Amanda bit her lip and turned her head away. "It’s just a drink with Jayden. Why are you making such a fuss?"

Every word she spoke was like a dagger, stabbing straight into my heart. My eyes turned red as I choked out, “Then what about the past few years? All the things I’ve done for you—don’t they mean anything to you?”

Hearing my words, she scoffed. “You were the one who insisted on sticking around. Don’t act like I forced you.”

She stood up and brushed past me. “I’ve got work to do. I’m leaving.”

I slumped to the floor, watching her walk away without a trace of hesitation. Eight years of my life—all of it felt like a cruel joke.

I didn’t know how long I sat there, but as the cold seeped deeper into my body, my mind grew foggy. Fighting off the suffocating feeling in my chest, I shakily dialed Amanda’s number. But all I heard was the endless busy tone.

Left with no other choice, I called 911 and had myself sent to the hospital.

The doctor said that the untreated wounds on my legs, coupled with the cold, had led to a serious infection. But worse still, I had developed pneumonia from the long hours spent in the freezing wind.

When my fever soared and I started losing consciousness, the nurse said I needed a family member to stay and take care of me. In this city, the only person I could turn to was Amanda.

With trembling hands, I dialed her number once more. The ringing tone now felt like a death knell, ticking down the seconds.

When she finally picked up, I clung to the sound like a drowning man to a lifeline. My voice was weak and pleading, “Amanda, I’m really sick. I feel terrible. Can you come and take care of me for a while?”

There was a brief silence on the other end, then I heard Jayden’s voice. “Amanda, my head hurts. Come rub it for me.”

Her voice turned soft and affectionate. “Okay.”

The next moment, her tone shifted back to the familiar cold indifference she reserved for me. “I’m busy right now. You’ll have to manage on your own.”

“Jayden has one of his migraines again. I can’t leave him.”

“But... I’m really not feeling well,” I murmured desperately.

“Isn’t there a nurse there? Just ask the nurse to help you.”

Her impatient tone stung, mocking my helplessness. Before I could say anything else, the call ended abruptly.

I stared blankly at the phone screen as tears rolled down my cheeks, the salty wetness seeping into the cracks on my lips.

When the nurse came in to change my bandages, she saw my disheveled appearance and she couldn’t help but mutter, “What’s with your family? You’re so sick, and no one’s here to take care of you.”

I gave a bitter smile. All I could think was how I’d misplaced all my love and devotion.

“She’s with someone more important.”

That afternoon, feeling slightly better, I forced myself out of bed to get some air. As I reached the doorway, I froze.

At the end of the corridor, Amanda stood with Jayden. They were leaning close, laughing and talking.

I watched as she gently adjusted his collar, her movements tender in a way I’d never seen before.

At that moment, it felt like the world collapsed around me. Any lingering affection I had for her disintegrated into ash.

I stood hidden around the corner, watching her massage his temples with utmost care.

It was a gesture of love and attention I had never been granted. It shattered any illusions I still harbored about my fiancée.

Suddenly, Jayden glanced in my direction. I quickly turned to leave, but it was too late—I’d been spotted.

“Hey, Yvo! What are you doing here?” Jayden called out, surprising me.

He knew who I was.

“Isn’t that your fiancé?” he said to Amanda, sounding amused.

Amanda followed his gaze, her expression flickering with surprise and doubt.

“What are you doing here?” she asked coldly.

I steadied myself, trying to look composed despite the pain in my legs.

“I…” I stuttered.

“You didn’t follow Jayden and me here, did you? What’s the point of doing something so pathetic?” Her voice was laced with ridicule.

Amanda's words twisted a knife in my chest. She had so thoroughly misunderstood my intentions.

“Following you? Amanda, is that how little you think of me?” My voice trembled, a mix of anger and exhaustion.

The cold air and my rising fury sent me into a fit of violent coughing, my vision blurring as my eyes reddened.

Amanda frowned slightly, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. “Are you really sick? Why didn’t you make it clear?”

Jayden chimed in from the side, “Amanda, maybe it really is a misunderstanding. He doesn’t look well at all.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “What difference does it make now? To you, even if I were on my deathbed, it wouldn’t matter as much as his headache.”

For a moment, she looked at a loss for words. Guilt flashed in her eyes, but she quickly masked it.

“What’s your condition now? You're coughing so badly—is it contagious?” she asked coldly. “Jayden isn’t in great health. Don’t get too close to him.”

She continued, her tone distant, “Just rest up. Don’t come looking for me again until you’re fully recovered. I’ll cover your medical bills.”

With that, she turned to leave.

I watched her retreating figure, emotions churning in my chest. The promises we had once made echoed faintly in my mind, but now, they felt like cruel mockery.

“Amanda,” I called out loudly, “if you leave now, we’re finished for good.”

Her steps faltered for a brief moment, but she didn’t turn back. She walked away with Jayden, vanishing from my sight.

I slid down the wall, tears blurring my vision once again. This time, I promised myself I wouldn’t look back.

I stayed in the hospital for another two weeks. Amanda didn’t call once.

Instead, I saw her new post on her social media feed: photos of her skiing trip with Jayden. Out of nine pictures, eight were of the two of them together.

I couldn’t help but remember how she once told me she didn’t like taking pictures. Even when I tried to capture her beauty, she would wave me off. Photos of us together were rare.

I gave a self-deprecating laugh and, despite my resolve to move on, felt the familiar ache in my chest.

I tapped the “like” button on her post, the caption of which read: [Forever together.]

Within five minutes, my phone rang. It was Amanda.

“Yvo, what’s your problem?” she snapped. “So what if I went skiing with Jayden? Are you jealous just because you’re not here to join me?

“Besides, it was just skiing. Nothing else happened.”

Her indignant tone made me laugh out loud.

“Amanda, do you even hear yourself? You’re telling me that while I’ve been lying in a hospital bed, you’ve been gallivanting around with your first love just to relive your memories?”

“Forget it,” I said, cutting her off. “Don’t say another word.”

I hung up the phone, determined not to care about her anymore.

I forced myself to forget—forget her, forget Jayden, forget everything I had seen. But the harder I tried, the more vivid the memories became.

I had known Jayden was her first love, but I hadn’t realized how deeply rooted he was in her heart. Eight years of us couldn’t even compete with him.

My phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Amanda.

[If it weren’t for the fact that you treated me decently before, do you think I would’ve given you a chance?]

[In terms of looks and background, how do you compare to Jayden? Agreeing to marry you was already a favor. Now you’re being jealous? That's utterly ridiculous.]

I stared at the words that should’ve torn me apart. Strangely, I didn’t feel as hurt as I expected.

Calmly, I typed a reply. [Amanda, if you had to choose all over again, who would it be?]

This time, Amanda hesitated. It took her a full three minutes to reply.

[What do you think?]

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my lips. How laughable, this love I thought we had only taken three minutes for her to give me up.

[I see.]

After sending that message, silence stretched between us. Neither of us said another word.

I found myself scrolling through our past conversations, rereading the sweet nothings we once exchanged. How fleeting those words were—only meaningful when love was still alive.

I didn’t know how much time passed before I drifted into a restless sleep, only to be jolted awake by the shrill ring of my phone.

“Yvo, come home quickly. Grandma’s not going to make it.”

The words struck me like thunderbolt. I froze, unable to process what I had just heard.

Grandma was the one who had raised me after my parents divorced. She was my only family, the person who loved me most in the world. I’d always dreamed of giving her a better life once I succeeded.

But now she was leaving, and I hadn’t even had the chance.

It took me a long time to gather myself. I was still in the hospital, my pneumonia unhealed, and I wasn’t allowed to leave.

Desperate, I called Amanda. Surely she could help me get home.

She didn’t answer the first two times, but on the third call, she finally picked up.

“You’ve got some nerve calling me again,” she said, her tone dripping with mockery.

I ignored the sting of her words. “Amanda, can you take me back to my hometown? My grandma... she’s not going to make it.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line. “I can’t. I need a car today. You’ll have to take a taxi.”

“Please,” I begged, “my leg hasn’t healed, and it’s already 3 a.m.—there are no cabs at this hour. Just this once, I’m begging you.”

As I waited for her response, Jayden’s voice came through the phone. “Amanda, are you ready? We need to go if we want to catch the sunrise at the beach.”

Her voice followed, calm and resolute. “I can’t help you, Yvo. I already promised Jayden I’d go with him. I can’t break my word.”

Her response shattered the last of my defenses. I had expected excuses, but not this.

“Amanda,” I pleaded, my voice trembling, “I’m begging you, just this once. Let me see Grandma one last time.”

“But I can’t break my promise to someone else either,” she said without hesitation.

Her words were final. I knew then that she would never give up her plans with Jayden—not even for me.

My hands shook as I ended the call.

Grandma had always liked Amanda. When they first met, Grandma had given her the only piece of jewelry she owned—a token of her approval and love.

Amanda had promised then, in front of Grandma, that she would take care of me.

But now, everything had changed. Those promises were as insubstantial as mist, vanishing in the cold light of reality.

I stumbled to my feet and rushed toward the door, ignoring the sharp pain in my leg.

The hospital was on a secluded hillside far from the city. At this hour, there wasn’t a single car in sight—not even a person.

I pressed on, gritting my teeth against the pain and the chill in the air.

Three cars passed me, but none stopped.

It took three agonizing hours before I managed to flag down a taxi.

By the time I reached Grandma’s house, it was too late. She was gone.

My hand trembled as I pushed the door open. The creak of the hinges was the only sound in the suffocating silence.

I sank to my knees with a thud. The floodgates opened, and tears streamed down my face.

The guilt was unbearable. I had failed her.

I didn’t know how long I knelt there. When I finally stood up, the sky was already dark.

I walked back in a daze, each step heavier than the last. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Amanda.

I answered numbly.

“Where are you?” she asked, her tone carrying a hint of urgency. “I just got back. I can take you home now.”