Chapter 3

He' d stood there, frozen, his hand still on the doorknob. My heart had hammered against my ribs, a desperate, frantic drumbeat. I saw the glint of tears in his eyes then, real tears, blurring his vision. He' d looked at me, truly looked at me, for the first time in months.

"Damien," I' d whispered, my own voice thick with unshed tears. "Please. Don' t go. I need you. I need us."

My pleas were raw, stripped bare of pride. I' d told him everything. How much I hated Branden' s influence, how alone I felt, how his constant disregard chipped away at my self-worth. I' d poured out all my fears, all my anxieties, all the pain of feeling like a distant second to his best friend.

"I just want to be your priority," I' d choked out, tears streaming down my face. "Just once. Just choose me. Choose us."

He' d swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on my tear-streaked face. For a fleeting second, I saw a glimmer of the Damien I' d fallen in love with-the one who was tender, understanding, who would hold me and promise to make everything okay. I held my breath, hope blooming fragile and fierce in my chest. He was going to choose me. I knew it. He had to.

Then, his phone buzzed.

He pulled it out, a quick glance at the screen. Branden' s name flashed, accompanied by a frantic message. Dude, they' re about to hit the Strip! If you' re not here in five, we' re leaving without you! Don' t be a pussy!

Damien's expression hardened. The tenderness vanished, replaced by an old, familiar resentment. He looked at me, then at the phone, then back at me. He sucked in a sharp breath.

"Branden' s right," he muttered, his voice cold, distant. "You' re being unreasonable, Cecil. Don' t try to control me. I told you I was going."

He opened the door.

"Wait, Damien, please!" I cried, rushing forward, trying to block his path. "Don' t do this! If you walk out, we' re done!"

He looked at me with an almost pitying expression. "You really are dramatic, aren' t you? You always say that. And you always take me back. You' ll cool off." He stepped over the threshold. "I' ll bring you something nice from Vegas."

Then, he was gone. The door slammed shut with a sickening thud, vibrating through the entire apartment. The sound echoed in the sudden, cavernous silence.

I stood in the empty doorway, the scent of the dinner I' d lovingly prepared for his return now cold and mocking. Two plates, still steaming on the table. My favorite candles, lit and flickering. All for nothing.

Later that night, the first photos appeared on Branden' s Instagram. Damien, arm in arm with Branden, shots of them chugging beers, gambling, laughing with a group of scantily clad women. Branden' s captions were mocking, almost gloating. Vegas, baby! No drama here! Then, a direct jab: Some people just know how to live. Others just know how to cling.

I stared at the photos, the food I' d forced myself to eat rising in my throat. I ran to the bathroom, vomiting until my stomach was empty and burning. The tears came then, violent and uncontrollable, racking my body with sobs until I couldn' t breathe.

That was the night I ended up in the emergency room, struggling for air, my heart racing uncontrollably. Acute anxiety attack, the doctors said. Brought on by extreme stress. They gave me sedatives, monitored my heart, and sent me home with a prescription and a warning to avoid triggers.

During my stay, I' d compulsively scrolled through Branden' s social media. More photos. More videos. Damien, looking vibrant and carefree, living his best life, completely oblivious to the fact that I was hooked up to an IV, struggling to simply exist. Branden' s constant updates were a cruel highlight reel of my worst nightmares.

Branden (captioning a photo of Damien laughing with a woman at a pool party): Damien's having the time of his life, finally free!

The comments section was full of people cheering them on, praising their 'bro code,' lambasting Damien's 'controlling girlfriend.' And then, the final twist of the knife: one of Branden' s posts, a group shot at a high-roller table, was liked by Damien himself.