you staying for good?"
"That's the plan. So when are you setting up that blind date? I need to make good on my story."
Lorena paused. "What story?"
"I told everyone I broke up because I'm in love with someone else."
"Trust me, Dahlia, the moment you see this guy, you'll forget Cobb ever existed."
Her confidence made me laugh for the first time in days. "Okay, I'm intrigued."
"Tonight then! I'll set everything up."