The Beginning of the End
Jasmine Carter had once believed that love conquered all.
But now, standing in the house she had built with Luke Caldwell, watching him slip further away, she realized something important.
Love wasn't enough.
Not when respect was gone.
Not when trust was shattered.
Not when the man she had sacrificed for… no longer saw her.
And maybe… maybe it was time to stop seeing him too.
---
Belle's Public Display
Jasmine had avoided breakfast.
She didn't have the energy to sit across from Luke and pretend everything was fine.
But by noon, she stepped out of her room, only to freeze in place.
In the living room, Belle was seated on Luke's lap, her arms draped around his shoulders as she giggled at something he said.
Jasmine's fingers curled into fists.
Belle saw her. And smiled.
"Oh! Jasmine, good afternoon," she chirped.
Jasmine's gaze flickered to Luke, who didn't even look at her.
Belle caressed his cheek. "Luke and I were just reminiscing about the night we first—"
Jasmine turned on her heel and walked away before she heard another word.
She wasn't going to let Belle win.
Not like this.
---
Rita's Advice
Jasmine needed air.
She called her sister.
Minutes later, Rita Carter was sitting across from her in a café, swirling a glass of wine as she studied Jasmine carefully.
"Why do I get the feeling I should have brought a shovel?" Rita asked dryly.
Jasmine exhaled, stirring her coffee. "Because I'm about three seconds away from committing a felony."
Rita smirked. "Let me guess. Belle?"
Jasmine nodded. "She's making a game out of it. She wants me to snap."
Rita leaned in. "Then don't."
Jasmine frowned. "That's your advice?"
Rita nodded. "You think Luke is a fool, but Belle? She's playing the long game. She's pushing you because she knows if you react, Luke will side with her."
Jasmine clenched her jaw.
Rita's expression softened. "You want to win? Then don't let her see you bleed."
Jasmine inhaled slowly.
She hated that Rita was right.
---
Luke's Indifference
That evening, Jasmine returned home with a renewed sense of calm.
She wasn't going to react. She wasn't going to let Belle get to her.
But then she walked into the kitchen…
And saw Belle cooking.
Wearing Luke's shirt.
Jasmine stopped in the doorway, her stomach twisting.
Belle turned, beaming. "Oh! I made dinner tonight. Luke thought it would be nice for a change."
Jasmine turned to Luke, who was setting the table.
Like this was normal.
Like this was their home now.
Jasmine swallowed the lump in her throat. "Right."
Belle smiled. "Join us?"
Jasmine didn't trust herself to speak.
She walked away, heading upstairs.
As she reached her room, she heard Belle's soft giggle from the kitchen.
And something inside her snapped.
---
The Unspoken Goodbye
Jasmine stood in front of her closet, staring at her suitcases.
She had lived in this house for years.
She had imagined raising a family here.
But this wasn't her home anymore.
She ran her fingers over the zipper of her suitcase, hesitating.
She wanted to fight.
But for what? A man who had already let her go?
A voice echoed in her head.
"You want to win? Then don't let her see you bleed."
Jasmine exhaled slowly.
Then, she zipped up the suitcase.
And for the first time…
She was ready to walk away.
---
The First Step Away
Jasmine Carter had always imagined leaving on her own terms.
Not like this.
Not because she was being pushed out.
Not because she had no choice.
But standing in her bedroom, staring at her packed suitcase, she knew the truth.
She was already gone.
She had just been waiting for the right moment to accept it.
---
A Quiet Exit
The house was quiet when she walked down the stairs, suitcase in hand.
Belle was nowhere in sight.
Luke was in the living room, sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone like nothing had changed.
Like he hadn't ruined her.
Jasmine exhaled. "Luke."
He looked up, blinking in confusion when he saw the suitcase.
His brows furrowed. "What's that for?"
Jasmine smiled—a cold, hollow thing. "What do you think?"
Luke set his phone down. "Jas, come on—"
She held up a hand. "Save it."
Luke stood, walking toward her. "You don't have to do this."
Jasmine let out a soft laugh. "No? Then tell me, Luke, what exactly am I supposed to do?"
Luke opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Jasmine tilted her head. "Stay here? Pretend this isn't happening? Keep watching you play house with her?"
Luke's jaw tensed. "You're making it sound worse than it is."
Jasmine's eyes flashed. "Oh? So what would you call it?"
Luke sighed. "I never wanted to hurt you."
Jasmine scoffed. "Yeah? Well, congratulations. You did."
Luke ran a hand through his hair. "I just… I don't know how to fix this."
Jasmine's heart clenched.
Because that was the difference between them.
She had been begging for them to fix things.
And he?
He had already given up.
Jasmine inhaled deeply. "You don't have to fix it, Luke. Because I'm done trying."
She turned toward the door.
Luke's voice stopped her.
"Where are you even going?"
Jasmine didn't look back.
"Somewhere you don't get to follow."
And with that, she walked out the door.
---
Rita's Sanctuary
Jasmine arrived at Rita's apartment half an hour later.
Her sister opened the door, took one look at the suitcase, and sighed.
"Took you long enough."
Jasmine exhaled, stepping inside.
Rita grabbed the suitcase, setting it aside. "You good?"
Jasmine let out a hollow laugh. "I just left my fiancé and the house I built my life in. What do you think?"
Rita smirked. "I think it's about damn time."
Jasmine shot her a look.
Rita rolled her eyes. "Jas, be honest. You should've left months ago."
Jasmine looked away. "I wanted to believe he would change."
Rita snorted. "Luke Caldwell? Change?" She walked to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of wine. "Please."
Jasmine sank onto the couch, rubbing her temples. "What now?"
Rita poured them both a drink and plopped down beside her. "Now? You start over."
Jasmine stared at the glass in her hand.
Start over.
Could she really do that?
Could she forget Luke?
Rita nudged her. "Hey. You're free now."
Jasmine let out a slow breath.
Free.
Then why did it still hurt so much?
---
Luke's Realization
Back at the house, Luke sat on the couch, staring at the door Jasmine had just walked out of.
He had expected her to yell.
To cry.
To fight for them.
But she had just… left.
A strange, unsettling emptiness settled in his chest.
He had thought he wanted this.
But as he sat there, alone, a terrifying thought crept into his mind.
What if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life?
---