Chapter 2

The Golden Note Awards.

LA.

Red carpet, flashing lights, the whole suffocating circus.

I was there as a nominee for "Best Breakthrough Artist," a small fish in a sea of sharks, my indie Austin roots feeling a million miles away.

Liam was by my side, a solid, reassuring presence in his perfectly tailored suit, looking more like a movie star than a tech mogul.

We hadn't talked much more about the vlog, but it hung in the air, an unspoken static.

The viral storm was still raging online, "Maythan" shippers dissecting every frame of that old video, convinced our college love was epic, destined.

I tried to ignore it, focus on the night, on the possibility of actually winning something.

We were seated, the lights dimmed, and the host, a slick comedian known for his sharp wit, took the stage.

"What a night, folks! Music, glamour, and drama! And speaking of drama, have you all seen that adorable college vlog making the rounds? Two young lovebirds, dreaming of stardom... one of them is right here tonight, a global superstar, Mr. Ethan Carter!"

The camera panned to Ethan, seated a few tables away, looking impeccable in a velvet jacket.

He gave a practiced, charming smile, clearly expecting a generic compliment.

Brittany, his current pop-princess girlfriend, clung to his arm, beaming possessively. She was all manufactured gloss, from her platinum hair to her impossibly high heels.

"Ethan," the host continued, a sly grin on his face, "that video with your old flame... Maya, was it? It' s everywhere! The internet is demanding a Maythan reunion! What do you say? Any chance of getting the band back together?"

Ethan' s smile froze.

His eyes darted around, a flicker of panic in them.

He clearly hadn' t anticipated this.

He tried to pivot. "Ah, well, you know, college days. Brittany and I are actually working on a new duet, it' s going to be-"

"Hold that thought, Ethan!" the host interrupted, his grin widening. "Because we have the clip! Let' s take a look!"

The massive screens above the stage, previously showing the awards logo, flickered to life.

And there it was.

Our dorm room.

Young Ethan, young Maya.

Our promises.

Our dreams.

Our love, raw and unfiltered, broadcast to the entire music industry.

A collective gasp went through the auditorium.

Ethan looked horrified, his face paling under the stage lights. Brittany' s smile vanished, replaced by a tight, furious glare aimed squarely at me.

I felt a flush creep up my neck, a wave of wistful pain washing over me as I watched my younger self, so full of hope, so blissfully unaware of the heartbreak to come.

Liam' s hand found mine under the table, his fingers lacing through mine, a silent anchor.

The clip ended.

The host, clearly relishing the awkwardness, turned back to Ethan. "So, Ethan? Nostalgic?"

Ethan swallowed, forcing a laugh that sounded more like a cough. "Wow. Ancient history. Who even remembers their college flame, right?"

He threw a dismissive wave, trying to look unbothered, but his eyes kept flicking towards me, a strange, unreadable expression in them.

A murmur went through the crowd. His casual dismissal, after the raw emotion of the video, landed badly.

I just stared straight ahead, my face carefully neutral, Liam' s hand a warm pressure in mine.

The show moved on, but the air was thick with the unspoken.

Then, "And the Golden Note for Best Breakthrough Artist goes to..."

My heart leaped into my throat.

"...Maya!"

A roar went up from our table. Liam was on his feet, pulling me into a hug, his eyes shining.

"You did it, babe! You did it!"

I was stunned, grinning, tears welling up. This was it. This was what I' d worked for, bled for, all these years.

I made my way to the stage, a daze of lights and applause.

And then, the host, with a cruel sense of comedic timing, announced, "And presenting the award, her old... collaborator... Ethan Carter!"

My steps faltered.

You have got to be kidding me.

Ethan walked onto the stage from the opposite side, his face a mask of cool detachment. He held the golden statuette as if it were something distasteful.

He didn't look at me.

He read from the teleprompter, his voice flat, devoid of any emotion. "Congratulations to Maya."

He handed me the award, his fingers brushing mine for a fleeting, unwelcome second.

The contact was like an electric shock, cold and unpleasant.

I took the award, my hand trembling slightly.

I looked out at the audience, at Liam, his proud smile a beacon in the overwhelming glare.

I took a deep breath. "Thank you," I managed, my voice surprisingly steady. "This... this means everything."

I kept my speech short, heartfelt, thanking my small team, my fans, and finally, Liam. "To my husband, Liam, thank you for believing in me, always."

I didn't look at Ethan once.

The applause was thunderous.

As I walked off stage, statuette clutched in my hand, I could feel Ethan' s eyes on my back.

The internet, predictably, exploded again.

"OMG, the AWKWARDNESS!"

"Ethan presenting Maya her award after dissing their past? Savage!"

"He looked SICK. He still loves her. #MaythanReunion"

"Liam is HOT. Team Liam!"

The night was far from over.