Chapter 1

The morning of my twenty-ninth birthday begins with the warm glow of sunlight filtering through the blinds and the gentle buzz of my phone. I stretch in bed, feeling the soft cotton sheets rub against my skin, already knowing this will be a special day.

My fingers fumble for my phone, and I squint at the screen, smiling instantly. Ryan's text lights up the display: "Can’t wait to celebrate you tonight." My heart flutters. Five years together, and he still makes me feel like a teenager getting her first love letter.

I spend the morning in a daze of excitement, picking out the perfect dress for our dinner at our favorite SoHo restaurant. It’s a flowing silk number in champagne pink, the kind of dress that makes me feel like a princess. Ryan always says I look stunning in soft colors, and tonight, I want to be perfect.

My best friend Lily meets me at a West Village café for a pre-celebration latte and croissants. We sit at a small table by the window, watching the world go by. Lily nudges my shoulder, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, what does Ryan have planned?"

I sip my latte, feeling the warmth spread through me. "He hasn’t told me, but he promised it’ll be unforgettable," I say, trying to contain my excitement. "And tonight, I’m going to tell him how much I love him."

Lily’s smile wavers for a moment. "Bella, you’ve been with him for five years. You’ve given him everything. Just make sure he’s giving you the same in return."

I wave off her concern. "Of course he is. You know how much he cares."

"Does he?" Lily asks softly. "Bella, I’ve seen how his parents look at you. And Victoria—she’s always been so cold. Don’t you think it’s weird how she’s always around?"

"Victoria and Ryan are just friends," I insist, though a small seed of doubt tries to take root in my mind. "And his parents will come around eventually. They just need time to see how much we love each other."

Lily sighs but nods. "Just be careful, okay? Promise me you won’t let anyone make you feel less than you are."

"I promise," I say, squeezing her hand. "Now, enough of the serious stuff. Let’s enjoy my birthday."

The rest of the day flies by in a whirlwind of preparation. I get my hair styled in loose waves, apply a soft makeup look, and slip into my dress. By 7 p.m., I’m at the restaurant, nervously checking the time on my phone. Ryan is late, but that’s not unusual. He always likes to make an entrance.

I open Venmo, my heart skipping a beat as I see a new payment alert. It’s from Ryan, and the amount is… $2.50. My stomach drops as I read the accompanying note: "250 cents of love."

My vision blurs with tears. This can’t be real. This has to be some kind of joke. I scroll through our chat, searching for any sign that this is a prank, but there’s nothing. Just that pathetic amount and the flippant note.

Before I can process it, my phone buzzes again. It’s an Instagram notification—Ryan’s story. I tap on it, and my world shatters. The photo shows Victoria, Ryan’s supposed best friend, wearing a dazzling diamond necklace. The caption reads: "Worth every penny of the $5.2 million I spent at Sotheby’s today. You deserve the best, V."

The room spins. I can’t breathe. My hands tremble as I stare at the image, the necklace glinting mockingly. He spent millions on her, but gave me two dollars and fifty cents? The humiliation burns, cutting deeper than any physical pain.

I push back my chair, my dress catching on the legs as I stand. The waiter approaches, a concerned look on his face. "Ma’am, is everything alright?"

"No," I whisper, my voice breaking. "It’s not alright. It’s over."

I storm out of the restaurant, the cool night air hitting me like a slap. My heels click on the pavement as I walk blindly, tears streaming down my face. I dial Ryan’s number, my finger shaking as I press the call button.

It rings twice before going to voicemail. I wait for the beep, then speak, my voice cold and steady. "Ryan, it’s over. I deserve so much better than you, and I’m done waiting for you to realize it. Don’t call me. Don’t text me. We’re finished."

As I hang up, a sense of resolve settles over me. I wipe my tears, feeling a strange sense of freedom. I don’t know what’s next, but I do know one thing—I will never let anyone make me feel this small again.