I had been with Ryan Blake for five years, from school uniforms to wedding gowns. Everyone envied our love. My best friend used to say i'd never meet someone who loved me more than he did.l believed her.

But three days before our wedding,accidentally saw a Whats App message pop up on his lock screen:

"l miss you so much. Are you coming tonight?"

The sender was my best friend.

I stared at the message in disbelief.A surge of emotion rocked me, and my hands trembled uncontrollably.

l picked up Ryan Blake's phone and tried to unlock it, but the screen flashed, "Password incorrect.”

Out password had always been an anniversary date. When had he changed it?

I tried my birthday, Ryan Blake's birthday, and the wedding date in seven days.

None of them worked.

The screen prompted me to try again in a minute.

I couldn't risk it.

I should calm down.

I slowly closed my eyes, and as the sound of water from the bathroom faded, a sense of calm gradually settled within me.

Ryan Blake came put of the bathroom, towel around his waist, 1pretended to be half-d sleep, yawning.

“I'm so tired, l was about to fall sleep.i think l heard your phone buzz.”

“So late. l wonder who it was.”

I watched as Ryan Blake picked up the phone. His impatience melted away the moment he saw the screen.

He couldn't help but smile, but quickly masked it, letting out a sigh.

“lt's work, Been busy with the wedding. There are still some things l haven't wrapped up.”

"No worries, You should get some rest, I'll go handle it,"

After he left, l dropped my act,cleared my head, and watched as the phone's location continuously updated.

Finally, it stopped:

Silver Oak Hotel.

He had lied.

The air around me seemed to freeze, suffocating me.

i felt as though my heart was covered by an invisible membrane.aching unbearably.

Tears fell in large, heavy drops splashing onto the screen of my phone.

Everything-every single thing-was confirming this truth.

He really had cheated.

When Ryan Blake and l were deeply in love, living in a bubble of sweetness I had jokingly said l couldn't be without him for even a moment.

Ryan Blake had taken my phone and added his location to it.

still remembered how Ryan Blake had looked at me with such tender eyes, saying:

“Whenever you miss me, you’re always welcome to show up”.

I stood in front of the grand entrance of the Silver Oak Hotel.

Ryan Blake you never expected this did you?

lt used to be the withess of our love now being used for the first time in this Way.

I had wanted to rush straight to the front desk and demand the room number.

But my rationality pulled me back.

The most likely outcome would be that not only would l fail to get the room number, but i'd also alert them.

I found the most hidden spot in the lobby, a vantage point where l could see everyone entering and leaving the hotel.

In my heart, l screamed my last hope:

“lt doesn't necessarily mean its Ella's. she's my best friend, right?”

I waited for what felt like an eternity.

But my hopes were dashed.

A couple had just stepped off the elevator, leaning into each other.

lt was Ryan Blake and Ella Grace.

They walked together, kissing passionately.

Ella Grace, flushed and acting coy.said:

"Ryan, can't you stay with me tonight? You know, there's nothing exciting waiting for you at home with Chloe, that cold fish"

Ryan Blake lightly brushed his hand against Ella Grace's nose, planted a soft kiss on her lips, and said helplessly:

“such a clingy little thing. Can she even compare to you? I've grown tired of her a long time ago."

"Well, go ahead and go up, I'll make a quick call. Be good.”

I shakily ended the call from Ryan Blake, fearing that my choked voice would give me away.

The next second, his Whats App message arrived:

“Babe, I'm swamped with work tonight, so l won't be coming home.Don't worry about me, just get some rest.”

“okay.”

l returned home in a daze.

When did it all begin to change like this?

One is my best friend, the other is the man l've been closest to for five years.

Now, both of them have become the ones who betrayed me.

I can't accept this reality.

My feelings for Ryan Blake started back in high school, during a gym class.

I was standing in the corner of the playground, covering my ears while memorizing vocabulary

When i looked up again, Ryan Elake was there, using his arm to block a basketball that was hurtling straight!toward me.

l watched him, tears streaming down my face, as ke winced from the swelling on his arm.

That's how he left a mark on my heart.

After finishing high school, Ryan Blake confessed his feelings, and we attended the same university.

In college, Ryan Blake juggled studying and part-time jobs. He said:

“Chloe, you're such a great girl, I need to marry you as soon as possible.”

“I'll work hard to earn enough to take care of you."

A year after graduation, we naturally began preparing for our wedding.

Everyone said we were a match made in heaven,envious of our love that went from school uniforms to wedding dresses.

But in truth, the corruption of our love had long shown signs.

After starting work, he often complained to me about how his colleague who were less capable than him when he joined, yet now the colleaaue was getting promotions and raises.

lt was all because that colleague was dating the boss's daughter.

Every time he spoke of this, he'd sigh.

“Babe,why don't you have a family background like Ella's ?”

"Ugh, otherwise,l could have avoided ten years of wasted time.”

At the time,l thought he was just joking.

Now, looking back, it makes me sick.

Ella Grace was my roommate in college and my best friend.

she came from a wealthy family but didn't fit the mold of the typical rich kid.

We shared many interests and often saw things the same way.

That's how we became inseparable.

We used to tell each other everything,always together.

I confided in her about how Ryan Blake and l met, got to know each other, and fell in love

She knew all the little details about my relationship with Ryan Blake.

When we were sweetly happy, she said:

"Chloe, you must have accumulated eight lifetimes of good karma to have such a wonderful boyfriend."

"When will l ever get to experience such sweet love?"

When Ryan Blake and l argued she'd join me in privately venting.

"What a jerk.”

l used to think of Ella Grace as my love advisor.

But in the past six months, Ryan Blake's work had become increasingly demanding, often leaving him working late.

Sometimes, he wouldn't come home all night, staying at the office.

I'd complain to Ella Grace, but she suddenly took a different stance.

"Ryan Blake works so hard, staying late for you, As his girlfriend, you should understand him, not complain behind his back."

"Chloe Moore, you can't always have it both ways."

When Ryan Blake and i fought, Ella Grace didn't defend me like before,instead, she tried to calm me down.

"Why are you so angry? Chloe, stop making a fuss.”

"isn't Ryan Blake good enough for you? if my fiance were half as good as Ryan Blake, I'd be secretly thrilled.”

Every time she said that, i couldn't help but wonder if l was the one being unreasonable.

Was l asking for too much?

Everything Ryan Bloke did was for our future, and l was just holding him bock.

These memories flooded my mind and l tried to find some clue. some sign in them.

Each memory was like a sharp knife stabbing bloody holes into my heart.

Ryan Blake, were all those late nights you claimed were for work actually spent with Ella Grace?

stood by the window, gazing at the dark sky, as the cold wind dried the tears on my face.

I closed the hotel video playing endlessly on my phone.

It's okay, the wedding hasn't even started.

There's still time.

I booked a flight for before the wedding.

Anywhere would do, as long as it gets me away from this place that disgusts me.

But before leave,I’ll make give you both a parting gift.

I didn’t sleep the whole night.

After washing my face, i quickly got ready.

l took a taxi the cafe across from the hotel.

I sent a message to Ella Grace’s.

"Ella, are you busy today?”

"I still need to do the final fitting for my wedding dress, Ryan Blake's been working late recently, but I've taken the day off for the fitting, will you come with me?”

Ella Grace replied quickly:

"Sure, send me the location, and l'l!head over in a bit."

I sent her the cafes address.

"l heard the desserts here are amazing.Come quickly, I've already ordered for you.”

I closed my phone, and the screen dimmed, reflecting the mockery on my face.

Ella Grace, l bet you're feeling pretty frantic right now.

Five minutes later.

I saw Ryan Blake and Ella Grace walk out of the hotel, one after the other.

Though they were both bundled up tightly, their faces wors unmistakable.

I'd recognize them even if they were turned to ashes.

"Chloe.”

Ella Grace greeted me, wearing sunglasses and a mask.

I looked at her and, pretending to joke, said:

"Why are you dressed like this today?”

"Doing something you shouldn't be doing?”

For a moment Ella Grace froze.

She awkwardly snapped back:

"What are you talking about?

"if you keep joking like that, I'm not talking to you anymore.”

I casually stirred my coffee, smiling:

"Alright airight, i'm just teasing you.”

"These desserts are good. Try them.Don't you love sweets?”

After we left the cafe, we took a cab straight to the bridal shop.

After trying on the wedding dresses I casually picked one up and said to Ella Grace.

"Ella, there's nothing else going on,so why don't you try it on?"

“I think this dress would look amazing on you, You'd be stunning in it.”

Ella Grace seemed a bit swayed.but hesitated, instinctively wanting to refuse.

I quickly took her bag, pushing her toward the staff with a smile:

"This is my best friend, and it's her first time trying on wedding dresses Can you help her out?"

I watched as the staff led Ella Grace.still processing what had just happened, farther away.

i turned around, not a single trace of a smile in my eyes,

I pretended to have a stomachache and rushed to the bathroom.

Once the door was closed, i pulled out Ella Grace's phone and entered the password.

Fortunately, she hadn't changed it.

l opened her WhatsApp messages with Ryan Blake.

In that moment, l still hoped it was all just a misunderstanding.

But the chat history slapped me in the face.

The most recent message was from last night:

“I miss you so much. Will you come again tonight?”

"Little slut, just wait for me. I'm on my way.”

It was so disgusting that l gagged.

I held back the acid rising in my stomach and kept scrolling through the chat history.

In the past six months, they had been talking almost every day.

Ryan Blake complained to Ella Gracе:

"Chloe Moore is nothing compared to you, She has no ambition, her salary is so low, After we get married, I’ll have to support her."

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible force, making it hard to breathe.