Chapter 6

She took forever to type, then finally sent: [Olivia, I know you hate me. I just want to be with Ryan a little longer. Can you understand that feeling? When you love someone, you just want to stay with them, even if it's only for one more minute.]

I didn't reply.

She messaged again: [Actually, Ryan talks about you a lot. He says you're really kind and understanding. He told me he'll definitely come back to you in three months, so I shouldn't worry.]

I replied: [Is that so?]

["Yeah! He also said that being with you makes him feel safe, but when he's with me, his heart races.] She also added a shy emoji at the end.

I could almost see her smug face through the screen as she typed that.

She messaged again: [Oh, and Ryan's in the shower right now. He's exhausted after spending the whole day with me.

[Olivia, you're really big-hearted about all this. If it were me, I could never let my boyfriend go to someone else. But don't worry, I'll take good care of him; after all, he cares about me so much.]

She was showing off, plain and simple.

I turned off my screen and ignored her.

Ten minutes later, she messaged again.

[Olivia, are you mad? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to rub it in. I'm just so happy to be with Ryan like this, even if it's only for three months. Sometimes I wish my illness was fake, so I could stay with him forever.]

That line pretty much exposed her.

But I just took a screenshot and blocked her.

Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, thinking back to the first time I met Ryan two years ago.

He'd just been dumped by Jessica and was drowning his sorrows at a bar. I happened to sit next to him.

Drunk out of his mind, he kept talking to me all night, going on and on about Jessica: how pure and kind she was, and how she must've had no choice but to leave him.

Back then, I thought he was devoted.

Now I realized that devotion was real, just not to me.

My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number. [Olivia, I'm sorry about today. Once everything with Jessica is over, I'll make it up to you. Wait for me. —Ryan]

I deleted the message and blocked the number without a second thought.

After news of the canceled wedding spread through my social media, my inbox exploded with all sorts of messages.

Most were words of comfort, some were just nosy gossip, and a few mutual friends gently reminded me. [Ryan's just really sentimental, don't take it so seriously.]

Asked me not to take it so seriously?

Smiling to myself, I replied to each message one by one. [We're already broken up. I wish him happiness.]

The most unexpected thing was when Ryan's mom Genevieve Carter called me. She'd always been so kind to me. She once took my hand and said, "Olivia, Ryan is so lucky to have found you."

"Mrs. Carter," I answered, my voice steady.

"Olivia," Her voice was thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry. That rascal, I've yelled at him, but he just won't listen. He keeps saying he can't just leave Jessica alone. I know Ryan has wronged you."

"Mrs. Carter, it's all in the past now," I said. "Please take care of yourself."

"Are you really not going to wait for him?" she asked, her voice gentle and hesitant. "He said he'll come back in three months."

"No," I cut her off. "Once a mirror's shattered, you can't piece it back together."

There was a long silence on the other end, then a heavy sigh. "You're a good girl, Olivia. Ryan just didn't deserve you. Please come visit me sometimes, okay?"

After hanging up, my heart ached a little. Genevieve really did treat me like family, but her son just wasn't worth it.

When Sophie heard about it, she was fuming. "Ryan's such a mama's boy! He listens to his mom and goes after a 'good wife' like you, but can't let go of that homewrecker! Unbelievable!"

"Alright, let's not talk about him anymore," I said, changing the subject. "How's that project you mentioned last time?"

Sophie's an interior designer, and she's been bidding on a luxury B&B project lately. Her eyes lit up. "Oh, right! The client's hosting a small cocktail party tomorrow night. Come with me! It'll be a good chance to relax and meet some new people."

I thought for a moment, then agreed.

It was time to get out there.