een nothing short of magical. Their connection was

ter-filled conversations became their new

storm was brewing just beneath the surface. It started

she saw a tagged photo of Ethan and Jake at a recent

lied-spread stories that made her the target of whispers and judgmental stares. It had taken her years to rebuild he

e from the alley behind the shop. "Man, you really went through with it?" Jake's voice was laced with amusement. "I thought you were joking when you said you'd make her

s laugh. "So yeah, I wanted to prove a point. I wanted to se

expect what?" Another pause. Then, so softly she barely heard it- "I think I fell for her, too." A sharp breath left Olivia's lips. Her vision blurred a

otice anything was wrong until Olivia's calls stopped. Until his texts went unanswere

are you talking about?" She laughed bitterly. "Jake. The bet. The revenge." She took a s

let me

t like that-I mean, at first, maybe, but then-" Her expression crumbled, pain flickering

tched between them. The Ethan she had trusted, the one who made her believe in something special, had betrayed her. Tears burned in her ey

the first time in his life, Ethan Cole realized that winning wasn't every

her life. And the worst part? He knew he deserved it. Jake thought it was funny. "Move on, man. She was just another

gers hovered over Olivia's contact. He wanted to call her. Beg for another chance. But what g

t himself. Olivia, meanwhile, was moving on. She was hurt, yes. But she refused to let Ethan's betrayal define her

l. About the moments that had been real, before she knew the truth. She hated that a pa

vening, as she sat by her window, sipping tea and watc

forgive me. But I need you to

ment, she considered replying. Then she delete