Seven Rejections, One Perfect Goodbye

Seven rejected proposals. "Jude, enough." Scarlett didn't even spare a passing glance at the diamond ring. She spun on her stilettos and slammed the door on her way out.

I slowly pushed myself up from the chair and snapped the velvet box shut. The first time I asked, she had said, "Jude, we're still too young.

Let's wait a little longer." The second time: "I need to focus on my career right now. Let's talk about it after my promotion." The third time: "This project is bleeding me dry.

I don't have the headspace for this." By the seventh time, she couldn't even be bothered to invent an excuse. I stepped out of the coffee shop.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. [Jude, struck out again? Lmao. I told you Scarlett would never settle for you.

Why don't you just be a good little backup plan?] It was a text from Spencer. I stared at the glaring screen. The last trace of my pathetic delusion finally shattered.

Chapter 1 Spencer always knew the outcome of all seven proposals before the dust even settled.

And every time Scarlett rejected me, she just happened to have a project sync with the tech department. I wasn't an idiot. I just hadn't wanted to admit it.

I deleted Spencer's number. Then Scarlett's. I blocked their calls. I unfriended her on social media and dragged her accounts straight to the blocklist.

In our work communication channels, I clicked 'Leave' on every single project group she was in. Within ten minutes, I had scrubbed every trace of Scarlett from my digital life.

Seven years of pathetic devotion, wiped clean. Back at my apartment, I started packing up the things she had left behind.

Her makeup, clothes, books… and that joint savings account book she had opened when she promised we'd save up for a house together.

I shoved it all into a cardboard shipping box and addressed it to her place. By the time I taped the box shut, it was 10:00 PM.

The apartment was stripped bare, but for the first time, the tight knot in my chest loosened. My phone rang. It was Bennett. "Jude, department dinner tomorrow night.

You in?" "Is Scarlett going?" I asked. "Yeah, obviously. She's the Product Manager. She has to be there." "Then I'm out." Bennett paused. "Did you guys fight again?" "No fight.

Just count me out of any event she's attending from now on." I hung up and sent a mass text to the rest of my coworkers. [Don't bother inviting me to any future gettogethers if Scarlett is going to be there.] After sending the text, I tossed my phone onto the rug and closed my eyes, finally exhaling the stale air that had been festering in my lungs for seven long years.

The next morning, I intentionally showed up half an hour late to the office. The Product and Tech departments shared the same floor, and Scarlett's desk was right across the aisle.

I used to always accidentally walk past her cubicle just to find an excuse to talk to her. Today, I took the back hallway straight to my desk and didn't even lift my head.

At 10:00 AM, a private message from Scarlett popped up on the company portal. [Jude, I want to explain what happened yesterday.] I didn't even click on it. I just hit delete.

At 11:00 AM, another message came through. [Why did you block me? We need to talk.] Deleted.

During lunch break, Bennett walked over to my desk. "Jude, did you and Scarlett actually break up?

She just came over and asked me why you were ignoring her messages." I looked up at him. "We were never together.

How could we break up?" "But you guys…" "I chased her for seven years, and she never once said yes. Now, I'm done chasing.

It's that simple." Bennett opened his mouth, but eventually clamped it shut without saying another word.

Chapter 2 At 3:00 PM, I was deep in code when Scarlett suddenly materialized at my desk. "Jude, why are you ignoring me?" I didn't even look up. "Scarlett, I'm working.

If it's about a project, shoot me an email. If it's personal, we have nothing to talk about." "Personal?

What the hell was that box of my stuff you shipped back?" "Returning things to their rightful owner. Is there a problem?" Her voice started to shake. "Are you throwing a tantrum?

Because of the proposal yesterday?" My fingers stopped over the keyboard.

I finally looked up and met her eyes. "Scarlett, do you honestly expect a guy to get played for a fool seven times and just keep smiling along with the joke?" She took a step back, her fingers gripping the edge of my cubicle divider so hard her knuckles turned a bruised white. "I didn't…" "You know exactly what you did." I slipped my headphones over my ears and turned back to my monitor.

She stood frozen by my desk for another five minutes before biting her lip and walking away. At 6:00 PM, HR pinged me with a mandatory invite for tomorrow's project kickoff meeting.

I glanced at the attendee list. Scarlett's name was right at the top. I hit reply. [Sorry.

Taking a sick day tomorrow.] Early the next morning, I drove to a private clinic and booked an appointment with a cardiovascular specialist. The doctor asked about my symptoms.

I told him I had chest tightness and shortness of breath, maybe a heart issue. After blowing the entire morning on a battery of tests, the doctor confirmed I was healthy.

I grabbed my medical report and headed back to the office. The kickoff meeting was already over.

Bennett leaned in and lowered his voice. "Scarlett kept asking why you weren't there. She looked like a wreck.

Spencer had to comfort her for a long time." A cold scoff escaped my lips. Of course he did.

That afternoon, Scarlett cornered me again. "Did you skip that meeting on purpose yesterday?" "I was sick.

I have a doctor's note." "You're not even sick!" "Are you a doctor now, Scarlett?" Her chest heaved.

She opened her mouth to shoot back a retort, but ultimately just bit her lower lip in a pathetic display of defeat. From that day on, Scarlett and I entered a total cold war.

If she tried to sync up on a project, I told her I was swamped and directed her to my team lead.

If she tried to pull me aside for a personal chat, I told her it wasn't a good time and suggested she put it in an official email.

A week later, she finally snapped. "Jude, what exactly do you want?" Scarlett blocked the doorway to the breakroom, her eyes bloodshot. "What do I want?

I want to work in peace without being harassed." I filled my water glass and stepped toward the exit.

She threw her arm out to stop me. "Are you punishing me because of the proposal? I can explain…" "Save it. There's no need. You and I have zero relationship, Scarlett.

Memorize that." "How can you say we have no relationship? We've known each other for seven years!" "Seven years of knowing someone doesn't mean a damn thing.

Half the people in this office have known each other for seven years." A tear spilled over her lashes. "How can you be so heartless?" I watched the tear track down her cheek.

My pulse didn't even hitch. "Heartless? Scarlett, I got down on one knee seven times and got rejected every single time. Wasn't that devoted enough for you?

Now I'm finally walking away, and you call it heartless?" "I never explicitly said no to those proposals!" "Not saying yes is a no.

Adults understand how that works." I brushed past her and walked out of the breakroom. I could hear her muffled sobs echoing behind me, but I didn't break my stride.

Chapter 3 The next day, HR sent out a memo. We were partnering with a major tech firm on a new project, and I was tapped as the lead engineer.

I let out a dry laugh when I saw the partner company's name. It was the exact same firm Spencer had jumped ship to. No doubt about it, this was Scarlett's doing.

She was trying to force me into a corner through work. I went straight to the Director of Engineering. "Victor, I need to be reassigned from this project." "Why?

It's a massive opportunity. It'll be great for your resume." "Personal reasons. I'd rather not get into it." Victor crossed his arms. "Jude, what's going on with you lately?

Your head hasn't been in the game." "Sorry, Victor.

If being on this project is mandatory, consider this my two weeks' notice." He stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "Are you insane?

You're going to quit over a project?" "Yeah." Victor eventually caved and approved the transfer. But news travels fast.

By the end of the day, the entire tech department knew I had practically threatened to quit just to avoid working with Scarlett.

Right at clockout, Scarlett cornered me again. "Have you lost your mind?

You're willing to throw away your job just to avoid me?" "If avoiding you is impossible here, then yeah, I'm out." The muscles in her neck pulled taut, a visible tremor running through her shoulders. "Jude, why are you treating me like this?

I have never done anything to hurt you!" I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face her. "Never hurt me?

Do you actually believe your own bullshit, Scarlett?" "I…" "For seven years, I remembered every single one of your birthdays. I bought you a gift every time.

When is my birthday?" Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. "Where were you when I was sick?

Did you ever give a damn when I was pulling allnighters at the office?" "I was slammed with work…" "Slammed? But you had plenty of time to grab dinner with Spencer?

Plenty of time to catch movies with him?" Her breath caught for a second, the color draining from her lips, her eyes darting away, unable to meet my gaze. "I'm not an idiot, Scarlett.

Seven years of playing the devoted backup plan is enough." I spun on my heel and walked away.

Behind me came her uncontrollable sobbing, but I didn't even entertain the thought of pausing for a halfsecond, walking straight into the elevator.

After that, Scarlett went full stagefive clinger. She camped out in the company lobby, waited outside my apartment building, and even trailed me to the gym.

Every time I caught her, she'd start crying and begging to talk. I never gave her a single word. The second I saw her, I turned around and left.

Bennett couldn't hold it in anymore. "Jude, Scarlett is going out of her mind looking for you.

What the hell happened between you two?" "Why is her mental state my problem?" "But she says she regrets everything.

She wants to start over with you." A harsh laugh ripped from my throat. "Start over?

What gives her the right to even suggest that?" "What exactly do you know?" I looked at Bennett and finally dropped the bomb. "She's into Spencer. Always has been.

I was just the backup plan." Bennett's eyes went wide. "No way. But she was always texting you…" "Because Spencer had a girlfriend, and she needed someone to stroke her ego.

Now that Spencer is single, my services are no longer required." "How do you even know that?" I pulled up the screenshots of Spencer's texts and shoved my phone into his hands.

Bennett scrolled through them, the blood rushing to his face. "That bitch!

And Spencer… how did I never realize he was such a scumbag?" "That's why I'm cutting my losses." "But the way Scarlett is acting right now… she actually seems to regret it." "Regret?

What is she regretting? That Spencer didn't want her either?" Bennett shut his mouth.

Chapter 4 That evening, the second I walked out of the office lobby, I spotted Scarlett standing by the curb. She had been waiting out there for a week straight. Same spot.

Same pathetic posture. Today, she looked wrecked. Her eyes were swollen and red, her hair a tangled mess.

Her expensive designer heels were coated in dust, and she was whiteknuckling a paper cup of longcold black coffee, the sides caving in under her crushing grip.

The moment she saw me walk through the glass doors, she rushed over. "Jude, please. Just listen to me." I ignored her and headed straight for the subway station.

She chased after me. "I know I messed up. I really know I was wrong." I picked up my pace. "Jude, let me explain! There is absolutely nothing going on between me and Spencer.

I didn't mean to reject your proposals, I just…" I stopped dead and spun around to face her. "Scarlett, do you know the definition of humiliating yourself?" She froze. "Chasing someone who doesn't give a damn about you for seven years—that is the definition.

I've been stupid enough for long enough. I'm done playing the fool." "But I love you!" A harsh laugh punched out of my chest. "You love me?

Scarlett, you don't even know my damn birthday. What exactly do you love about me? Do you love my paycheck? Do you love the way I treated you?

Or do you just love the way I followed you around like a stray dog begging for scraps?" Tears spilled over her lashes. "No, that's not it. I really…" "Save it.

I don't care." I turned my back on her and kept walking. She screamed at my retreating back. "Jude, you can't do this to me!

We have seven years of history!" I didn't even turn my head. "That was seven years of my delusion.

You had nothing to do with it." The next day, Scarlett was a noshow at the office. Bennett pulled me aside to whisper that she had called in sick.

I gave him zero reaction and went back to my code. At noon, my phone rang. It was Scarlett's roommate. "Jude, Scarlett is sick.

She's running a high fever and won't stop calling your name." "Then take her to the ER." "She refuses to go. She says she's waiting for you." "Sorry, I'm busy." I hung up the phone.

Her roommate called three more times that afternoon. I let every single one go to voicemail. After work, Bennett found me. "Jude, Scarlett is seriously sick.

You should go check on her." "She's not my problem." "But you're the only one she trusts right now…" "Sounds like a her problem. Listen to me, Bennett.

From this second forward, do not bring up Scarlett's name to me again.

I don't want to hear it." Bennett stared at me before finally letting out a heavy sigh. "You've really changed." "I didn't change.

I just woke up." On the third day, I got a call from Scarlett's mother. "Jude, Scarlett was admitted to the hospital.

Please come see her." "Ma'am, Scarlett and I are no longer involved." "What do you mean, no longer involved?

Weren't you two about to get married?" That made me pause. "Ma'am, did Scarlett actually tell you we were getting married?" "She told me you proposed, and she said yes." A bitter smile touched my lips. "Ma'am, she rejected me seven times." Dead silence fell over the line for a long time. "Jude, regardless of what happened… Scarlett is very sick right now.

The doctors need a family member's signature. Her father is out of town on business, and I'm all alone…" "Ma'am, I am not family. She has a boyfriend.

You can call Spencer." "What boyfriend?

Scarlett doesn't have a boyfriend, she only has you!" I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes. "Ma'am, the guy Scarlett loves is Spencer, not me.

She might not have told you, but that is the reality." I ended the call. Chapter 5 My phone immediately rang again. I held down the power button until the screen went black.

When I got home that night, there was a pile of stuff barricading my door. Expensive fruit baskets, premium health supplements, and an envelope. The letter inside was from Scarlett.

The handwriting was a shaky scrawl, obviously written from a hospital bed. [Jude, I know you're angry, but please give me one more chance.

I know I messed up a lot of things, but I never stopped loving you. I didn't reject those proposals because I didn't love you.

I was just scared.] [I was terrified I wasn't good enough for you, that I'd let you down after we got married. Please forgive me.

I really can't lose you.] I finished reading the letter, ripped it in half, and dropped it into the trash can.

Then I hauled every single basket and box down to the apartment complex's dumpster.

The next day, Bennett marched up to my desk, his eyes bloodshot. "Jude, Scarlett slit her wrists last night." My finger stalled over the mouse.

I clicked, minimizing the code window. "And that has what to do with me?" "How can you be so coldblooded?

She almost died!" "That was her choice." Bennett snapped. "Are you even human anymore, Jude?" I swiveled my chair around to face him. "Bennett, she cut her wrists to emotionally blackmail me.

If I go running back to her because of this, she'll just escalate to something even more extreme the next time she wants to control me." "But—" "No 'buts.' If she wants to play with her life, that's her right.

But she doesn't get to use it to hold a gun to my head." Bennett stared at me, his brows pulling together into a hard knot. "You've really changed." "Yeah, I have.

I stopped being an easy mark." News of Scarlett's suicide attempt ripped through the office like a wildfire. Everyone knew it was because of my ruthlessness.

Walking down the halls, I could feel the stares burning into my back. Whispers trailed behind me—calling me coldblooded, heartless, a sociopath. I couldn't care less.

They didn't know the truth, and I wasn't going to waste my breath explaining it to them.

During lunch break, a few women from another department sat at the table next to mine, pitching their voices just loud enough for me to hear. "Scarlett is such a sweet girl.

How could Jude do that to her?" "Right? Seven years down the drain just like that.

He has zero conscience." "I heard she's still in the ICU, and he hasn't even bothered to visit." I took a bite of my lunch, deaf to the background noise.

That afternoon, Scarlett's father showed up at the office lobby.

He was a refined, middleaged man who had always treated me well, always joking that he'd watched me grow up. "Jude, you've heard about Scarlett?" "I heard." "She's in bad shape right now.

She keeps calling your name.

The doctors say she's exhibiting severe depressive tendencies and needs her family by her side." "Sir, I'm not her family." He recoiled slightly. "But Scarlett said you two were already…" "We are nothing.

Sir, over the past seven years, Scarlett has never once reciprocated my feelings.

The guy she actually loves is Spencer, not me." His face changed. "What did you say?" I pulled out my phone, pulled up Spencer's text screenshots, and handed it to him.

He scrolled through them. His expression darkened, a stormy rage brewing behind his eyes. "That bastard…" "So, Sir, Scarlett and I really have zero ties.

The state she's in right now isn't from a broken heart.

It's from losing a free, oncall backup plan." Chapter 6 Scarlett's father fell silent for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh. "Jude, regardless of everything else, Scarlett is in a dangerous place right now.

Even if you just do it for my sake…" "Sir, if I go back now, she'll think these extreme tactics work. She'll only escalate things in the future.

It does her no good." "But her condition right now…" "Someone will take care of her. Doesn't Spencer care about her so much?

Let him do it." He looked at me, his shoulders sagging as if the air had been let out of him. "Are you really never looking back?" "Never." Shortly after he left, my phone rang.

It was Spencer. "Jude, are you even a fucking man?

Scarlett is like this, and you're still not coming back?" "Spencer, shouldn't you be thrilled she's like this?" "What the hell is there to be thrilled about?" "She finally shook off her backup plan.

Now you two can be together out in the open." "What kind of bullshit are you spouting?" "No bullshit. Spencer, Scarlett is your woman.

Whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me." I hung up and dragged his number to the blocklist. That night, my mom called. "Jude, Scarlett's mother just called me.

She said Scarlett is in the hospital and asked you to go see her." "Mom, Scarlett and I are done. We have no relationship." "How can you have no relationship?

Didn't you two grow up together?" "Growing up together doesn't mean a thing. Mom, I have my own life now.

I don't want her disrupting it anymore." "But the poor girl is…" "Mom, my mind is made up.

Don't mention Scarlett's name to me ever again." My mom sighed heavily through the receiver. "Jude, how did you get so cold?" "I'm not cold.

I just woke up." I ended the call and let my phone drop onto the mattress. A heavy weight pressed into the back of my neck, draining the tension from my spine.

What did seven years of blind devotion get me? Played for a fool, strung along as a backup plan, and finally, emotionally blackmailed. Enough. I was so damn done.

A month later, Scarlett was discharged from the hospital. Bennett mentioned she had lost a ton of weight and looked like a ghost of her former self.

On her first day back at the office, I ran right into her in the elevator.

The second she saw me, her eyes welled up. "Jude…" I kept my face blank, my eyes locked on the digital floor display. "Jude, can we please just talk?" I ignored her.

The elevator dinged at my floor, and I stepped out.

She called out to my back. "Jude, do you really hate me that much?" I stopped in my tracks and looked back at her over my shoulder. "I don't hate you.

I just don't feel anything for you anymore." A tear tracked down her hollow cheek. "That's impossible.

You can't just feel nothing…" "Scarlett, feelings aren't something you can just conjure up on demand." The metal doors slid shut, cutting off the sound of her sobbing.

That afternoon, the company held a prep meeting for the annual gala. I had zero interest in going, but attendance was mandatory for the entire staff.

Inside the conference room, Scarlett sat diagonally across from me.

Her eyes stayed glued to me the entire time, swirling with a pathetic mix of begging, resentment, and utter despair. I kept my gaze fixed on my laptop screen.

I didn't spare her a single glance.

The moment the meeting adjourned, Spencer suddenly pushed back his chair and stood up. "Everyone, I have an announcement to make." The entire room turned to look at him. "Scarlett and I are getting married." Chapter 7