My Boyfriend Left Saying He Needed a Break and Ghosted Me for a Month—Yesterday He Came Back and Yelled, ‘I Knew You Would Do That, Traitor!’

My boyfriend Jack and I were together for two years, enjoying coffee runs, movie nights, and spontaneous trips. When he grew distant and requested a “relationship pause” to “work on himself,” I was stunned but agreed. He left for his parents’ in Washington, promising it wasn’t a breakup. For six weeks, he ignored my texts and calls, leaving me heartbroken, believing he’d ghosted me. I coped by volunteering at an animal shelter, adopting a senior dog—something Jack’s allergies had prevented. When he returned, claiming he was ready to “unpause” and

move in together, he was furious about the dog, accusing me of failing a loyalty “test” by adopting it. He admitted staging the break to see if I’d stay “loyal” by not getting a pet, even hinting at a proposal. Shocked by his manipulation, I ended things. His social media rants about my “disloyalty” were laughed off by friends, and his mom apologized for his behavior. I’m now content with my dog, friends, and a resolve for honest love—no pauses or tests.