Seven Years, One Heartbreak, New Love

veland. I put my life on hold, baked his favorite pastries, and silently

t meeting, but I discovered the truth: he was at a private cl

lling for kindness. But when I received death threats

me. The man who claimed to love me was systematically des

d lost, I did something I never thought I would. I turned to the new man b

pte

e Nixo

ll, defiant beacon in the silent kitchen. It was m

tory. "She finally told me," Keira' s message read, followed by a teary emoji. "It was intense. Thanks for being there. Can't believe you missed your meeting for me." My st

lly so steady with a piping bag, trembled as I picked up my phone. Ethan' s face stared back at me from a thousand headlines. "Ethan Cleveland and Keira Fisher: The Hottest Hollywood Ro

was a constant drip, eroding everything I thought I was. Ethan always dismissed it, calling it "fan fiction," telling me I was "overreacting." He' d say I was "dramatic" or "insecure." Bu

racticed smile on his perfect face. He smelled

e!" he said, trying

movement sharp and

"What's wrong? Tough

." I looked at him, really looked at him, and the words, once

Adeline, what are you talking about?" His voice was thick with

unded, struggling actor. Now he was a major Hollywood star, and I was... still me. The girl who loved to b

ents, defend her, call for kindness. When the hate came for me, when I was called a "gold digger" and a "leech," he' d shrug. "It's part of the game, A

fting, trying to gaslight me, to make me doubt my own feelings. "This

an act of irrational madness. "Seriously, what is this about? Yo

r laugh escaping my lips. "You