My Ex-Wife's Biggest Mistake

A Goodbye Without Tears

With one hand, Lydia held the microphone, her eyes slowly scanning the crowded hall.

The music had stopped, and almost everyone was waiting to hear what she had to say. Her gaze moved across the guests before finally settling on Sunny, who stood among the crowd with the small package still in his hands.

The moment she saw him she smiled and looked at him like nothing happened.

Sunny stared back at her.

Is she smiling?

His mind struggled to process what he was seeing. Only moments earlier, he had watched the woman he loved kiss another man in front of everyone. He could still remember how Damien's lips had touched hers, how Lydia had responded without hesitation, and how the two of them had stood together as though Sunny didn't exist. Yet now, she was smiling at him.

The image of that kiss kept returning to his mind, competing with the anger and sadness building inside his chest. He wanted to believe there was some explanation, some reason that would make what he had witnessed less painful. But every time he looked at Damien standing beside her, the truth became harder to ignore.

"Sunny," Lydia called.

Her voice was gentle and soft, almost affectionate. She held the microphone closer to her lips, looking directly at him as she waited for him to respond. Sunny didn't move. He simply stood there, surrounded by people who had suddenly turned their attention toward him.

The crowd began making way as Lydia slightly raised her free hand, directing their attention toward him. People moved aside, leaving Sunny standing alone in the open space before her. He could feel dozens of eyes following him, and the whispers began almost immediately.

"Is that her boyfriend?"

"Wait, is he the one who came with the gift?"

"Didn't he just watch her kiss another man?"

"God, that must be embarrassing."

A young man standing near the drinks counter leaned toward his friend. "I honestly wish I could disappear if I were him. Imagine coming to celebrate your girlfriend's birthday only to watch her kiss another man in front of everyone."

"Forget disappearing," another guest whispered. "I would have left before she even picked up that microphone."

A woman standing nearby shook her head as she looked at Sunny. "What a waste. He's actually very handsome."

"That's what I'm saying," her friend replied. "If only he had money, with that face, there wouldn't be a woman in this world who wouldn't beg to be his slave just to be with him."

The woman glanced at Sunny again, then lowered her voice. "Honestly, I wouldn't mind cheating on my boyfriend for a one-night stand with someone that cute."

Her friend covered her mouth to hide a laugh. "You're unbelievable."

Sunny heard some of the whispers, but he couldn't bring himself to care. His eyes remained fixed on Lydia, who was still holding the microphone with that same gentle expression. He wondered how she could stand there so calmly after what she had done. How could she look at him as though they were still the same couple who had shared an apartment, made plans together, and talked about their future?

Lydia took a small breath before speaking again.

"Sunny, thank you for coming tonight. I'm really happy you could make it.

Her words drew a few curious looks from the guests. She paused briefly, allowing the hall to settle before continuing.

"There's something I've wanted to tell you for a while, but I couldn't find the right way to say it over the phone. I know how you are. You always joke about everything, even when I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you. So I thought it would be better to tell you in person."

Sunny's fingers tightened around the small package.

Lydia looked directly at him, and the smile on her face slowly disappeared.

"I want us to break up."

The words fell into the hall, leaving no room for misunderstanding.

Sunny didn't move.

Lydia continued, her voice remaining calm. "I know you've done a lot for me, and I haven't forgotten any of it. You've helped me take care of my mother, and you've spent so much money on us. I promise I'll repay every penny you've spent. I don't want you to think I'm trying to take advantage of you."

She paused and glanced briefly toward Damien, who stood beside her with his hands in his pockets.

"But my heart belongs to someone else. I love Damien."

Damien lips curled into a cocky smile as he looked at Sunny. He didn't say anything, but his expression seemed to suggest that he had already won. He stood comfortably beside Lydia, showing no sign of embarrassment about what had happened earlier.

The guests turned their attention toward Sunny.

Some expected him to shout. Others waited for him to demand an explanation or confront Damien and a few even seemed eager to see him lose control, perhaps hoping for a dramatic scene that would give them something to talk about after the party.

But Sunny remained motionless.

His eyes stayed on Lydia, while his fingers tightened around the small package until the edges pressed painfully against his palm. His throat felt dry, and the words he wanted to say seemed trapped somewhere inside his chest. He wanted to ask her why. He wanted to remind her of everything they had shared and how much he had sacrificed to make her happy.

Yet he couldn't bring himself to say any of it.

After a long silence, Sunny slowly exhaled.

He lowered his head for a moment, gathered himself, and then began walking toward Lydia. The crowd parted again as he approached, their whispers growing quieter when they realised he wasn't going to make a scene. Lydia watched him come closer, while Damien's smile remained firmly in place.

When Sunny finally stood before her, he looked at the small package in his hands.

He had spent time choosing it. He had imagined how happy she would be when she opened it, how she would smile and perhaps pull him into a hug. He had even pictured her teasing him for spending money on another gift when they already had so many things to take care of.

Now, all those thoughts felt painfully foolish.

Still, he held the package out to her.

"Happy birthday, Lydia."

His voice was quiet, almost too quiet for the people standing nearby to hear. His eyes were soaked with tears, and his vision had become blurry, but he refused to let a single tear fall. He kept his face as steady as he could while Lydia reached out and accepted the gift.

For a brief moment, their fingers touched.

Sunny released the package and lowered his hand.

He didn't ask her to reconsider. He didn't ask whether she was certain about her decision. He simply turned around and began walking away.

A waiter happened to be passing nearby with a tray of birthday cake. Sunny stopped him, picked up a piece, and took a bite. He chewed slowly before continuing toward the exit, as though he had merely attended a birthday party, delivered his gift, and was now leaving because the celebration was over.

The sight left several guests speechless.

"He's actually leaving just like that?"

"Poor guy."

"At least he didn't embarrass himself."

"Honestly, I feel sorry for him. He came here with a birthday present, and this is what he got."

Others, however, seemed more interested in supporting Lydia's decision.

Well, she has the right to choose who she wants to be with.

Exactly. It's better to end things than stay in a relationship when you don't love the person anymore.

She should have done it earlier, though.

"Maybe she was waiting for the right time."

There was more murmuring and some guests voiced sympathy for Sunny, while others defended Lydia. But none of it mattered to him anymore. He didn't turn around, and Lydia didn't call his name again.

The sound of the party faded from his ears as he moved further away from the crowd. The music, the conversations, the laughter and the whispers faded away until only the echo of his own footsteps remained.

He kept walking.

He didn't look back.