Chapter 3

3

I met Xander Sterling back in high school.

He was a transfer student who ended up being my desk mate.

During my freshman year, I was still drowning in the grief of losing my parents in a car accident.

They died on their way to buy me a birthday present. Even if no one blamed me, the guilt followed me like a shadow.

I fell into a deep depression and considered ending it all several times.

Then Xander appeared like a beam of light in my gray world. He used his patience and warmth to slowly heal my wounds.

Back then, he was the only person I could truly open up to.

As I recovered, our relationship blossomed into something intense.

He became the most important part of my life.

That was until our sophomore year of college, when I met his childhood friend, Jasmine Reed.

She was the perfect girl-next-door type that everyone thought was destined for him.

Xander, who used to treat me like a princess, began to change.

Just because Jasmine said, "I really want that pastry from the bakery downtown," he would leave me while I was sick.

He would rush off to buy her whatever she wanted without a second thought.

He kept saying he loved me, but he constantly chose Jasmine over me in every situation.

There was a level of trust between them that no outsider could ever penetrate.

That trust was like an invisible wall, keeping me locked out.

I tried to fight for my place, but I realized I was already sinking in quicksand.

I still remember the last time, when he wanted Jasmine to make the shortlist for a program.

He locked me in a basement to prevent me from auditioning, cutting off all my contact with the world.

There was no food, no water, and the air was getting thin.

He didn't care if I lived or died; he spent those three days celebrating with Jasmine while I struggled to survive in the dark.

Every second of those three days was torture. Hunger and hopelessness nearly consumed me.

When I was on the verge of passing out, I curled up on the cold floor and hallucinated Xander coming to save me. I reached out, but he just kicked my hand away in the dream.

When I finally woke up, I realized it was just a nightmare.

Xander finally let me out three days later, and I was so weak I couldn't even stand.

Afterward, Jasmine sent me a text to gloat.

"So what if you're dating? Xander is willing to do anything for me."

"If you're smart, you'll pack your bags and leave!"

I showed the message to Xander, but he just brushed it off and insisted he loved only me.

I was furious, so he knelt in front of me and cried, begging for my forgiveness.

"Jasmine got a deep scar on her hand while trying to help me escape a bad situation when we were kids."

"Because of that, I have to satisfy her requests, no matter how crazy they are."

Because I loved him, I forgave him.

Now I realize how wrong I was. He had no bottom line.

Regret was useless now. Everything I valued had been destroyed.

He had traded my entire future just to settle some childhood debt with Jasmine.

Before I lost consciousness, I searched his eyes for a hint of remorse, but I found nothing.

In that moment, my heart turned to ash.

The sweet memories of our past were officially dead.

Xander, if I survive this, I'm done with you forever.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed.

It was already noon the following day.

The salty taste of tears in my mouth made me realize I had cried myself awake.

The sharp scent of bleach and antiseptic filled the air.

The nurses nearby were whispering to each other.

"Did you see the livestream? That girl Jasmine Reed won the Hudson University singing contest! I heard she's getting a full ride to the graduate program in New York."

"I saw it too! She's gorgeous, and her voice is incredible. She's going to be a star."

"Tell me about it. Plus, her boyfriend is handsome and loaded. They're like a couple straight out of a movie. I'm so jealous!"

"Life really isn't fair sometimes."

A sharp, stabbing pain shot through my heart, making it hard to breathe.

I wanted to scream that I was the one who was supposed to be on that stage.

But when I tried to speak, the agony was unbearable, and I forced myself to remain silent.

A nurse noticed I was awake and walked over. After checking my vitals, she tried to make small talk.

"Your friends mentioned you're from Hudson U, too. It's such a tragedy what happened to you... don't be too hard on yourself."

Her voice was dripping with pity.

I was already drowning in sorrow. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. It felt like a piece of my soul was missing.