The day before the piano competition finals, my boyfriend deliberately locked me on the rooftop to help his childhood friend win.

He stared at me intently, his voice low and steady. "You'll have plenty more chances. Can't you just let her have this one?"

Later, to secure her spot in the orchestra, he went so far as to break my fingers with his own hands.

I confronted him in anger, demanding to know why he would do this when we were supposed to be in a relationship.

He looked at me solemnly and said, "Susan, Miranda's mother saved me all those years ago, and now I have to fulfill this wish for her."

What he didn't understand was that for me, losing the use of my hands felt like losing my very life.

After I made the decision to stop loving him, he shattered his own hand, hoping to get my forgiveness.

"Please, Ryan, don't hurt my hands!" Tears streamed down my face as I twisted and struggled, desperately shaking my head.

In that moment, I had no dignity left, begging Ryan to show me mercy.

Tomorrow was the day the orchestra would be selecting new members.

If I performed well, I could not only join the prestigious orchestra but also become a model for the piano world, a student of the renowned Johannes Fraiche.

For the past few days, I had tirelessly practiced in the piano room, hoping to seize this once-in-four-year opportunity.

This was not just my dream—it was the dream my late mother had for me.

The long-awaited moment was finally almost here, but my boyfriend, Ryan Menzie, was doing everything he could to pave the way for his childhood friend, Miranda Santos.

Right now, he was having two bodyguards hold me down while he intentionally hurt my hands, all so that I couldn't attend the orchestra's audition tomorrow, clearing the way for Miranda to win the competition.

I knew Ryan had a soft spot for her, but I never imagined he would go this far.

Even though he heard my pleas, he kept his face dark, holding up a chair and slowly walking toward me.

He looked at me and said, "I'm sorry, Susan. You're a genius, and you've always had it easy. You don't understand how hard Miranda's journey has been. You'll have plenty more chances. Can't you just let her have this one?"

Was Miranda's path really so difficult? Was mine any easier?

I stared at him in disbelief, my heart aching. "So, you're going to break my hands just for her? Do you remember when you promised to protect me, to cherish me for life? But now, for Miranda, you're going to do this to me."

At my words, Ryan froze, his expression wavering.

I could see his hesitation, and a glimmer of hope sparked in my heart. I quickly added, "Ryan, we've been together for so many years. Please, just let me go. Playing the piano has always been my dream."

Just then, Ryan's phone rang.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the name "Miranda" flash across the screen, and my heart sank.

Ryan put the call on speaker, and Miranda's pitiful voice clearly reached my ears.

"Ryan, I'm so nervous about tomorrow's performance. What should I do? I know I've always been outshone by Susan, but joining the orchestra is my dream, and it was my mom's dream too... I just..."

Hearing Miranda's voice, Ryan's eyes softened with pity. He lowered his voice and comforted her, "Don't worry. I'll help you."

My eyes widened in disbelief, and the sense of unease in my chest grew stronger.

After hanging up, Ryan's gaze toward me turned cold again. "I'm sorry, Susan. Miranda's mother saved me all those years ago, and now I have to fulfill this wish for her. Don't worry. I'll make it up to you."

I trembled with fear, barely able to speak. "Ryan, y-you can't do this to me!"

Ryan raised the chair in his hands, and with a swift motion, brought it down on me, his eyes cold as they met mine. I was paralyzed by the fear in my eyes, unable to move.

"Ah!" The pain shot through me like a jolt of electricity, and I couldn't contain the blood-curdling scream that escaped my lips.

My fingers were crushed instantly, mangled and bleeding, as I stared at them in disbelief. The physical pain, sharp and intense, barely compared to the crushing weight in my chest.

It was over. Everything was ruined.

My hands, my mother's dreams—everything was shattered in that single moment.

Tears streamed down my face in heavy, relentless drops.

Ryan rushed toward me, pulling me into an embrace. I leaned silently into his broad, warm chest, but the words that came from above were as cold as ice. "I'm sorry, Susan. Please, forgive me just this once. I know this isn't fair to you. But Miranda's mother died saving me. Once she makes it into the orchestra, I'll have repaid my debt."

"Repay?" I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping me. "Ryan, so your way of repaying Miranda is by hurting me?"

With every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed him away and raised my bloodied hands, hatred flashing in my eyes. "Do you know how long I've worked for this chance, how hard I've fought for it?"

Maybe it was the look of fury in my eyes that made him hesitate, but for a moment, Ryan seemed almost guilty.

However, it was fleeting. His face hardened again, and his voice was cold, detached. "Enough. What's the point of all this? This has been Miranda's dream, and her mother's dying wish."

At that moment, I realized with crystal clarity that I was done with this heartless man.

I scoffed, the words bitter in my mouth. "And what gives you the right to destroy me for her dream?"

Ryan didn't even flinch. "It's fine, Susan. I know you're upset. Don't worry. I'll make it up to you. Once Miranda joins the orchestra, I'll take you under the Menzies' wing, and you'll never have to worry about anything again."

Hearing this made my stomach churn with disgust.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke slowly, my voice unwavering, "Then listen carefully. I don't need your so-called compensation. I'm breaking up with you."

His face turned pale. "Are you serious?" he asked, his voice darkening. "I won't agree to this."

He glared at me, his face twisted in anger. "Susan, I'll let it slide this time. But if you say something like that again, I'll really break up with you."

With that, Ryan turned away without another glance, storming out of the room.

I watched him leave, helpless, as I collapsed onto the cold floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ryan and I met during college.

It was a rainy day, and I was lost in thought while crossing the street when he reached out and pulled me back just in time to avoid being hit by a car.

I looked up, shaken, and found myself staring at his handsome, aloof face.

It was because of his life-saving act that I found myself falling for him, helplessly.

After much persistence on my part, Ryan agreed to date me.

But as we got closer, I started noticing something unsettling—there seemed to be someone more important to him than me.

Her name was Miranda, and she had grown up alongside Ryan.

Every time Miranda called, Ryan would drop everything and rush to her side.

He even went so far as to lock me on the rooftop the night before the final round of a piano competition for her sake.

That night, I had been locked out for hours, missing the competition and ending up with a fever that spiked to 104°F. Meanwhile, Miranda won first place.

The next day, Ryan had casually explained that his actions were just a way of repaying a debt.

Miranda came from a single-parent family. Her mother had worked as a maid at the Menzies.

After a fire, Miranda's mother had escaped, but when she realized Ryan was still inside, she went back in to save him.

Ryan was rescued, but Miranda's mother suffered severe burns and passed away in the hospital shortly after.

In gratitude for her mother's sacrifice, the Menzies treated Miranda like a daughter, showering her with love and care.

And whenever Miranda asked for anything, Ryan would always oblige.

Just like now—Ryan was willing to destroy my hands, my future, just to ensure that Miranda didn't have to face competition from me in tomorrow's audition.

But why was he repaying a debt to Miranda by destroying my hands and dreams?

Whenever I questioned his relationship with Miranda, Ryan would explode in anger, insisting that he only saw Miranda as a sister. He would tell me not to overthink things.

Before, I had forgiven him time and time again, driven by both my love for him and my gratitude to him for saving my life.

But now, staring at my bloodied hands, broken and unrecognizable, I cried and laughed, my emotions in turmoil.

When I was six, my father had an affair and abandoned me and my mother. The betrayal devastated my mother, and she cut herself because she couldn't bear the pain of his departure.

Her depression, coupled with the scars on her hands, led her to abandon her dream of playing the piano.

But one day, after hearing me play, my mother's eyes lit up. She found renewed hope.

She started working tirelessly, teaching me piano and hiring the best tutors, sending me to various competitions.

She even worked as a delivery driver and washed dishes, all to support me and give me the chance to succeed.

My mother, who had sacrificed so much for me, was diagnosed with cancer while I was in college and passed away far too soon.

On her deathbed, she held my hand and shared her final wish with me.

She wanted me to continue studying music, join an orchestra, and become Johannes's student.

But now, because I had fallen for Ryan, I missed my chance—my hands were destroyed, and I would never be able to play the piano again.

I used to not understand why my mother had been so consumed with grief after my father left, to the point of self-harm.

Now, I wondered—was this the price of loving someone?

If so, then I would never dare to love again.