Chapter 1
On my eighteenth birthday, Cameron Bennett and I made a promise: after college, we'd go to Lake Serenity together to watch the sunset.
He said that when the sunset painted the lake, our future would shine as bright.
Four years later, we kept our promise.
But on the day we were supposed to leave, I suddenly came down with a high fever and had to stay at the hotel.
That evening, after taking some fever medicine, I couldn't bear the thought of missing the sunset I'd been dreaming about for years, so I went to the lake alone.
As soon as I stepped onto the viewing platform, I saw Cameron kissing my best friend, Sophie Turner, under the sunset.
Ryan Cooper, our childhood friend, was holding up his camera, grinning as he captured the moment. 'Even Ryan is smiling for them Was I ever really part of this picture?' I wondered bitterly.
Sophie leaned into Cameron's arms. "What if Hailey finds out?"
Ryan snorted. "You've kept it under wraps for half a year. Now you're worried?"
Sophie fixed her gaze on Cameron. "So, when are you going to come clean with her?"
Cameron stared at the sunset, his voice calm.
"I'll tell her when we get back," he replied. "I promised to bring her to Lake Serenity, and I've done what I said I would."
He pulled Sophie closer, his tone gentle.
"From now on, I'll only share views like this with you," he promised.
Their laughter blended with the crowd's cheers, and no one noticed me standing a few steps away.
I took off the necklace Cameron had given me, left it on a bench by the lake, and turned to walk away.
When I was eighteen, I thought that watching a sunset together was the perfect ending to love.
But at twenty-two, I finally understood.
The sunset would always sink into the lake, right on schedule.
But the one who had promised to watch the scenery with me had already gone to someone else.
*****
By the time I got back to the hotel, the wind from the lake had left my clothes damp and clinging to me.
The receptionist saw how pale I looked and quickly grabbed a thermometer.
102.9°F.
She looked startled. "Where are your friends? Why did they let you come back alone?"
I leaned against the counter, my voice hoarse.
"They were busy enjoying the view," I said.
Not long after I took the fever medicine, I heard Ryan's laughter outside the door.
"That shot is incredible. With the sunset lighting it up, the whole vibe is next-level."
The door opened.
Cameron saw me sitting on the edge of the bed and paused.
"You went to the lake?" he asked.
I didn't answer.
His gaze fell on my shoes, caked with mud and sand, and his tone grew more serious.
"Didn't I tell you to rest at the hotel?" he snarled. "You're running around with a fever. Do you really want to end up in the hospital?"
Sophie followed behind him, draped in Cameron's jacket.
She was carrying a bowl of cold soup, looking innocent.
"Hailey," she said, "I brought you something to eat.
"We meant to come back earlier, but the sunset was so beautiful, and Ryan couldn't stop taking pictures..."
Ryan set his camera on the table.
He mocked, "It's understandable to be upset after waiting four years for that sunset and missing it.
"But there's no need to take it out on us. It's not our fault you suddenly came down with a fever."
I looked up at him.
The guy who'd been snapping pictures of Cameron and Sophie kissing was now lecturing me about how to behave.
Cameron walked over and reached out to touch my forehead.
I turned my face away.
His hand froze in midair, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.
For the past four years, I'd never pulled away from him.
Even when we fought, I'd wait for him to pull me into his arms, my eyes red from crying.
But this time, all I felt was disgust.
"What's your problem now?" Cameron said, his patience wearing thin. "It's just one sunset. I'll go with you tomorrow."
I looked at him. "Just me tomorrow?"
Sophie's expression changed slightly.
Ryan cleared his throat and turned away to fiddle with his camera.
Cameron paused for a couple of seconds, as if he couldn't understand why I was suddenly making a big deal out of this.
"We all came out here together. Why make such a big deal about who I'm with?"
He said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
It suddenly hit me—even if I hadn't caught them kissing, Cameron would never have let me go that easily.
He liked having Sophie depend on him, and he enjoyed having me build my future around him.
Having two women jealous over him wasn't a burden to Cameron; it was proof of his appeal.
Sophie suddenly clutched her chest, taking a shallow breath. "Cameron, I can't catch my breath."
Cameron immediately turned and caught her. "Was it the wind out by the lake?"
She leaned against his shoulder, looking weak enough to tug at his heartstrings.
Cameron turned to me and ordered, "Pass me the medicine on the nightstand."
I didn't move.
His voice grew firmer. "Hailey, don't make a scene. Sophie's not feeling well."
"I have a fever too," I said.
He paused, then frowned. "You've always been healthy. Just take some fever medicine and you'll be fine.
"She has asthma. Why are you comparing yourself to her?"
When it's her, a simple cough is enough to send him into a panic.
But when my fever hit 102.9°F, he thought I was being difficult.
I tossed the medicine box onto the table.
"Take her to the hospital. If you wait and she gets better on her own, you'll miss your chance to play the hero."
Cameron's expression darkened.
"Hailey, since when did you start talking like this?"
Sophie tugged at his arm, her eyes red from crying. "Don't blame Hailey. She's just upset because she missed the sunset."
Cameron slipped an arm around her and led her out.
As he passed the doorway, he said coldly, "Think about what you've done. Come find me when you've figured things out."
After the door closed, I opened my laptop.
In my inbox, the project invitation I'd turned down was still waiting for me.
The Northwest Heritage Digital Imaging Project—a year-long assignment—was set to begin in Stonebridge City in three days.
Back then, Cameron had held me close and said, "When I need you most for my startup, you're going to spend a whole year away. What about our future?"
For the sake of his "future," I gave up an opportunity I'd spent two years preparing for.
Only now did I realize the truth—his future needed my skills, my resources, and my willingness to accommodate him.
But it never needed me to care about my own feelings.
I called my advisor.
"Professor, is there still a spot available on the project?" I asked.
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Someone dropped out at the last minute," my advisor said. "But we're leaving the day after tomorrow.
"Hailey, are you sure about this?"
Outside the door, Cameron was speaking softly to Sophie, trying to comfort her. "Don't cry. I've spoiled her."
I lowered my eyes and answered softly, "I've made up my mind.
"I'm going."