I Break Up After the Traffic Jam

The roar of the engine was especially harsh on the quiet morning street.
My fingers gripping the steering wheel turned white at the knuckles, and the time on the dashboard glowed like a red-hot iron, each tick burning tight in my chest.
Today is my wedding day; the journey to pick up the bride shouldn't have taken this long.
A black sedan suddenly swerved in front of me and slammed on the brakes.
I was forced to stop dead, my finger honking the horn until it nearly pierced the steering wheel.
Rolling down my window, the other driver stuck his head out, a mocking smile playing on his lips: "What's the rush? In a hurry to be reborn?"
I clenched my anger and said, "I'm in a hurry. Please move aside."
He sneered and killed the engine: "Is this your road? I'm staying right here. If you've got the guts, fly over."
After ten minutes of stalemate, the groomsmen's cars stretched out in a line in the rearview mirror. My palm, clutching the wedding ring, was soaked with sweat.
My phone suddenly vibrated—a message from my assistant, accompanied by a screenshot of a transfer record.
The payer was Sophie Silva, and the recipient was the driver right in front of me.
The note in the remarks section was like a poisoned needle: "Hold him back, for as long as possible."
Blood surged to my head in an instant, then froze like ice the next moment.
I flung the car door open and punched the front of his vehicle.
The driver recoiled in fear, but I didn't spare him another glance. I turned and jumped into the groomsman's car. "Take another route, as fast as you can."
The crystal chandeliers in the hotel banquet hall dazzled, making people feel dizzy.
As I pushed aside the heavy curtain, I saw Sophie Silva extend her hand, letting Ethan Clark slip the ring onto her ring finger.
The guests' applause felt like countless needles piercing my eardrums.
I walked forward step by step, the sound of my leather shoes striking the floor strikingly clear amid the noise.
Sophie turned her head, her smile frozen before quickly shifting to a panicked expression. "Edward? Why are you only just arriving?"
Ethan wrapped his arm around her waist, looking at me with a taunting smile. "Brother, if you don't come soon, the ceremony will be over."
I ripped off the corsage pinned to my chest and threw it to the ground. "Sophie Silva, we're breaking up."
She seemed to hear the biggest joke in the world and raised her voice:
"Edward Clark, have you had enough of this? Just because of traffic, you have to make a scene in front of all these people?"
The murmurs around us rose and fell. I looked at the false grievance on her face and suddenly found it utterly ridiculous.
"Make a scene?" I stared at the ring on her ring finger. "Then what is this? Playing house?"
Ethan Clark stepped forward, standing in front of Sophie. "Brother, don't lose your temper with Sophie. She's worried about you too..."
"Get lost." I cut him off coldly, "This has nothing to do with you, you illegitimate child."
Ethan Clark's face instantly darkened.
Sophie Silva screamed, "Edward Clark! You've gone too far! No matter what, he is still your brother!"
Brother? An illegitimate child who sneaked into the Clark Family by shady means—does he deserve me calling him brother?
I took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions. "From today on, I will make you understand who the true heir of the Clark Family is."
After saying that, I turned and walked out of the banquet hall, completely shutting out the noise and hypocrisy behind me.
Pushing open the apartment door, a familiar scent hit me—yet it carried a suffocating sweetness.
The display cabinet in the living room was filled with photos of Sophie Silva and me.
From the shy smiles of our college days to the forced maturity in our engagement embraces, each photo seemed to mock my foolishness.
I stepped up to the display cabinet and swept all the photo frames to the floor.
The sharp, piercing sound of shattering glass felt like a signal of release.
In the bedroom, the couple's pajamas she had bought still hung on the rack, and a pair of matching cups sat on the bedside table.
I shoved all these things into a garbage bag at once, along with the few clothes she left in the wardrobe, and tossed it all by the door.
The phone screen lit up and dimmed repeatedly, filled with messages from Sophie Silva.
"Edward, please don't be angry. Let's talk this through calmly."
"I know I was wrong. Will you come back?"
"Where exactly are you?"
I stared at those words, my finger hovering over the screen, and finally typed just three words: "Let's break up."
The moment I pressed send, it felt like a hollow space opened inside me, with the wind howling through.
My phone vibrated in my pocket; it was a call from my friend Leon Sinclair.
"Where are you? About the wedding..." His voice was cautious, probing.
"It's over." I leaned against the wall, my voice hoarse. "Come out for a drink."
In the bar, the heavy metal music rattled my scalp.
Leon Sinclair pushed a glass of whiskey toward me. "What exactly happened? I heard from the groomsman..."
"Nothing." I tilted my head back and downed more than half the glass; the burning liquid scorched my throat. "I just saw someone clearly."
He didn't ask any more, just kept drinking with me, glass after glass.
The alcohol surged like a tide, blurring my vision, yet it failed to dull the pain in my heart.
I remembered the first time I saw Sophie Silva; she wore a white dress, standing in the sunlight at the library, her smile as pure as the sky after the rain.
Back then, I could never have imagined that this sky would, years later, turn into suffocating dark clouds.

"Edward Clark!"
The familiar voice cut through the noisy music, filled with undeniable anger.
I looked up and saw Sophie Silva standing by the bar, her makeup smudged, eyes blazing with anger.
Leon Sinclair tactfully stood up. "You two talk, I'll go to the restroom."
She sat down across from me and snatched the wine glass from my hand. "Why didn't you reply to my messages? Is this little thing enough for you to threaten breaking up?"
"This little thing?" I smiled faintly, the alcohol making my voice slightly unsteady.
"Sophie Silva, you hired someone to block my car, forcing me to watch you exchange rings with Ethan Clark at the wedding. And in your eyes, this is just 'this little thing'?"
Her face turned pale, then she forced herself to remain calm: "I was just joking with you! Who could have expected that driver to be so outrageous and cause the delay..."
"Joking?" I stared into her eyes. "Joking about a wedding? Do you really think I'd believe that?"
"Then what do you want me to do?" Her voice trembled with tears. "I've already apologized to you. Why do you keep holding on to this?"
"I want you to stay far away from me." I stood up and looked down at her. "We're already broken up, Sophie Silva. Don't come looking for me again."
After speaking, I didn't glance at her again and turned to walk out of the bar.
The night breeze, cool and sharp, brushed against my face, slightly clearing the haze of alcohol.
I knew, this time, it was truly over.
The next morning, the moment I opened the door, I saw Sophie Silva sitting on the steps outside.
Her eyes were swollen and red, her face weary. When she saw me, she suddenly stood up. "Edward."
I tried to sidestep her, but she reached out and grabbed my arm.
"Listen to me—the wedding yesterday was a sham. Ethan Clark was only there in your place. I wanted to surprise you..."
"A surprise?" I shook off her hand, my voice cold. "You call this a surprise—watching my fiancée exchange rings with another man?"
"It's not what you think!" she pleaded urgently. "I just wanted to test you, to see if you truly care about me..."
"A test?" I found it utterly absurd.
"Sophie Silva, do you really think the world revolves around you? Your test was the wrong approach, and you chose the wrong person."
Tears streamed down her face. "I know I was wrong, Edward. Please, give me one more chance, okay? After all these years we've been together..."
"Feelings?" I cut her off, "Our feelings ended the moment you did those things."
As I spoke, Ethan Clark's voice came from nearby: "Sophie, I told you he wouldn't forgive you so easily."
He walked over, casually draping his arm over Sophie's shoulder, looking at me with a provocative smirk:
"Brother, feelings aren't something you can just sever like that. Aren't you being too cruel to Sophie?"
"What happens between her and me is none of your business." I stared at his hand resting on Sophie's shoulder, the fury in my eyes instantly igniting.
"Why isn't it my turn?" Ethan Clark smiled arrogantly, "Right now, Sophie needs me, not you."
Those words were like a fuse, igniting the fury I had long held back.
I swung my fist, landing a solid blow on Ethan Clark's face.
He staggered back a few steps, clutching his face, staring at me in disbelief. "You dare hit me?"
"So what if I did?" I closed the distance between us, "I warned you—stay away from her."
"Edward Clark! Stop!" Sophie Silva stepped in front of Ethan Clark, glaring at me with anger.
"How did you become so petty? Just over something this trivial, you want to resort to violence?"
"Petty?" I watched her defend Ethan Clark, my heart sinking completely. "Sophie Silva, even now, you still think it's my fault?"
She bit her lip, her gaze firm. "No matter what, hitting someone is wrong! Ethan is innocent!"
"Innocent?" I laughed, a bitter laugh. "Fine, so innocent."
I looked at her, speaking each word deliberately: "Sophie Silva, I'll say this one last time—we're over. Completely finished."
After speaking, I turned and walked into the apartment, slamming the door shut heavily, cutting off their voices and figures outside.
Leaning against the door, I slowly closed my eyes.
So, it really can hurt this much.
That afternoon, as I was packing up, preparing to leave this apartment full of memories, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Looking through the peephole, it was Ethan Clark, his face marked with obvious bruises, holding a fruit basket in his hand.
I hesitated for a moment, but still opened the door.
"Brother." He lowered his head, his tone deliberately humble. "I came to apologize to you."
I said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
"What happened yesterday was my fault." He looked up, guilt written all over his face.
"I was the one who encouraged Sophie to tease you. I just wanted to see if you truly cared about her..."
"I didn't expect things to get this out of hand, nor that you'd be so angry."

He paused, then said, "Sophie does care about you. She cried all night after she left yesterday. It broke my heart to see that."
"Brother, please forgive her. I promise it won't happen again."
I watched his clumsy act and sneered inwardly.
This is Ethan Clark's tactic—always pretending to be innocent and pitiful, while secretly scheming behind the scenes.
"I do not accept your apology." I said coldly, "And don't call me brother. I don't have a brother like you."
His face stiffened for a moment, then he put on that same aggrieved look: "Brother, I know you're still angry, but..."
"Enough." I cut him off, "My business with Sophie Silva is none of your concern. Leave."
Just then, Sophie Silva arrived. Seeing the injury on Ethan Clark's face, she immediately rushed over and asked with concern:
"Ethan, what happened to your face? Did he hit you again?"
Ethan quickly shook his head. "No, Sophie, I accidentally bumped into something myself."
The more he said this, the angrier Sophie's gaze became as she looked at me. "Edward Clark! You've gone too far! Ethan even came to apologize to you—what more do you want?"
"I don't want anything more." I looked at Sophie. "I just want you all to stay away from me."
"Edward Clark, stop causing trouble!" Sophie's voice trembled with emotion.
"Ethan has already apologized. What more do you want? Do you have to destroy us completely before you're satisfied?"
"Making a fuss without reason?" I looked at her. "Sophie Silva, can you be a little more clear-headed? Who exactly is making a fuss without reason?"
She stubbornly said, "You're simply wrong! You shouldn't have hit Ethan, and you definitely shouldn't break up with me over this!"
I looked at her deeply, suddenly feeling utterly exhausted.
There's really no point in arguing with someone so stubborn and unyielding.
"I won't change my mind." I turned to close the door. "You should leave. Don't come back again."
Sophie Silva tried to say something, but Ethan Clark stopped her.
He bowed to me. "Brother, we won't bother you anymore. We hope you'll think it over carefully."
I ignored them and slammed the door shut.
Silence returned to the room, broken only by my heavy breathing.
I knew this was just the beginning; they wouldn't give up so easily.
But I would no longer be toyed with by them as before.
I hastened my packing, desperate to leave this place as quickly as possible.
Every extra second felt like pure torment.
As I dragged the last suitcase to the door, the doorbell rang again.
No need to look—I knew it had to be Sophie Silva.
I opened the door, and there she stood, a flicker of pleading in her eyes: "Edward, are you really going to leave?"
"Yes." I nodded, offering no further words.
"Is it true you don't want to see me at all?" Her voice trembled with emotion. "All these years we shared—are they really worth nothing?"
"Whether it's worth it, you know in your heart." I looked at her, "Sophie Silva, it's over between us. Don't hold on anymore."
"I won't!" She suddenly grabbed my arm. "As long as you don't leave, I can pretend none of this ever happened. Can we start over?"
"Start over?" I shook off her hand. "Do you really think that's possible?"
"Why not?" She said excitedly, "As long as you forgive me, we..."
"I won't forgive you." I cut her off, my voice firm.
"Sophie Silva, you hired someone to steal my car, exchanged rings with Ethan Clark at the wedding—these things I will never forget."
Her face turned deathly pale, her eyes filled with despair: "Edward Clark, are you really going to be this ruthless? Aren't you afraid I'll never forgive you?"
"Do as you please." I picked up the suitcase by the door. "I've made up my mind. I won't change it."
She looked at me, tears streaming down her face. "Fine, fine, Edward Clark! Don't come back regretting this!"
I didn't look back or say another word. Carrying the suitcase, I turned and left.
Downstairs, the sunlight was harsh and blinding.
I glanced back at the apartment building—once I thought it would be the home Sophie Silva and I shared, but now it was the place I most wanted to escape.
Images from the past involuntarily surface in my mind.
On our first date, she was so nervous that she knocked over her glass of water, her face flushed like an apple.
When I was sick, she skipped class to take care of me, staying by my bedside all night without sleep.
When my startup failed and I was downhearted, she held me and said it was okay—that we could start over.
Those once warm moments, when I think back now, feel like dull knives slowly cutting through my heart.
I thought we would walk together forever—from campus to the altar, from youth to old age.
But unexpectedly, as we walked, we drifted apart.
It turns out that no matter how deep the feelings, they cannot withstand betrayal and scheming.
I took a deep breath, burying those memories deep within my heart.
What's past is past; it's time for me to look ahead.

The car moved slowly along the road, the scenery outside the window fading away, as if replaying the past.
I remembered the first day I met Sophie Silva—it was also a bright and sunny day.
That day, I went to the library to borrow a book. I searched in front of the shelves for a long time but couldn't find the professional book I wanted.
Just as I was about to give up, a clear voice sounded behind me, "Are you looking for 'Principles of Economics'?"
I turned around and saw a girl in a white dress holding the book, smiling at me.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden halo around her, making her look warm and radiant.
I was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Yes."
"I saw you searching for it. This book is quite hard to find around here." She handed me the book. "Here you go. I've already finished reading it."
"Thank you." I took the book, feeling an inexplicable flutter in my heart.
"You're welcome." She smiled, revealing two faint dimples. "My name is Sophie Silva. And you?"
"Edward Clark."
And just like that, we met.
Afterwards, we ran into each other a few times at the library and gradually grew closer.
She was always so warm, lending me her umbrella whenever I forgot mine.
She encouraged me not to give up when I failed exams and secretly prepared surprises for me on my birthday.
The time spent with her was always so light and joyful.
I gradually realized that I had fallen for her.
But when I told Father about this, he strongly opposed it.
"Sophie Silva? What's her family background? Do you really know?" Father frowned.
"Listen, the son of the Clark Family must never have just anyone as his future partner."
"Dad, I like her. It has nothing to do with her family..."
"How can it have nothing to do with it?" Father cut me off, "Our Clark Family's daughter-in-law must be a perfect match! If you dare to be with her, then don't call me your father!"
To force me to break up with Sophie Silva, Father cut off my living expenses.
During that time, I endured great hardship.
I attended classes during the day and worked part-time at night to earn money. Sometimes I was so busy until late that I didn't even have time to eat.
When Sophie found out, she didn't leave me; instead, she quietly supported me.
She would make excuses, saying she had cooked too much food and invited me over to eat.
She would say she had bought too many clothes, but in truth, they were specially for me; When I came back late from work, she would wait for me downstairs at the dormitory and bring me a cup of warm milk.
Everything she did was so careful and gentle, afraid of wounding my pride.
I watched all she did for me, feeling both deeply moved and burdened with guilt.
What touched me was her unwavering devotion; what filled me with guilt was my inability to give her even a semblance of security.
I know Sophie Silva endured many hardships because of me.
But she never once complained, always smiling as she said, "Edward, it's alright. As long as we're together, no hardship or fatigue can scare me."
It was those words that carried me through the darkest days.
I silently vowed to myself that once I was capable, I would treat her well and never let her suffer even the slightest injustice again.
But at that time, I was too young, believing that love alone could overcome everything.
I didn't realize that hearts can change, and feelings can fade.
After graduating from university, I found a good job.
Although Father still disapproved of Sophie Silva and me, I was determined to stay with her.
To reassure her and prove my resolve to Father, I even gave up my inheritance rights to the Clark Family.
I said to Father, "Dad, the one I love is Sophie Silva, not her family background. If you can't accept her, then I'd rather give up everything from the Clark Family."
Father was so angry he nearly fainted, calling me an unfilial son, but I did not waver in the slightest.
After Sophie Silva found out about this, she held me and cried for a long time, promising she would never betray me in this lifetime.
During that time, our feelings for each other deepened rapidly.
We rented a small apartment together; though modest, we made it warm and cozy.
Every morning, I would see her off to work, and when I came home at night, she would have a steaming hot meal waiting for me.
On weekends, we would go to the park, watch movies, and sample all the street food the city had to offer.
I thought we would always be this happy.
But unexpectedly, the changes after starting work gradually drove us apart.
I became increasingly busy, often working late into the night, sometimes going days without seeing her.
And she, too, developed her own circle of friends and work engagements, leaving us with fewer and fewer shared topics.
What surprised me even more was that Ethan Clark had actually joined the company where Sophie Silva worked—and had become her assistant.

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