“You betrayed me? You didn’t wait?” – exclaimed Alex with resentment and anger when Diana shut the door on memories of the past.
The doorbell rang. Diana went to open it. She opened it – and froze.
Standing on the doorstep was Alex – her ex, whom she had broken up with two years ago.
In his hands, Alex held a luxurious bouquet of roses and a bottle of wine.
“Hi, my love!” – he exclaimed cheerfully. “It’s me!”
“I can see that,” Diana frowned. “Why are you here?”
“Maybe let me in first?” – the tone of the unexpected guest was peaceful yet mysterious.
“Well, come in.”
Alex stepped inside, knelt on one knee, pulled a red box from his inner pocket, and extended it toward Diana.
“Marry me!”
For a moment, Diana’s jaw literally dropped.
A few seconds later, she pulled herself together and asked in surprise:
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. I love you.”
“And what about your sister? You loved her much more.”
“Irene got married. I don’t have to take care of her anymore. I’m free.”
“And if she gets divorced? Will you start babysitting her again?”
“I hope she’ll be fine. So, what do you say?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“For one, I don’t love you.”
“You just think that. We were good together,” Alex looked at Diana intently, “and it will be even better. I promise.”
“Your promises mean nothing,” Diana smiled. “And besides, it’s been two years. Do you really think I’m still alone?”
“You’re not alone? With who?”
“Does it matter? I have someone, and I’m going to marry him.”
“Has he proposed to you already?”
“None of your business.”
“I see. He hasn’t,” Alex stated smugly. “And he won’t. Trust me. Men today aren’t in a hurry to rush to the registry office with just anyone.”
“So, I’m ‘just anyone’?” Diana smiled. “Then why did you come?”
“Don’t twist my words. And anyway, you haven’t answered me. Will you?”
“I already did! But as usual, you didn’t listen. Go home, Alex. My friend is coming over soon. It’ll be awkward.”
“So, it’s true?” – her ex exclaimed. “You betrayed me? You didn’t wait?”
“Alex, are you even normal? We broke up! You are nothing to me! Did you really think that after our breakup, I’d become a nun? Or suffer until the end of my days? I barely even remember you anymore. Now leave! You’re exhausting!”
“I’ll go,” – Alex’s voice carried resentment, anger, and even a hint of threat, – “but you’ll regret this! And very soon!”
“Go, go,” – Diana opened the door, – “and please, don’t come back!”
They had broken up after nearly five years together.
The reason for their breakup was Alex’s boundless—or, as Diana once called it, “irresponsible”—love for his sister, Irene.
But let’s go back to the beginning…
Diana married Alex when she was 26 years old.
By then, she was already well-established: a university degree, a good job with a decent salary, a three-bedroom apartment.
Alex also had an apartment—just a one-bedroom. He had bought it himself. For Diana, this was a signal: the guy was serious, knew how to earn money, and spent it wisely.
She herself had been trying for years to save up for a down payment but hadn’t been very successful.
The “three-bedroom” had come to Diana from her late father. Just before the wedding.
They discussed all aspects of their life together, including finances. Everything was going well until Irene got pregnant and moved into Alex’s apartment.
Diana, sticking to their agreement, started putting aside as much money from their budget as Alex spent on his sister. This led to arguments, which ended in their divorce.
Later, Diana bought herself a car and started a new life. Alex moved back into his one-bedroom apartment.
Now that Irene was divorced, Alex was back at it again.
“Poor Alex, starting all over again,” Diana thought.
And she wasn’t wrong.
