登入MIA'S POV
"Can I seat?" I nodeded, not raising my eyes to look at him. I didn’t have to. Ryan Hayes was the National hockey star and Logan’s greatest rival and the playboy of Michigan University. Logan hated him that he wouldn't watch a match when he was playing. Logan used to say that he was too proud because he was a star. And that he was egocentric, not knowing that being a star wasn't permanent. That one day when he joined the national hockey team, he wouldn't be like him, that he would be different. And I had believed him. And I? Well, I hated him too and that, maybe because he was a heartbreaker but the main reason was because Logan hated him, so I did too. Call it loyalty. "A star like you, shouldn't be here." I murmued, not wanting to look at him. I could already imagine him smiling at my heartbreak. He hated Logan, so of course he hated me too. "Mia," he called. As him being here at the wrong time wasn't already too much, he took my hand, making me turn and look at him. To my surprise, Ryan wasn't smiling, or making faces as I thought in my head. In his dark green eyes, was something else entirely. Concerned. "I may not know what you're going through right now but..." "Who told you I am going through anything?" I pretended, a smile that didn't reach my eyes formed on my face. "I saw what just happened, I was in my car." He turned away, pointing at the direction of the parking. "So you're stalking us?" I blurted out, not giving him any chance to breathe. I didn’t care now that he was so close to me, the guy was handsome with high cheekbones and lazy green eyes and a nose like a model. Well, he was a playboy too and I had to be careful with him. Being rich and a star, gave him enough time to fuck hookers. Who didn't know? "Okay, listen to me Mia." He put his hand on my lap, making me gasp and he quickly pull it away, waving it in apology. "I am sorry for what has happened with you and Logan Mia, and that's why I am here." I stared at him, really stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" "I have an offer for you Mia," he grabbed his hair, pulling as if that would give him confidence, sighing at the process. "What are you even talking about? If Logan sees you here with me, he will kill you." At that, Ryan laughed, really laughed that he started tearing up. Well, I was stupid to even say that. I felt embarrassed now. "Don't make me laugh at your problem, Mia. But I heard him breaking up with you, and taking Nyra instead." I clenched my fists at the side of my trousers, my mouth biting inside. "It doesn't matter..." "I want you to be my girlfriend Mia." Ryan blurted out, cutting me of guard, the emberassment I felt earlier, disappearing, replaced with pure shock. "W-what? Are you out of your damn mind?" "Listen to me Mia." He moved closer, his eyes scanning the park, at the children who were playing while swinging, then turned to me. "I know you're hurt that Logan dumbed you to be with Nyra," he stopped, his words, making me swallow hard. "And I also know, the bastard kicked you out of the house you two shared." I looked away, the pain from before, twisting my heart that it was hard to breathe. "That's why I want you to be my girlfriend, Mia." "I can't be your girlfriend!" I blurted out. How could he just appear from God knew where and claim me to be his girlfriend? Didn't he see how painful all of this was to me already? "You will be just pretending to be, for the camera and for my teammates and for my fans, and in exchange, I will be paying you Mia." At Ryan's words, I broke out into a heavy laugh, burying my heartbreak behind my back. "Really? You think that cheap of me?" I couldn’t believe this man. He just came from nowhere, interrupting me as if we were friends. And now this? "No I didn't mean it that way, Mia" Ryan blurted out, his hands on his hair as If not knowing what to say. I stared at his eyes, and something like desperation, I wasn’t sure flickered before it disappeared. "Why me? Hmm? Don't you have so many hookers who will be happy to do that for you?" "Because you were Logan’s girlfriend." I scoffed, my eyesbrows narrowing. "And you want to get back at him?" "Yes." His words were like cold water in my heart. "Think about it, Mia." With that, he also got up and walked away. What was wrong with people today? Just now, Logan was here, and he really broke up with me for Nyra and for a spot in national team, the same team that Ryan was a star in. And now, Ryan wanted me to be his pretence girlfriend? I sighed, trying to digest all of this. The bitterness from before, returned and I felt like an orphan. Logan had really did that to me. I turned around, the kids who were happy playing, their parents nearby monitoring them. And I wished I was them. Just happy and not care about anything. I slowly got up from the bench and walked away. I had to move out and find a place. I remembered my mother and a tear landed on my cheek. I took out my phone and dialed a number, "Sophie, c-can I come over?" I asked as I walked away. "Of course, are you alright, Mia?" The concerned from my best friend, made me want to choke out the tears. "Are you and Logan fighting?" "I will explain when I get there, Sophie." I couldn't stop the tears anymore. But I made sure not to sound sad at the same time. I didn’t want Sophie worrying about me. "Okay, I'll be waiting." With that, the phone ended.MIA'S POVI could not sleep the whole night.How could I, in a house that did not feel like mine? Ryan Hayes’s mansion felt like a five-star hotel. Too grand. Too quiet. I sighed and sat up on the couch I had claimed the night before. My eyes scanned the luxurious living area. Marble floors gleamed under soft morning light. Expensive art hung on the walls. The entire place made me feel small and out of place.“Ouch. I need to pee,” I muttered, standing up quickly.I did not want to wake Ryan or ask for help. “I will find it myself.”I climbed the wide staircase, heart pounding. My grip tightened on the railing. At the top, a long hallway stretched before me with too many doors. Lights glowed softly even though the sun had risen. The house was eerily silent.My eyes caught a large framed photograph of Ryan in his hockey jersey, holding a golden trophy, a white ribbon tied around his messy dark hair. He looked confident. Victorious. Handsome.“God, you are cute,” I whispered before I co
MIA'S POVI had not walked far from Logan’s building when my phone vibrated in my pocket. My fingers trembled as I pulled it out. The message on the screen stopped me cold.“Mia, you need to act fast. Your mother might not survive beyond two or three more days without the next chemotherapy session.”The words blurred. Tears I had held back during the fight with Nyra broke free, streaming down my cheeks. My chest tightened until each breath burned. I leaned against a nearby wall, the rough brick biting into my palm.“Think, Mia,” I whispered. “What are you going to do to save her?”Everything was collapsing. Mom critical in the hospital. No more help from Logan. My own future suspended. I wiped my face roughly and forced my legs to move again.Before I could spiral further, another call came through. This time from my younger brother, Gerry. I answered quickly, dread already pooling in my stomach.“Gerry? Are you okay?” Background noise, shouting, doors slamming, told me the answer.“I
MIA'S POVThat night sleep refused to come. Images of my mother lying frail in her hospital bed replayed behind my eyes. Her shallow breathing, the monitors beeping steadily, the doctor’s quiet warning that her condition had worsened. I had sat beside her for hours, holding her thin hand, whispering promises I no longer knew how to keep. No money for better treatment. No more help from Logan. Only crushing helplessness.By morning I felt hollow, my eyes filled with dark circles. I dragged myself from Sophie’s couch and made a simple decision. Today I would retrieve my things from Logan’s apartment. I could not put it off any longer.“You are early. Could not sleep?” Sophie asked. She padded over to the small kitchen table and dropped into the chair beside me, her coffee mug warm between her palms.“How can I?” The words scraped my throat. “My mom is dying and there is nothing I can do to help.”Sophie reached across and squeezed my shoulder. “You are one of the smartest people I know,
MIA'S POV“I can’t believe he did that to you.”Sophie wrapped her arms around me on the worn couch, pulling me close. I buried my face in her shoulder and let the tears come. They poured out hot and relentless, soaking her shirt. My whole body shook with sobs that tore from deep in my chest. Every memory of Logan’s cold eyes and Nyra’s smug smile replayed in my mind like a nightmare I could not escape.“It is okay, Mia,” Sophie whispered, rubbing slow circles on my back. “Let it all out.”I did. I cried until my throat burned and my eyes felt swollen. Not just for the breakup, but for the two years I had poured into a man who had replaced me with my worst enemy. The woman who had ruined my life at Michigan University now wore his ring.I do not know how long I stayed like that, curled against my best friend. Eventually the sobs slowed into shaky breaths. Sophie loosened her hold and brushed damp strands of hair from my face.“Feeling any better?” she asked softly.I nodded, though I
MIA'S POV"Can I seat?" I nodeded, not raising my eyes to look at him. I didn’t have to.Ryan Hayes was the National hockey star and Logan’s greatest rival and the playboy of Michigan University.Logan hated him that he wouldn't watch a match when he was playing. Logan used to say that he was too proud because he was a star. And that he was egocentric, not knowing that being a star wasn't permanent. That one day when he joined the national hockey team, he wouldn't be like him, that he would be different. And I had believed him.And I? Well, I hated him too and that, maybe because he was a heartbreaker but the main reason was because Logan hated him, so I did too. Call it loyalty."A star like you, shouldn't be here." I murmued, not wanting to look at him.I could already imagine him smiling at my heartbreak. He hated Logan, so of course he hated me too."Mia," he called. As him being here at the wrong time wasn't already too much, he took my hand, making me turn and look at him. To m
MIA'S POV“I have no choice but to break up with you, Mia.”The words slammed into me like a punch to the gut. The smile I had been carrying froze, then shattered.“W-What?” My voice cracked.Logan leaned forward on the park bench, elbows braced on his knees, refusing to meet my eyes. His fists clenched tight. He looked tired. But I should know him better.“I know this will hurt, but...”“Might hurt?” I cut in, my chest squeezing. “You think this might hurt?”For two years, Logan Brooks had been my world. Two years of love, or what I had believed was love. I had left school and stayed with him. Helped build his hockey career from the ground up. Planned his training sessions, scheduled his meetings, tracked every game. He used to call me the best thing that ever happened to him. That I was his great support.And I had believed every word.“I thought you called me here because you missed me,” I whispered, throat tightening. “Like you always do.”God, this couldn’t be real.“I’m sorry, M







