REALITY

MIA'S POV

That 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. You will find a way. You always do.”

I managed a weak smile. Doubt still gnawed at me, but her kindness felt like a small anchor. “Thank you for letting me stay here, Sophie. It means everything right now.”

She stood and wrapped her arms around me from behind, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head. “That is what best friends do. You can stay as long as you need.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment before she asked, “What do you have planned for today?”

“I need to go to Logan’s place and pack my things.” My voice sounded distant even to myself. Memories of his cold words yesterday flooded back. “After that I will start looking for a job. Anything that can help with Mom’s bills.”

Sophie’s brow creased with concern. “Do you want me to come with you? I can call off my shift at the restaurant.”

“No.” I shook my head firmly. “You have your final year at Michigan University to focus on. I can handle this alone.” The truth was I dreaded facing Logan again, but I refused to let my problems cost Sophie her job. She already carried enough.

“Are you sure?”

“I am certain.” I glanced around her modest apartment, grateful for the temporary safety it offered.

The sudden ring of my phone shattered the quiet. An unknown number flashed on the screen. My stomach twisted. Unknown calls had brought nothing but bad news lately.

Sophie nodded toward the phone. “You should answer it.”

I swallowed hard and accepted the call. “Hello?”

“Mia, hi.” Ryan Hayes’s smooth voice filled my ear.

My jaw tightened. “What do you want, Ryan?”

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “I just wanted to know if you have thought about my offer.”

I clenched my free hand into a fist. “I already told you. I am not interested. Do not call me again.” I moved to end the call.

“Mia, wait. Please do not hang up.” His tone carried an urgency I had never heard from him before. The campus player, the notorious heartbreaker, now sounded almost desperate. “Just give me one minute.”

I sighed and glanced at Sophie, who watched with raised eyebrows. “One minute.”

Ryan exhaled. “You know about the scandal last week. The video from the club. My sponsors are threatening to drop me. My coach and teammates say I have to clean up my image or I am benched permanently. I need a stable girlfriend. Someone with a good reputation and its you Mia.”

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You are delusional. The answer is still no.” I ended the call and tossed the phone onto the table. “He is crazy.”

Sophie bit her lip. “I know you said no last night, but maybe...”

“I said no.” My voice left no room for argument.

She raised her hands in surrender. “Okay. I have to get to work. Call me if you need anything.” She grabbed her bag, paused at the door with a final worried glance, and left.

Alone, I forced down a quick shower. Breakfast held no appeal. My stomach churned too much. I dressed in simple jeans and a hoodie, then headed out with a heavy heart.

The walk to Logan’s apartment felt shorter than I wanted. I paused at the bottom of the stairs and stared up at the familiar building. No lock on the main door. He was home. My pulse hammered against my ribs. My knees felt unsteady. I gripped the railing and drew in slow, deep breaths.

“You can do this, Mia,” I whispered.

Step by step I climbed until I stood before the door. I reached for the handle. It turned easily. Unlocked. Strange. Logan had always insisted on keeping the door closed.

I stepped inside. The living room looked the same yet felt completely foreign. Sunlight slanted across the floor. On the couch lay a lacy red pantie, discarded carelessly. I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat.

I should leave. Come back another day. But then soft moans drifted from the bedroom. The bedroom we once shared.

“L-Logan… you feel so good.”

Nyra’s voice. Pleasure thickened every word.

I froze. My heart fractured again, sharper this time. I knew I should walk away, but my feet carried me forward. Until I stood just outside the open door.

“Six months, baby,” Nyra laughed breathlessly. “Six months of hiding and now we do not have to anymore.”

Logan’s low groan followed. “Best decision I ever made. It has always been you.”

The words sliced deep. Six months. While I planned his career, supported his dreams, and believed his lies, they had been together. The betrayal burned like acid in my veins.

I took one more step. The floor creaked.

“The fuck?” Logan snarled.

Time slowed. Nyra sat astride him on the bed, both of them naked, sweat glistening on their skin. Logan shoved her aside and scrambled for the sheet, wrapping it around his waist. Nyra grabbed another to cover herself, her eyes wide with fury.

“I told you I wanted nothing to do with you, Mia,” Logan snapped. His phone rang on the nightstand. He snatched it up. “I have to go. It is Coach.” He shot Nyra an apologetic look and stormed out, sheet trailing behind him like a coward’s cape. “You better have your things and be gone before I get back.”

The door slammed behind him.

Nyra’s shock twisted into rage. “Bitch, what are you doing here?” She lunged forward and slapped me hard across the face. The sting bloomed hot on my cheek.

That was the final straw. Something inside me snapped. I slapped her back, the sound sharp in the room. “You finally got what you wanted. Enjoy him. You both deserve each other.”

Nyra shrieked. “You slapped me?”

I turned toward the wardrobe, determined to gather my clothes and leave. But when I yanked the doors open, my stomach dropped. My clothes lay crumpled in black garbage bags. Some were torn. Others stained. Framed photos of us were gone from the shelves. In their place sat several new pictures of Nyra and Logan smiling together. Her perfume bottles lined the dresser. Her lingerie filled the top drawer.

Every trace of me had been erased. Like I had never mattered.

“You did this,” I whispered, voice trembling with fresh pain.

Nyra smirked, still flushed behind me. “Of course I did. You were never good enough for him. Just a pathetic leech dragging him down.”

Rage surged through me. I shoved her hard. She stumbled back into the wardrobe. I grabbed her by the hair and yanked. She clawed at my arms, but I kicked her legs out from under her. We crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs and fury. I landed another slap before she shoved me off.

I stood over her, breathing hard. “I did not know you only had strength when it came to stealing other people’s men. Pathetic.”

Nyra glared up at me, chest heaving. “Get out before I call the police.”

I did not argue. I snatched one of the garbage bags containing what remained of my belongings, slung it over my shoulder, and walked out of the apartment that used to be home. My cheek throbbed. My heart felt raw and exposed.