He called her the "one" for a night? My dice made sure he paid with his life

Crushed But Goodbye by Austen 19 Summary In "Crushed But Goodbye," the protagonist Sloane finds herself feeling overwhelmed and frustrated in her relationship with Silas, a diplomat who speaks multiple languages. The story opens on her birthday, where she arrives at a fancy restaurant, excited to celebrate with Silas. However, her joy quickly turns to disappointment when she receives a message from him stating that he cannot make it due to an emergency at work.

This moment marks the beginning of Sloane's feelings of betrayal and inadequacy, especially when she sees a social media post of Silas helping another woman, Wren, which intensifies her emotional turmoil. As the night unfolds, Sloane's frustration escalates, leading her to impulsively order one of everything from the menu. The situation worsens when she realizes she has missed numerous calls from Silas, who tries to reassure her through a voice note, promising to make it up to her later.

Sloane grapples with the notion of a relationship filled with empty promises, pushing her to a breaking point. This internal conflict is palpable as she struggles with feelings of neglect and the desire for genuine connection. Later, Sloane unexpectedly encounters Silas at a bar, where tensions rise as he confronts her about ignoring his texts. Despite the initial confrontation, Sloane is surprised to find that he had actually reached out to her, which complicates her feelings further.

The dynamic between them shifts as Silas expresses vulnerability, but Sloane remains guarded, feeling the weight of their unresolved issues. The presence of Wren adds another layer of complexity to their relationship, prompting Sloane to feel sidelined. The chapter culminates in a confrontation back at home, where Silas attempts to downplay Sloane's feelings of jealousy and insecurity. In a moment of frustration, he presents her with a birthday gift, but Sloane is too emotionally drained to appreciate it.

Her dismissive reaction symbolizes her growing disillusionment with their relationship, as she seeks solace in sleep rather than engaging in further conflict. The chapter closes with Sloane feeling defeated, highlighting her internal struggle and the emotional distance that has developed between her and Silas. Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below **Crushed But Goodbye by Austen 19** **Chapter 1** I might as well be drowning in a sea of French words when it comes to ordering coffee; I can barely string together a coherent sentence.

Yet, here I am, entangled in a relationship with a diplomat who effortlessly navigates eight different languages. On my birthday, I arrived at the upscale European restaurant, Silas had meticulously reserved, my heart racing with anticipation. The ambiance was elegant, with soft lighting and the distant sound of clinking glasses, but all I felt was the buzz of excitement coursing through me. However, the waiter seemed to orbit my table like a satellite, returning with that all-too-familiar pitying smile no less than seven times.

Just as I began to wonder if he was going to take my order or my sanity, my phone finally flickered to life, illuminating the screen with a message that shattered my anticipation: [Emergency at work. Already ordered for you-eat without me.] A wave of disappointment washed over me, swiftly followed by the sinking feeling of betrayal. I had been so eager to celebrate, and now it felt like a cruel joke. In a moment of weakness, I opened Instagram, and there it was-Wren's post glaring right at the top of my feed.

Silas, my boyfriend, was leaning across a table, a menu in hand, as he gently draped a disposable bib around Wren's neck. Her caption read: [Been abroad so long, someone's worried I forgot how to read English and might starve lol. Thanks for dinner, lifesaver~] Just like that, any remaining vestige of appetite I had evaporated into thin air. In a fit of frustration, I shoved the incomprehensible French menu back at the waiter. "One of everything," I muttered, my voice laced with irritation.

By the time I had stress-eaten my way through half the menu, my takeout box in hand, I glanced at my phone to find a staggering forty-seven missed calls from Silas. His last message was a voice note, and I hesitated for a moment before pressing play. "Babe, don't overthink this. Wren just got back-she's completely lost. I was just helping out." "Next time, I PROMISE, we'll do something even better for your birthday." I couldn't bring myself to respond. A relationship built on "next time" promises? I had reached my limit. I never imagined I would bump into Silas at a bar of all places.

My best friend and I had barely placed our orders when suddenly, I felt a firm grip on my arm. **Chapter 1** Silas stood before me, his expression a mix of disbelief and accusation, as if I had just committed an unspeakable crime. "Sloane? You ignore all my texts, and then you show up here drinking at midnight?" Before I could muster a response, my friend yanked my arm back, her eyes narrowing at the woman standing behind him. "Seriously?

You can stroll in here late-night with her, but we can't even have a girls' night?" Silas rubbed his temples in frustration, clearly trying to keep his cool. "It's not like that. Vivian had clients who wanted to hit a bar. I came along to make sure nobody got too wasted and ended up in trouble." "Plus, I texted Sloane about it. She just never replied..." There was an unexpected vulnerability in his voice that caught me off guard. I quickly checked my phone, and to my surprise, he was right-there were several messages I had overlooked, including details about where he would be tonight.

Honestly? I was taken aback. Silas never volunteered his plans. In the early days of our relationship, I had casually inquired about the duration of his business trip, and he had snapped at me. "Sloane, people need space. Can you stop tracking my every move?" I had apologized profusely until he finally relented, but not without making it abundantly clear that I was never to ask about his schedule again. I locked my phone and shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "My bad. Didn't see them." Silas's jaw tightened in response, a clear sign that he was frustrated.

That's when Wren stepped closer, her voice dripping with concern. "Si, if Sloane's upset, you should take her home. I can just grab an Uber-totally fine." My friend and I clinked our glasses together, a silent toast to our solidarity. I didn't even bother to look up. "I'm not upset. You two do whatever." **Chapter 1** Silas frowned, his gaze fixed on me as if I were suddenly speaking in tongues. "Sloane! "Come on, babe, just head home. After I drop Wren off, I'll pick up a few pounds of crawfish, and we can drink all night.

Deal?" Silas was obsessively particular about keeping our apartment spotless. Strong-smelling food? Absolutely forbidden. So, after we moved in together, I had sacrificed BBQ, hot pot, crawfish-everything I genuinely enjoyed. I figured he was just eager to get Wren settled so he could leave, so I nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Sure. Go ahead." He looked genuinely surprised by my easy agreement. With a playful ruffle of my hair, he treated me like a child. "That's my girl. Wait for me at home.

Already called you a ride." He dashed out so quickly, he didn't even notice when I instinctively pulled away from his touch. When I finally got home, the clock read 3 a.m. Silas was standing in the hallway, clearly on the verge of coming to find me. His glare was sharp. "Sloane. Do you see what time it is? You're not some teenager who stays out all night just because she's mad." I was too drained to engage in this confrontation. I attempted to sidestep him. He stepped directly into my path. "Stop being so jealous over nothing.

If Wren and I wanted to be together, do you really think you'd even be in the picture?" With that, he pulled out a small jewelry box from his pocket. "Here. Your birthday present. You're another year older now-maybe it's time to grow up." I was too exhausted to even glance at the box. I snatched it from his hand and headed straight for the bedroom. "Great. Thanks." **Chapter 1** I tossed it onto the nightstand without a second thought. Whatever. I crawled under the covers, pulling them tightly around me, and shut my eyes, desperate for sleep.

Behind me, the front door slammed with such force that the walls trembled, but I was already too far gone to care. Out cold. Conclusion In the aftermath of that tumultuous night, Sloane found herself engulfed in a silence that echoed louder than any argument. The weight of Silas's dismissive words hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the emotional chasm that had widened between them. As she lay beneath the covers, the jewelry box remained untouched on the nightstand, a symbol of promises unfulfilled and a love that had become more about obligation than genuine connection.

With Silas's unexpected gift lingering in the air, will Sloane finally confront the simmering issues in their relationship? The unresolved feelings of betrayal and jealousy are bound to come to a head, especially with Wren's shadow looming over their romance. Expect a whirlwind of emotions as Sloane grapples with her insecurities and the reality of her relationship, leading to a pivotal moment that could change everything. Moreover, the atmosphere of uncertainty will deepen as Sloane contemplates her future with Silas.

Will she choose to accept his apologies and the jewelry box, or will she find the courage to break free from the cycle of "next time" promises? The chapter promises to explore Sloane's inner turmoil, forcing her to confront not only her feelings for Silas but also her own self-worth. As the night unfolds, the choices she makes could either bind her further to Silas or set her on a path of self-discovery. Prepare for a gripping exploration of love, heartbreak, and the quest for independence that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what lies ahead for Sloane.

Dex Morgan Dex Morgan works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.