Emma's POV

Back in high school, Ava used every trick in the book to steal Jason away from me. And when she got bored, she dropped him, claiming she was going abroad to study.

Now, she’s back in the picture—this time with her "last wish list," flaunting her control over Jason like she’s the one who’s always been meant to be his bride.

Bungee jumping, skiing, the Northern Lights in Iceland… She ticked off each item, posting it all on social media with captions designed to make her look like she was living out the fairy tale.

But the real kicker? Jason actually believes that Ava is terminally ill and doesn’t have much time left. So, he’s at her beck and call, waiting on her hand and foot. He might as well put up a shrine next to her bed and start worshipping her 24/7.

I want to shake him and see if anything’s even in there. How could someone be this blind? Seven years of my life, completely wasted.

Just then, my phone lit up, showing "Chase Thompson" on the screen.

Chase is my neighbor, and for years now, he’s quietly harbored a crush on me.

I answered the call, and his voice immediately reached me—soft, cautious, as if he was afraid of disturbing something fragile.

"Emma, are you okay? I saw Jason’s post..."

His words brushed against my heart, and I felt this strange flutter in my chest.

"I’m fine," I said, trying to sound casual. But I could even hear the tremor in my voice.

"Don’t be sad, Em. He doesn’t deserve you." His voice was steady, firm—like he meant it.

"You deserve better."

He suggested we hit up "our place," the quiet little bar we used to go to back in college. I didn’t hesitate.

I needed to drown out the anger, the hurt, the confusion. A couple of drinks sounded perfect.

...

At the bar, I could already feel the alcohol working its magic, and the world around me starting to blur.

I grabbed my phone, opened the camera, and recorded a video, my head swimming as I stared into the lens.

My hair was a mess, my eyes unfocused, and I laughed, the sound coming out sloppily as I raised my glass.

"Here’s to all the assholes out there! Hope you die alone—no peaceful death for you!"

I downed the drink in one go, posted the video, and before I even had time to process it, my phone rang.

Jason’s name flashed on the screen.

"Emma! Are you out of your mind? What the hell did you post? Delete it right now!" His voice was full of shock, anger, and disbelief.

"Am I crazy? No, I’m not crazy—yet! It’s you who’s making me lose it!" I shouted into the phone, the words tumbling out in a rush. "Jason, you’re a damn fool! Ava isn’t even sick! She’s lying to you!"

There was a pause, and then I heard Ava’s soft, whiny voice come through, interrupted by fake little coughs.

"Emma, how could you say that about me..." Ava let out a fake cough before going on, "I’m really feeling terrible... Why are you doing this to me?"

Her voice cracked like she was about to cry, and then she added, "Jason just wants to help me fulfill my last wish... I swear, we never meant to hurt you..."

I could hear Jason’s voice now, soothing, tender. "Ava, don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll take care of everything."

They were practically in a bubble of their own, ignoring me completely. Their little affectionate exchange made my stomach churn.

"Jason, if you care about her so much, then stay with her!" I yelled, the words burning in my throat. "Forget the wedding. Just cancel it!"

I felt this wave of emotion rising like I was going to break down at any moment, but no tears came. I just reached for another drink.

One glass after another, I drank until the world spun around me, a kaleidoscope of light and noise, each color blending into the next.

I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point, I felt someone supporting me, warm hands pressing against my back. The faint smell of laundry powder filled the air.

It was Chase Thompson.

"Em, you’ve had too much to drink," his voice was soft, full of concern.

His hands steadied me as the world around me continued to swirl. I closed my eyes, grateful for the warmth, even if it was temporary.

Emma's POV

I struggled to open my eyes, and there, inches from me was Chase's face. His chiseled features looked unusually gentle under the dim light.

"Chase..." I whispered his name, and just like that, the tears I’d been holding back flooded out.

"He... how could he do this to me?" The words came out broken, as the full weight of everything hit me all at once.

Chase didn’t say anything. He just wrapped his arm around me, gently patting my back, like he was trying to comfort a child.

I leaned into him, crying in a way I hadn’t in years, letting go of all the hurt and frustration I’d been bottling up for the past seven years.

Chase didn’t rush me. He just quietly led me away from the noisy bar, his presence a steady anchor as we stepped into the cool night air. The breeze on my face helped clear my mind, just a little.

"Emma, let me take you home." His voice was soft, almost tentative like he didn’t want to disturb me more than I already was.

I shook my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t want to go back... it’s all his memories there..."

Chase was silent for a beat, then he spoke again, his tone gentle but firm. "Come to my place. I’ll make you some hangover soup."

I nodded without much thought, still in a daze, and let him guide me.

The hangover hit harder than I expected. I woke up in an unfamiliar bed, my head pounding like it was being drilled into. I groggily sat up, grabbed the water cup on the nightstand, and drank it all in one go.

Only then did I realize—I wasn’t at my place. I was at Chase’s.

The minimalist decor—black, white, and gray—was spotless and gave off a cool, almost sterile vibe. It felt distant.

I looked around, trying to piece together last night’s events, but all I could remember were flashes of my tears, Chase’s comforting arms, and the weight of everything crashing down on me.

Before I could gather my thoughts, my phone rang, breaking the silence.

The name "Jason" flashed on the screen.

I hesitated for a moment before finally answering.

"Emma! Where did you go last night? Why didn’t you come home?" Jason’s voice came through, full of anger and confusion.

"Do I really need to report to you where I went? Jason, we’ve broken up." I tried to keep my voice steady, but the phone felt like it was burning in my hand.

My fingers were trembling, betraying me.

"Broken up? Emma, don’t forget we haven’t officially broken off our engagement! Who were you with last night? Was it that Chase?"

His voice grew louder, the suspicion in it thickening.

I scoffed, the bitterness in my laugh sharp. "Jason, your imagination’s running wild. Even if I was with someone, it’s none of your business."

"Emma, you better tell me the truth! If you’re messing around behind my back, I swear I won’t let you off!" His voice cracked with anger, his words frantic.

I couldn’t take it.

I didn’t want to hear it anymore.

I hung up the phone, my hand shaking as I pressed the button.

...

After saying goodbye to Chase and stumbling back home, I immediately noticed something was wrong.

A pair of high heels—someone else’s—were carelessly discarded at the door. A single stocking was thrown across the sofa, and the air was thick with the scent of perfume.

I didn’t recognize it.

A cold, sinking feeling washed over me, like something in the pit of my stomach had just dropped.

From the bathroom, I could hear the sound of rushing water—and a woman’s laughter, light and flirtatious, echoing through the apartment.

I froze, and my blood turned cold. My heart pounded in my chest, louder with every step I took toward the bathroom door.

Without thinking, I pushed it open.

What I saw shattered me in an instant.

Ava was standing naked under the showerhead, and Jason was gently wiping her down with a towel.

"Jason, you’re so kind..." Ava purred, her voice sweet and sickeningly fake.

"Ah, Jason, you’re hurting me..." she complained playfully, the words dripping with seduction.

Jason’s voice was soft, and soothing, as if he were talking to a fragile child. "Baby, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you? I’ll be gentler... gentler..."

I stood frozen in the doorway, the weight of it all crashing down on me. My mind went blank, the buzzing in my head growing louder.

Ava saw me. Far from being flustered or embarrassed, she smirked a cold, dismissive smile that said everything I needed to know.

I was nothing to her.

And Jason?

He was right there, wiping her body like it was the most normal thing in the world.

I felt like I had been struck by lightning, my world crumbling in an instant.

Emma's POV

"Uhm, Jason, look, Emma's here," Ava said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

Jason turned his head, and for a split second, I saw panic flash across his face. But just as quickly, he masked it with a practiced calm.

"I was just helping Ava... wipe her body. She slipped, you know how her health is..." he stammered, trying to cover up his lie, but it only made my stomach churn.

"Don’t lie to me," I snapped. "I’m not stupid."

A surge of anger boiled up from deep within me, and before I could stop myself, my hand shot out, slapping him hard across the face.

"You two are naked in each other’s arms, just 'wiping each other down'? Jason, do you really think I’m blind?"

"Jason! Are you okay?" Ava suddenly threw on a bathrobe, rushing to him with feigned concern, her hand gently caressing his red cheek as if it were all too much for her to handle.

"Emma, please, don’t be mad. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have come here... I shouldn’t have..."

Watching her play the victim made me feel sick to my stomach.

She was the one who destroyed everything between us.

Now, was she pretending to be innocent?

The hypocrisy was unbearable.

"Cut the act!" I hissed. "You knew he was engaged, yet you still went after him. You’re nothing but a shameless homewrecker."

Ava seemed taken aback, retreating behind Jason and starting to sob. "Jason, I’m so scared..."

Then, before I could process what was happening, Jason shoved me hard, sending me crashing to the ground. My head hit the cold tile with a jarring thud.

"Emma, are you done yet?" he snapped.

"I told you! Ava and I haven’t done anything! Why can’t you stop acting crazy?"

Then, without warning, he slapped me across the face. The pain spread like wildfire, and I covered my cheek, still in shock.

Was this really the man I had loved for seven years?

My heart felt like it was frozen like I had fallen into an icy pit, and every breath I took felt sharp and bitter.

"Jason, we're done! Let's forget about the wedding. I’m not marrying you anymore!" I shouted, my voice shaking with hurt and anger.

Jason seemed to brush it off as if it were nothing more than a tantrum. He sneered, then casually scooped Ava into his arms and started toward the door.

I struggled to push myself up from the floor, the pain in my head making everything blur. My vision wavered in and out of focus.

How pathetic.

I was still hoping, still holding on to the faintest hope that he would turn around and explain himself.

"Jason, stop right there!" I called out, my voice desperate.

He paused, turned around, and gave me a look full of disdain like I was beneath him. "Emma, stop making a scene. The more you act like this, the more I’ll hate you."

Tears began to fall without warning. They felt hot against my cold skin, and I could taste the bitterness on my lips.

I fought to stand, my legs unsteady as I stumbled toward the mirror.

The reflection staring back at me was unrecognizable: messy hair, pale skin, eyes swollen from crying. I looked like a mess—nothing like the confident woman I once was.

I had been with Jason for seven years.

From elementary school to college, we were inseparable. Everyone saw us as the perfect couple, destined to get married right after graduation.

I gave up my chance to study abroad for him, chose to stay in the city, and dedicated my whole life to building a future with him.

I thought our love was unbreakable. I thought he was my rock. I thought...

But now, it was all just an illusion. A ridiculous dream.

Seven years. Over a thousand days and nights. I gave him my heart, my youth—everything. And for what?

I had been such a fool.