Chapter 1 The Unfaithful Boyfriend

Elena Hart stood at the doorway, clutching the box of homemade pastries she'd baked for Liam , her boyfriend. Restless, she checked her phone again-two hours had passed, and he still hadn't called her back.

Her heart raced with a mixture of worry and anticipation, each minute feeding her unease. Something must have happened to keep him from answering, she reasoned, willing away the creeping shadows of doubt.

Looking up, she noticed the faint glow coming from his apartment window. Relief flooded through her; at least he was home. But one question lingered stubbornly in her mind: why hadn't he answered her calls if he was just right there?

Taking a steadying breath, Elena knocked softly on the door, hoping Liam would greet her with his usual warmth-his easy smile, his familiar charm that always put her at ease. She wanted to believe he had a good reason for not picking up.

An uncomfortable feeling she couldn't quite place. Maybe he was wrapped up in work, she thought. Liam was always busy, often lost in one project or another, his mind miles away even when they were together.

But tonight felt different, the silence heavier, the uncertainty pressing harder. Elena took another breath, her fingers tightening slightly around the pastry box, willing herself to be calm. She raised her hand to knock once more, her heart caught between hope and worry.

The door swung open unexpectedly, and Elena's hopeful expression faded as a young woman stepped into view, her face partly hidden behind a scarf, with only her eyes visible.

Those eyes glinted with a mischievous sparkle as she regarded Elena, a trace of amusement flickering there that sent a chill racing through Elena's veins.

Moments later, Liam appeared behind the woman, a satisfied grin on his face that disappeared the instant he saw Elena standing there. His expression shifted from surprise to discomfort, the mask of ease slipping from his face.

The disheveled look of both of them, the undeniable air of something illicit hanging in the air-Elena felt her chest tighten as realization began to dawn.

The woman, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness of the moment, brushed past Elena with a casual, almost dismissive glance. She stepped down the stairs without a second thought, leaving

Elena standing motionless at the doorway, her thoughts swirling. Her eyes darted from the woman's retreating figure to Liam, who now looked anywhere but at her.

A few long moments passed, and Elena felt her grip tighten around the small box of pastries she had made for him.

Her stomach churned with the realization of what she had just walked into, but anger quickly took hold, overriding the initial shock. Without hesitation, she threw the box at Liam, the pastries tumbling out as it struck him squarely in the chest.

"Are you cheating on me?" she demanded, her voice steady but her heart pounding wildly. The betrayal she felt was immense, yet her voice stayed firm, unwilling to show him just how deeply he had hurt her.

Liam scratched the back of his head, his usual carefree demeanor now laced with guilt. He gave a weak shrug, as though he was simply caught in something he couldn't or didn't want to explain.

"Well, yeah," he replied with a hint of exasperation, as though the answer was obvious. "Look, Elena, it's just that... you didn't want to do that stuff with me, so I had to find a way to take care of things myself."

His words hit her like a slap in the face, each one more painful than the last. She looked at him, searching for any hint of remorse or apology in his eyes, but found nothing except a careless indifference. She had shared so many late nights with him, dreams and plans for the future, her laughter and insecurities.

Her voice rose, trembling with fury. "You think that justifies this? You're unbelievable, Liam. You're a coward."

"Hey, Elena," he interrupted, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't think you'd understand. You're always busy with school and those little writing projects of yours. You never put me first."

The disdain in his tone, the way he made it sound like everything was somehow her fault, made her blood boil. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she struggled to keep her composure.

Elena took a deep breath, her voice low and steady. "I trusted you, Liam. I thought I knew you." She let out a bitter laugh.

"Clearly, I was the fool."

Liam rolled his eyes. "Fine, if that's how you feel. But don't make this so dramatic, Elena. This isn't some novel you're writing; this is real life. If you want to keep being with me, then you need to get over it."

Her face flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation. It felt as if he had reduced everything she'd worked for-her dreams, her efforts, her loyalty-to nothing with a single careless wave of his hand. She couldn't take it anymore.

"You're right, Liam," she said coldly, her voice like steel.

"This is my life. And I'm done wasting any more of it on you. I hope you get exactly what you deserve."

With that, she turned on her heel, ignoring his half-hearted protests. She walked away, her back straight and her steps firm. But as soon as she reached the street, the composure she clung to began to shatter.

Her fists tightened as she forced herself to keep moving, each step an effort not to break down. The familiar sting of tears pricked her eyes, but she swallowed hard, refusing to let them fall.

The city lights blurred in her vision as she walked down the street, her mind a whirlwind of emotions barely held in check. Betrayal, anger, heartbreak-they all burned within her, a fire she could barely contain.

She wanted to scream, to cry, to demand answers. But more than anything, she wanted to erase this moment, to rid herself of the memory of that woman's mocking gaze and Liam's smug, unrepentant smirk.

At last, she stopped at a quiet corner, leaning against the cool brick wall, taking in a shaky breath. For the first time in a long time, Elena felt utterly lost, as if everything she had once believed in had been torn away in a single, brutal moment. Yet somewhere deep within, a new resolve was hardening. She had come to this city to chase her dreams, to build a future for herself. And she would not let Liam's betrayal be the thing that broke her.

With a final, deep breath, she straightened, wiping away the last traces of tears from her cheeks. She didn't know exactly what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: she wouldn't let anyone-not even Liam-stand in the way of her dreams.

Just as Elena's mind drifted into a whirlpool of dark thoughts, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Lily Cole-her best friend and fellow university classmate.

"Hey, are you free right now?" Lily's warm voice echoed through the receiver, a comforting sound that eased some of the tension Elena hadn't even realized she was holding onto. She hesitated for a moment, but knew she needed someone to talk to, someone she trusted. Without a second thought, she agreed, and they decided to meet at a small, familiar bar.

When Lily arrived, she immediately spotted Elena sitting alone in the corner, looking small and adrift. Lily walked over, slipping into the seat across from her with a gentle smile.

"What's going on?" Lily asked softly, her eyes full of genuine concern.

Elena's gaze dropped to her hands before she managed to speak. "He cheated on me, Lily. I walked in and saw... everything."

Lily's expression shifted from surprise to a warm sympathy.

"Forget about guys like him, Elena," she said gently, her tone radiating the kind of support Elena hadn't known she needed. "Anyone who can't see your worth isn't worth your pain."

Elena let out a trembling sigh, managing a weak smile that broke through her frustration.

"You"re right," she whispered, feeling a sliver of relief. "But it hurts so much."

Lily squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I know it does. But tomorrow is my birthday, and I need you there with me, ready to have a good time," she added with a playful grin.

"Deal?"

Elena chuckled, feeling a bit of lightness return to her. Looking at Lily, who always seemed to understand and bring strength just when she needed it, she nodded.

"Alright, Lily," she replied, her voice steadier now. "I'll be there. I promise."