Chapter 1
After seven years of keeping our relationship under wraps, Ryan Carter became the internet's hottest hero pilot overnight.
His flight was caught in a sudden storm, but he managed an emergency landing and brought everyone to safety.
I watched the live stream as the news went viral, crying so hard that I could barely stand.
Ten minutes later, during the live interview at the airport, a three-year-old boy broke through the security line, crying as he ran straight into Ryan's arms, calling him "Daddy."
Then, my best friend, Emily Grant, ran over, her eyes red from crying. Ryan held them both in his arms, right there on national TV.
Before I could process what was happening, two more familiar faces popped up on the screen.
My mom, eyes red, hugged Emily, her voice choked with emotion. "Emily, it's okay now. Ryan is back safe and sound. You and Charlie have someone to rely on again."
My dad patted Ryan on the shoulder, with a look of real relief. "Nothing beats having the whole family together."
In that instant, my blood ran cold.
Over the past seven years, I gave up three children for Ryan.
Every single time, he'd hold me tight, his eyes red from crying, making promises to me. "Sophie, to protect your reputation, I can't let you become an unwed mother.
"Once I'm promoted to captain, we'll get married."
I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
But the more I laughed, the more my tears blurred everything.
It wasn't just Ryan. My parents had been siding with them from the very beginning.
And I was the only one left, hidden away in the dark, waiting for seven years.
I opened the live stream and typed out a comment, letter by letter. [Congratulations.]
*****
After I sent that "Congratulations," the comments section was instantly flooded with new messages, and everyone was sending their blessings and congratulations.
[Hero pilots like Ryan deserve all the happiness.]
[That moment when the kid ran to him, yelling 'Daddy', I was literally bawling.]
My two words were lost in a sea of well-wishes, like a single drop of blood vanishing into the ocean.
No one noticed.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Ryan.
When I picked up, the background was a mess. Airport announcements blaring, a kid crying on and off.
But when he spoke, his voice was icy cold, "There are way too many people watching today. Don't make a scene right now.
"Emily and Charlie are already in the spotlight. I can't let them be embarrassed."
My grip on the phone tightened, knuckles turning white. "And what about me?"
He didn't answer.
After a long while, he finally sighed, sounding exhausted, "Sophie, we'll talk about us some other time. But Charlie was seen by everyone in the country.
"I need to give them an answer."
The kid's name was Charlie.
When I heard that name, it hit me like a bomb going off in my head.
Back when Ryan and I were crazy about each other, we climbed up the mountain to watch the stars.
I nestled into his shoulder, laughing, "If we ever have a kid, what would we call them?"
Ryan bent down and kissed my forehead. "Charlie. You and our child would be the best gifts that life ever gave me."
But in the end, none of my three kids ever made it into this world.
And in the end, he gave that name to Emily's kid.
I stared at the little boy on the screen, surrounded by everyone, as if my heart were being torn out right then and there.
Even the future I once imagined for myself, they took everything I ever hoped for and used it to build their own happy family.
Then, a message from my mom popped up in our family group chat. [Sophie, now that you know, I won't keep it from you anymore.
[Emily kept telling us not to say anything.
[She said you loved Ryan too much, and she was afraid you wouldn't be able to handle it if you found out.]
I stared at those words, my whole body going numb.
Then, my dad chimed in. [Emily has always had your back these past few years.
[If she hadn't been so kind, Ryan would've dumped you a long time ago.]
My mom quickly added another message. [Emily has always been too soft-hearted. The truth is, she and Ryan love each other, but she has always been afraid of hurting you.
[Sophie, you're not a child anymore. You need to start acting your age.]
I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
I laughed until tears streamed down, hitting my phone screen one by one.
They thought they weren't betraying me after all, and they were doing it for my own good.
Emily could steal my boyfriend, have his child, and still be the kind one in my parents' eyes.
My mom quickly sent a voice message.
She kept her voice down, as if she were scared someone else might hear.
She said, "Sophie, I know this must be hard for you.
"Charlie has always been so attached to us. A few days ago, he said how much he missed Grandma and Grandpa.
"He is a three-year-old, Sophie. Don't hold it against a little kid."