Boyfriend Stood Me Up Seventeen Times And Said Next Time—I Quit Chapter 01

Boyfriend Stood Me Up Seventeen Times And Said Next Time—I Quit Chapter 01

I broke up with Julian the very first day he got back from his business trip overseas.

“Is this just because you didn’t get that handbag?” He let out a laugh.

“Yes,” I said firmly.

Seven days prior, Julian had flown out to France leading his work team.

He came home loaded with gifts for everyone around him. Even the building security guard got an alligator leather belt.

But the designer handbag I’d rambled about wanting for two whole months, the one meant for my birthday? He’d forgotten it completely.

I scrolled through Instagram and saw a new post from Tiffany, his newly hired executive assistant. She posed grinning with a luxury bag in hand.

[So grateful for the best boss ever! Love you always!]

Julian left a comment right below her post.

[It’s nothing.]

I stared at that post for a long time. Then I deleted the message I’d typed out: Waiting for you to come home.

Julian and I had known each other since we were seven. We started dating at eighteen, and twenty years had passed since then.

He used to keep every little thing about me in mind. Now, everyone else always came first.

We were still talking about our breakup when he glanced down at a new text from Tiffany, inviting him out for lunch.

“Quit throwing a fit,” he said casually.

“It’s just a bag. I’ll get you one next time, I promise.”

“Tiffany’s asking me to grab lunch. Get a cab home on your own.”

He hurried out the door, and I made no move to stop him.

Instead, I typed a reply to the Paris design studio that had reached out to me seven times before.

“I accept your offer. I’ll fly out tomorrow night. See you in Paris.”

When I hit send, I slipped the engagement ring off my finger and set it on his desk.

Julian, from this day on, we go our separate ways.

***

My phone rang the second I stepped out of Julian’s office. It was Sienna, my best friend.

“You actually broke up with him?”

“I did.”

“You two are childhood sweethearts. You’ve been together nine years. You’re really ending things just over a missing bag?”

I paused in my tracks.

“It was never just the bag.”

Before Julian left for France seven days ago, I’d reminded him repeatedly.

I begged him not to forget the birthday handbag I’d had my eye on.

He’d agreed without hesitation, swearing he wouldn’t slip up.

Yet when he returned, every single person on staff walked away with a souvenir from France.

Only me, he had nothing for.

“Sorry, Chloe. The trip was packed tight, and it totally slipped my mind.”

“I’ll make it up to you next time.”

In the three months since we’d gotten engaged, he’d forgotten his promises to me seventeen times already.

The first time, I’d been stuck with brutal period cramps.

I asked him to pick up pain relief medication on his way home. He said he would.

He stumbled through the door later, reeking of alcohol.

“A client pulled me out for drinks last minute. It slipped my mind.”

I didn’t get upset back then.

I looked after him until he fell asleep, then ordered pain meds for myself through Uber Eats.

The second time, my personal design shop got inundated with orders.

I was swamped beyond belief, so I asked him to bring me dinner that night. He agreed.

I waited until nearly eleven at night, until a low blood sugar spell left me dizzy. He never showed up.

When he finally got home, he’d already taken a nap.

“I was worn out from work. I passed out as soon as I walked in the door and forgot all about dinner.”

I saw he’d changed into his loungewear, but I said nothing.

Then came the third time, the eighth time, the seventeenth time.

Again and again, I told myself to overlook his careless ways. Gradually, I learned to expect that whatever I asked for would be forgotten.

That was until I stumbled across Tiffany’s TikTok account by chance.

Her feed was filled with clips and posts gushing about her daily moments with her boss.

March 21st read:

[I mentioned my period to my boss in passing yesterday. Imagine my surprise when he brought me heating pads and hot cocoa the next day!]

[My heart won’t stop racing.]

April 7th held a photo taken at a trendy Instagrammable restaurant.

[I told my boss I’d wanted to try this spot, and he brought me here today!]

[There’s nothing quite like a mature man’s charm.]

April 7th was the exact day I’d asked Julian to bring me dinner.

And now, after his France trip, Tiffany posted the photo of her new designer bag.

[Said a quick word about this bag ages ago, and he remembered perfectly. Forever thankful to my amazing boss!]

Julian’s comment sat right below it once more.

[It’s nothing.]

That bag was from the exact same boutique as the one I’d asked him to buy for me.

To me, his busy schedule was a valid excuse.

To her, it was just a simple favor.

“I’ve thought long and hard about this relationship. Don’t try to talk me out of it,” I told Sienna over the phone.

She let out a heavy sigh.

“You haven’t told him you’re moving overseas yet, have you?”

I fell silent for a moment.

“No. I’ll talk to him about it tonight.”