As the reunion continued, Yvonne and her close friend, Emily, sat at a quieter corner of the venue, away from the noise and the increasingly tipsy crowd. Both of them were engrossed in conversation, catching up on everything they had missed in each other's lives since they last met.
Emily, always the curious one, couldn't resist bringing up a topic she had been dying to discuss. She leaned in closer to Yvonne, her voice lowering slightly as if she were about to share a secret. "So, Yvonne," she began with a sly smile, "I've been hearing some interesting things lately. Rumor has it that you've been seeing someone rather... high-profile."
Yvonne raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Oh? And who might that be?" she asked, though she had a pretty good idea where this was going.
Emily grinned, clearly enjoying the tease. "Don't play coy with me! You know exactly who I'm talking about. Ethan Carter—yes, *the* Ethan Carter, chairman of a Fortune 500 company. It's all anyone could talk about tonight. They're saying you two are an item. Care to confirm or deny?"
Yvonne let out a small laugh, shaking her head at her friend's persistence. "You know how people love to gossip," she replied, trying to keep her tone light.
But Emily wasn't letting this go that easily. "Oh, come on! You can't just leave me hanging like that. Everyone's saying you've finally met your match. I mean, Ethan Carter? That's huge! Are you telling me you're really dating him?" She paused, her expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity. "And if you are... does that mean you've found your Mr. Right? Is wedding bells in your future, Yvonne?"
Yvonne sighed, knowing she couldn't avoid the topic any longer. She looked at Emily, her expression turning serious, though there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Well, since you're asking so nicely," she began, taking a moment to gather her thoughts, "I guess I should tell you the truth."
Emily leaned in even closer, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Yes?" she prompted.
Yvonne took a deep breath, then dropped the bombshell. "I broke up with Ethan just before I came to the reunion."
Emily's jaw practically hit the floor. "What?!" she exclaimed, clearly shocked. "You... you broke up with him? But why? I mean, he's Ethan Carter! The guy is practically perfect—successful, handsome, powerful. What happened?"
Yvonne shrugged nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal. "He asked me to marry him," she said, as though that explained everything.
Emily blinked, trying to process what she had just heard. "Wait, you broke up with him *because* he proposed to you? Yvonne, are you serious? Most women would kill for a guy like Ethan to propose! What were you thinking?"
Yvonne leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a wry smile. "That's exactly the problem, Emily. I'm not most women. When he proposed, it wasn't just about us being together. It was about locking me down, tying me to one person, one life, one path. And that's just not who I am. I'm not ready to settle down, to give up my freedom for anyone, no matter how perfect they might seem."
Emily stared at her, still trying to wrap her head around Yvonne's logic. "But... but you and Ethan seemed so perfect together. Are you sure you're not making a mistake?"
Yvonne shook her head. "No, I'm not. I care about Ethan, but the moment he brought up marriage, I knew it was over. He wants something I can't give him. And it's better to end it now before things get even more complicated."
Emily was silent for a moment, clearly taken aback by Yvonne's resolve. Finally, she spoke again, her tone softer. "Wow, Yvonne... I knew you were strong and independent, but I didn't realize just how much. You're really serious about this, aren't you?"
Yvonne nodded, her expression firm. "I am. I'm not going to settle just because it's what people expect or because it's what someone else wants. I have my own path to follow, and right now, that doesn't include marriage."
Emily sighed, still looking a little stunned but also impressed. "I have to admit, I admire you for that. Most people wouldn't have the guts to walk away from someone like Ethan. But you... you know what you want, and you're not afraid to go after it."
Yvonne smiled, appreciating her friend's understanding. "Thanks, Emily. It wasn't an easy decision, but it's the right one for me."
Emily leaned back in her chair, shaking her head with a smile. "You're incredible, you know that? I can't wait to see what you do next."
Yvonne laughed, the tension from earlier melting away. "Neither can I," she said, raising her glass for another toast. "Here's to whatever comes next—and to always following our own paths."
Emily clinked her glass against Yvonne's, her admiration clear in her eyes. "Cheers to that. You're one of a kind, Yvonne."
As they sipped their drinks, the conversation shifted back to lighter topics, and the two friends continued their chat, the bond between them stronger than ever. Yvonne knew that no matter what happened in the future, she would always have friends like Emily who understood her, supported her, and cheered her on. And that was worth more than anything Ethan—or any man—could offer her.
As they continued chatting, Yvonne couldn't help but glance at her phone, where she knew messages from Ethan were likely waiting. But she pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the moment and the freedom she cherished so much.
Across town, however, Ethan wasn't giving up as easily as Yvonne might have hoped. As he stared at his phone, reading her last message over and over, a determined smile tugged at his lips. She thought she could just walk away, but he had other plans. He wasn't going to let her slip through his fingers—not without a fight.