Chapter 2

HENRY

I didn’t know what to think. Why would he look at me for just a second, just a brief glance, and nothing more?

That single look shattered me. I cried even harder, realizing from his expression that he had seen me… yet chose not to acknowledge me. He didn’t want to be connected to me at all.

“Henry, what’s wrong? Why are you on the floor?!”My roommates rushed to my side, trying to lift me up.

I stayed quiet, my eyes still locked on the scene in front of me. They didn’t notice the storm of emotions in my gaze; they were too focused on making sure I was okay.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing before rising to my feet on my own.

No. This can’t be real.

Shaking my head like someone losing their mind, I moved toward the proposal stage.

I needed to hear what Danny had to say. Today was supposed to be our anniversary for God sake, but instead, he was here… proposing to someone else.

“This has to be a prank. Danny must have known I’d come here,” I muttered, desperate to cling to denial.

Suddenly, someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.

“What are you doing?” I snapped, turning to see it was my friend.

“We should be the ones asking you that! What the hell do you think you're doing?” Arda yelled. “I can feel you’re furious, I don’t know why, but you need to look around you.”

I frowned but did as he said. Arda wouldn’t react like this for nothing. When I scanned the hall properly, my chest tightened. Hidden in corners were men dressed in black, Danny’s bodyguards.

I hadn’t noticed them earlier because the crowd was too dense. But realizing their presence now… did that mean I couldn’t even confront him? Couldn’t demand answers on our anniversary?

My chest squeezed painfully.

The crowd’s loud cheers barely registered in my mind.

“Kiss your wife-to-be!”

“Kiss her!”

The hall erupted in claps, and my eyes burned as their lips met, actually met, with a loud kiss. I could swear I heard the sound.

My fists clenched so tightly they hurt.

That was it. No joke. No prank. Danny would never kiss her like that if they weren’t truly together.

Feeling completely defeated, I turned and walked out of the hall. My roommates followed me outside the restaurant, confusion all over their faces. They weren’t idiots, they must have realized I knew Danny. But I wasn’t ready to say a word.

“I’m leaving. You guys can go back to the dorm,” I said flatly.

They looked speechless. Before they could protest, I walked away, my steps faster than their voices could catch up.

I kept walking, not knowing how long or how far. The sky had already darkened.

Danny had promised us forever. He had asked me to be his. He had sworn he’d never break my heart.

So what was this?

Getting engaged to a girl? Someone who wasn’t me?

Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. A sharp pain tore through my chest. I couldn’t scream, couldn’t reach for my phone, nothing. Everything just went dark.

****

“Are you awake?” An unfamiliar voice drifted into my ears as I struggled to open my eyes. My head throbbed painfully.

When I finally managed to lift my eyelids and my senses adjusted, I realized I was in a hospital. Machines beeped steadily beside me, and the strong smell of antiseptic filled the room. I tried to sit up.

“No, no, don’t do that yet. Your body is still weak. You need to rest.”

I recognized the same voice and turned to see a woman in a white uniform, a nurse.

With my hoarse voice, I asked, “Why am I here?”

My memory was blurry. I could only remember walking on the road… then everything going black. The nurse must have understood the confusion on my face because she nodded gently.

“You’ve been in the hospital for two days. You can be discharged tomorrow,” she said.

My eyes widened. “Two days? Why?”

“You collapsed from intense shock. You only managed to wake up today, that’s the reason,” she explained.”

“Thankfully, a passerby had brought you here on time.” She added.

I didn’t fully understand it, but I nodded anyway.

“You should rest. I’ll be back shortly.”

I watched her walk out and close the door behind her.

A heavy sigh left my lips as the headache pulsed through my skull. Two whole days unconscious… all because of heartbreak? Incredible.

My phone suddenly began ringing on the table. Arda’s name flashed on the screen.

I didn’t pick up immediately, and it stopped. When I finally grabbed the phone, dozens of missed calls stared back at me, from all my friends. They must have been worried sick.

But as I scrolled through them, I realized something else. Not a single call from Danny.

So this is how far gone we are?

The phone rang again. Arda. I answered.

“Hey, dude,” I said, trying to sound normal.

“Finally! Henry, where the hell have you been? We’ve all been worried sick!” he scolded immediately.

“I’m at the hospital,” I admitted.

“What?!”

I nodded instinctively even though he couldn’t see it. If I didn’t tell him, he would keep scolding nonstop.

I didn’t say much more, just sent him my location and ended the call.

With no one around, I simply closed my eyes to rest. I knew it would take a while before my roommates arrived, so I decided to take a short nap. I hadn't even been asleep for ten minutes when a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” I called out, knowing it can't be my roommates. They couldn’t have arrived that fast. It was probably the nurse.

The door opened, and a medium-sized figure stepped inside. Just as I expected, it was the nurse.

She walked over quietly and replaced my drip with a fresh one. I watched her work without saying a word.

“You can rest a little more,” she said gently, and I nodded.

Just as she reached the door, she paused and turned back to me.

“Someone is here to see you,” she said.

“Who?” I asked, not really interested.

“He said his name is Danny Scott.”

My eyes widened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Should I let him in?”

“Tell him I don’t want to see him.”

The nurse nodded and stepped out.

I didn’t even know how he found out I was in the hospital. I only told the nurse because I wanted her to go tell him.

I wanted to see how he would react. Would he rush in, refuse to leave, apologize, and tell me everything that happened at Burj al Hotel was just a joke?

So as soon as the nurse walked out, I quietly followed her and hid behind the door.

From there, I saw Danny standing with the nurse, his usual serious look on display. I could see every expression clearly.

“Sir, the patient refuses to see you,” the nurse said.

“Please, Danny!” I cried silently, praying he wouldn’t break my heart again.

I just needed to see his reaction. That would tell me everything, whether he was still mine or not.

“I’ll leave then,” Danny replied flatly. Then he walked away.

My vision blurred as tears spilled down my face. I stayed hidden behind the door, unable to move.

So it was true, there was no prank. My sweet man, the one who always adored me and claimed to love me, had become a stranger.

I finally let the truth sink in.

This was all I needed to stop lying to myself and let go.

The worst part wasn’t even the rejection, it was his indifference. God knows I never realized he didn’t love me until now. How could he look so unconcerned and walk away so easily?

I'm so done this time.