Adrianna turned and hurried down the stairs, tears streaming down her cheeks despite her efforts to hold them back. The love she had nurtured for three years now felt like a cruel betrayal—a harsh revelation that Zander had been using her all along. It was as if her entire world had crumbled, leaving her restless and struggling to regain her composure.

As she cried, she tossed the wine bottle in her hand into a trash can, the clatter mirroring the chaos inside her. Suddenly, her phone rang, Zander's name flashing on the screen. She sniffled and reluctantly answered.

"Adrianna, when are you coming back? We're out of wine," Zander's voice chimed in that familiar tone she once believed was filled with love. Now, it pierced her heart like a thousand daggers.

"I... my friend needed me suddenly, so I didn't go," she lied, instinctively avoiding the confrontation, not ready to expose the wound that bled with every thought of him. She couldn't just let go—not immediately, not after loving him for so long.

"Oh, no problem. Just have fun with your friend; we'll manage the drinks ourselves," Zander replied, seemingly unconcerned. "I won't be home tonight either. Iyla insisted we go to a car race, and she won't take no for an answer."

In the past, Adrianna wouldn't have thought twice about his words. Zander and Iyla had been childhood friends, their bond seemingly innocent and simple. She had never doubted their relationship or suspected any deeper affection. But now, she couldn't help but detect a hint of indulgence in his tone.

Awareness changes everything, stripping away the filters through which she once saw him. She could now see clearly what she had refused to acknowledge.

"Alright," she replied, her voice laced with bitterness, a tremor that went unnoticed by Zander, who hung up without a second thought.

In the evening, she went to the picturesque mountain road just outside town. This was where Zander Greene and Iyla Austin frequently indulged in their passion for racing. Across the road, she spotted Zander getting out of his car, scooping Iyla into his arms, and twirling her around. His eyes shone with adoration, and his voice overflowed with joy. "Oh, my darling, you're such an amazing racer. I can't keep up with you."

Iyla wrapped her legs around his waist, looking at him with pride. "Of course! Who do you think I am?"

"Alright, alright, you're the most unbeatable racing champ in the universe," Zander laughed, their noses playfully touching.

To any outsider, they seemed like the perfect couple, blissfully in love. That’s what she thought, too. But the man standing there was supposed to be her boyfriend.

A bitter smile appeared on her lips as she clutched her stomach, taking a few steps back and nearly losing her footing. At that moment, any remaining hope she had for Zander faded away. Walking away was her final act of preserving her dignity.

After returning, Adrianna Simmons sent a message to Zander Greene via WhatsApp.

"We need to end things."

An hour later, he replied.

"Adrianna, what's going on? Did I do something wrong?"

He wrapped her in his arms, and the scent of vanilla perfume surrounded her. Of course, they'd been so close that it was natural he'd carry her scent.

Suppressing the ache in her heart, Adrianna spoke bitterly, "The person you truly care about is Iyla, isn't it?"

"Is that why you're upset?" he scoffed, pushing her away with anger flashing in his eyes.

"Adrianna Simmons, didn't I tell you before? I'm just horseback riding with Iyla for fun."

"Are you really that insecure?"

So, having fun includes hugging? she thought, but she wanted him to admit it himself.

"And how exactly are you having fun?" she asked.

"Just riding horses, nothing more!" he replied without a moment's hesitation, not a trace of guilt on his face.

Her chest tightened with unease, and at last, she understood why she had been deceived by him for so long. He was a master at pretending, his facade flawless.

"Is that so?" she looked up into his dark eyes.

He finally looked away with a trace of unease, biting his lip as he said, "Adrianna, I didn't realize you could be so petty."

"Sure, Iyla might have a tomboy streak, but she's bold and generous, unlike you."

Watching his lips move, she suddenly felt a wave of revulsion and unfamiliarity. So, this is what the end of love looks like, she thought—mutual disdain and harsh words.

No, that's not right, because he never loved me at all.

"Then let's break up," she said as tears began to fall.

At that moment, his phone rang. The name on the screen read "Sweetheart," and it cut deep. He'd never called her that.

He once said it was too cheesy, but now she understood he just never wanted to call her "Sweetheart."

Zander answered the call right in front of her. "What's up?"

His tone softened.

"Zander, I... I'm a bit tipsy," Iyla's voice slurred over the line.

"I want to tell you a secret. Do you want to hear it?"

"That is, I like you. I don't want you to be with Adrianna Simmons. Can you come over now?"

Zander didn't reply to her immediately but instead looked at Adrianna with a questioning gaze.

"Adrianna, if you take back what you just said, I won't go."

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she said clearly, "We’re breaking up."

"Did you hear that?"