Chapter 2

I sat in my car all night until dawn broke.

My body had grown numb in the cold. So had my heart.

That kiss kept looping in my mind, like a dull blade, ripping the wound open again and again.

When did it all start?

I forced myself to replay every detail.

Edward first smiled at Susan three months ago—that very afternoon. He'd just come out of a severe meltdown; I held him all night, so exhausted I could barely keep my eyes open.

Susan came in with some fruit and said, "Charlie, you're tired. Go get some sleep. I'll take care of him."

I was so moved I almost cried, grabbing her hand and saying, "Susie, I'm so glad to have you."

She smiled gently. "Silly, we're best friends."

Now I understood. That wasn't her taking care of him.

That was a handover.

It was her taking my love into her arms.

Suddenly, my phone rang, the shrill ringtone shattering the silence inside the car.

The caller ID flashed: Julia.

Edward's mother.

I stared at her name, my heart clenched so tight I could barely breathe.

Why would Julia call me at this hour?

Wait... did she find out too?

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to sound normal. "Hello, Julia."

After a brief silence, Julia's cautious, hesitant voice came through. "Charlie, have you... found out?"

I bit down hard on my lip, my nails digging into my palm, letting the pain keep my scream trapped inside.

"Find out what?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Maybe... maybe she was not talking about what I thought. Maybe it was just about the studio, maybe...

Julia let out a long, heavy breath, shattering my last illusion. "Edward... he told me everything last night."

I shut my eyes, letting silent tears stream down my face.

So, after their kiss last night, the first person Edward talked to was his mom.

And me—the girlfriend who blew all her savings for him—was left in the dark until the very end.

"Charlie, I know this unfair to you. We let you down," Julia said.

Her voice carried apology, yet also, somehow, sounded as if it were only right.

She continued, "But you know about Edward's condition too, right? The doctors said he needs positive vibes and encouragement around him.

"Susan is lively and bright, like sunshine itself. Having her around really made a difference for Edward."

Every word cut right through me, stabbing deep into my heart.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing—my mind just went blank.

Just because he was sick, that made betrayal okay?

And just because she was his sunshine, I get left behind? The one who stuck by him through his darkest nights?

"So?" I asked.

Julia's voice turned more earnest, almost pleading. "Charlie, please. You've always been such a thoughtful girl.

"Could you... could you please not trigger him right now? He's just starting to get better—he really can't handle another blow.

"You can't force things, after all. Can you two just... end things on good terms?"

I blew through all my savings—even what my parents gave me—just to pave a future for him. And in return—"end things on good terms"?

I stayed with him through his darkest days—woke up night after night to his nightmares. And now I got "you can't force things"?

My hands started trembling so badly, it felt like my whole body was about to shatter.

"Julia..." My voice shook. "Have you known about this all along?"

Another stretch of silence.

It was crueler than any words could be.

Then, her voice grew even softer. "Edward... he's been through too much. As his parents, all we could do was look the other way, as long as it helped him get better.

"The last time they went to an art show together, I paid for their tickets. I thought they were just friends."

Turns out, what I thought was a surprise was nothing but a running joke to his whole family—something they never even questioned.

I was the idiot—kept in the dark, while eagerly handing over my money.

The real joke? Even his mom was sponsoring their dates.

Julia kept talking, her voice carrying a hint of patronizing reassurance. "Charlie, we haven't forgotten what you've done for Edward. The money for the studio—we'll find a way to pay you back.

"You're such a good girl—you'll meet someone better someday. Just... for the sake of Edward's health, be gracious and quietly walk away, okay?

"And please don't let him know that you chose to leave. He'll just blame himself."

I just froze.

Seriously, what was she saying?

She wanted me to just walk away quietly?

She wanted me to pretend it was my own choice to leave?

And I was even supposed to cover for them, just so Edward didn't have to feel guilty?

Turns out, in their eyes, I didn't even have the right to be angry.

I was just the "good girl"—the thoughtful, kind one, always expected to walk away for their happiness.

Julia called my name a few times, sounding anxious.

"Okay, I promise," I said.

As soon as I hung up, I just stared at that studio on the corner.

The morning sunlight poured over the glass, bouncing back a harsh, almost painful glare.

In just one night, it had gone from my dream to the cruelest punchline life ever threw at me.

And right then, I finally got it.

Turns out, loving someone could cost everything.

And could leave one as nothing.