Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Chapter 1815

Carson slid into the seat beside Marina, a casual smile playing on his lips. "What brings you here?"

A hint of frost edged Marina's expression. "Magdalen called me."

Realization dawned on Carson. "Ah, so you two know each other!"

She took a sip of her drink, a cool detachment in her voice. "Not for long. Estelle was the one who introduced us."

He nodded, giving her a sidelong glance. "I hear calling off the engagement was your idea. Why's that?"

Marina's lips curled into a wry smile. "Just felt it was all so dull!"

Carson's brow arched in confusion. "Oh?"

She continued, "When I agreed to get engaged to you, it was partly out of spite. My ex betrayed me, and I no longer believed in love. I accepted the arranged engagement my family set up. But now, when I think about it, it's not what I want."

Turning to face him squarely, she was candid. "I believe I can still yearn for love, start afresh. There's no need to rush into a lifetime commitment over one jerk."

With a playful tone, Carson teased, "So being with me means love is off the table?"

Marina raised an eyebrow. "Do you think it's possible, Mr. Foster?"

After a moment, she added with a tinge of guilt, "I didn't think things through at the start. Now that I'm breaking off the engagement, if it causes you any trouble, I apologize."

Carson took a drink, his smile unfazed. "No need for pleasantries. Someone like me worried about reputation?"

Raising her glass in a toast, Marina said, "Here's to you finding your true match, or someone with shared interests soon. The mess with the engagement is on me. I'll take full responsibility, and I can explain things to your family as well."

She had already discussed calling off the engagement with her parents. They wanted her to reconsider. The Foster family knew too, and word was they were grilling Carson about whether he'd wronged Marina somehow to make her so insistent on breaking it off.

Both families had a good relationship and didn't want to see the marriage called off.

Carson's gracious laugh eased the tension. "No worries. I'll talk to my folks. I won't let them hassle you."

Grateful for his easygoing nature, Marina thanked him. "Here's to you, Mr. Foster. May you return to the wild!"

Carson just shrugged, said nothing, and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, Marina mused that Carson was actually quite a catch if she wasn't looking at him through the lens of romance.

At least he had class.

Finishing her drink, she felt a sigh of relief at the thought of being free from the engagement.

She grabbed two glasses of wine and headed towards Estelle, handing her one. "I'm about to call off my engagement. Celebrate with me!"

Estelle, surprised, took the glass but didn't drink. "You're really breaking it off with Mr. Foster?"

"Yes, I don't want a life where the end is in plain sight." Marina chuckled, "I've dreamed countless times of marrying someone I don't love, with all those eyes on me at the wedding, wanting to run but unable to escape. The despair and suffocation linger even after waking up, haunting me! So," she said with a smile of relief, "I'm cutting my losses while there's still time. Who knows? Maybe love is still out there waiting for me."

Understanding her desire for happiness, Estelle nodded, "Happiness is what matters most!"