Chapter 4

During my week-long business trip to Ashmont, I was so busy I could only manage one meal a day.

The moment the trip wrapped up and I turned my phone back on, nearly 100 missed calls and messages popped up.

All of them were from Dwayne.

The latest one read, "I can explain the photography stuff. Please don't make a rash decision, okay?"

I didn't reply.

Yet, when I got back, Dwayne was already waiting outside my apartment.

I walked up to him, opening my mouth to speak, when he suddenly shoved me hard.

My knees slammed into the concrete, and blood immediately began to pour from the wound.

But Dwayne seemed completely oblivious as he ruthlessly said, "Avi is getting cyberbullied. Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?"

I pulled out my phone. Only then did I realize that after waking up crying last night, I had been unable to tell the dream from reality and had left a comment under Aviana's video. "Did you know he's my boyfriend?"

Because of that, people were starting to accuse Aviana of being a mistress.

Dwayne looked down at me in disappointment. "Avi came from an orphanage. It wasn't easy for her to get to where she is today. Do you really have to ruin her life just to be satisfied? Or do you only feel satisfied when you ruin everyone's mood over a photo?"

His accusations cut fast and deep, like a blunt steel ruler jamming ruthlessly into an unhealed fracture.

The emotions I had spent days suffocating finally erupted.

The moment I spoke, my voice shook violently. "Do you have any idea what these past few days have been like for me?"

Tears spilled over.

No matter how calm and rational I forced myself to be during the day, the nights were different.

Every single night, every memory of Dwayne and Aviana would come crashing down on me like a tidal wave.

Every frame was a shard of broken glass piercing my lungs, making even breathing feel bloody.

Countless times, I had stood on the edge of my hotel balcony, thinking, "Maybe I should just jump."

But Dwayne didn't care. "You caused everything! If you hadn't thrown a tantrum, none of this would have happened. You're just miserable, so you want everyone else to be miserable with you."

Dwayne thought for a moment, then uttered each word coldly, "Who could ever put up with a personality like yours? No wonder your parents abandoned you."

Upon hearing those words, I stood frozen, feeling as though I had been dropped into an ice cellar. The cold was suffocating.

Years ago, Dwayne had asked me, "Could you try not to be so strong all the time? It makes me feel like you don't need me."

I had told him, "I'm an orphan. I only have you."

And Dwayne had comforted me over and over, promising, "I'm your first real family. I'll stay with you forever."

He would never know that those words had become the oxygen tank that kept me alive all these years.

But now, he had smashed it with his own hands and weaponized it just to protect Aviana.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Dwayne opened the door.

Aviana was standing there, her eyes swollen and red. "Kathie, if it makes you feel any better, you can do whatever you want to me."

Dwayne wrapped his arms around her protectively and said gently, "I won't let anyone hurt you."

He slammed the apartment door shut behind them as they left.

Silence reclaimed the room. It was so quiet that I couldn't help but realize that when a heart shattered completely, it didn't make a sound.

…

Dwayne moved fast. He put out a statement online.

"Ms. Aviana Reed and I fell in love seven years ago today. We're each other's first loves. That certain someone is just trying to stir up drama for attention."

Attached was a Polaroid of him and Aviana locked in an embrace. The timestamp showed it was taken seven years ago, on this exact date.

I remembered that day. I had begged him to celebrate our first anniversary. He had told me he was too busy and didn't have the time.

The comment section went wild, throwing its full support behind the happy couple.

It didn't take long for people to dox me. They called me malicious, said I deserved to be an orphan, and even wished I'd get hit by a car.

I shut off my phone and wrapped my arms around myself.

I told myself, "It's fine, Kathleen. You still have your job. You can still get promoted. You can build a home for yourself."

Then, my phone rang sharply. "Get to the office right now."