Seeing this side of Barry—so unfamiliar, so cold—I suddenly thought back to three years ago.

The first time we met, he was all nerves, blushing as he tugged at his shirt. "Hey, can I add you?"

Our friends egged him on. My face burned too.

Under Barry's relentless pursuit, I fell for that sweet, awkward boy.

His family didn't have much, and my parents weren't thrilled. When Barry found out, he didn't get mad. He just held my hands, gentle as ever. "Mr. and Mrs. Abel just want the best for you. They're looking out for you. And honestly? I can't give you much right now."

So he tried harder. Treated me like I was everything. Rain or shine, he brought me breakfast. Worked multiple jobs just to buy me handbags and jewelry.

One night, we were walking past a dimly lit alley when a group of drunk thugs spotted me. Their eyes lit up.

Barry's grip on me tightened. He tried to steer us away, but they blocked our path.

One sneered. "They say couples stick together through thick and thin, but when things go south? People only look out for themselves. Relax, I just wanna chat with the lady."

Barry didn't flinch. Didn't let go.

He shoved me behind him, taking their punches and kicks.

I sobbed, begging him to run.

But he just looked at me, eyes steady. "I won't let go of you..."

By the time the cops showed up, Barry was already unconscious—still holding onto me.

After that, my parents finally accepted him.

Barry was always good to me. But his eyes? They were never clouded. Never lost in the moment.

Even in our most intimate moments, there was this eerie calmness.

He'd gently push me away. "Amelia, let's wait until we're married. There's no rush."

Back then, I thought he was just disciplined. A gentleman with principles.

But then I overheard him talking to his friend about Lyla. I saw the way his eyes softened—how real love looked on him.

His friend asked him something, and Barry's voice, laced with quiet disdain, cut through the air.

"I never touched Amelia. In this life, I've only ever had one woman—Lyla.

"Amelia looks a lot like Lyla. I made her grow her hair out, dress like her... But no matter how much she resembles Lyla, I had to stay faithful to the real one."

Lyla, with her long, dark hair and flowy white dresses.

No wonder Barry only ever bought me light-colored gowns.

No wonder, whenever he tucked my hair behind my ear, his eyes were full of regret. Not love.

And just like that, I finally got it.

Barry never loved me. He just loved that I reminded him of her.

I pushed open the door.

The room went dead silent.

Barry's eyes flicked to me, a flash of impatience crossing his face.

I smiled. "I've been listening at the door for a while. I'm not embarrassed, so why are you?"

Discomfort flickered across his expression. His mouth opened slightly, like he was about to say something.

The whole room seemed to hold its breath.

Then, just like that, Lyla swept in like a butterfly, flinging herself into Barry's arms. He caught her automatically, his voice soft with reprimand. "You're not a kid anymore. What if you fell?"

Lyla giggled. "That's why I have you."

Barry's smile deepened. He playfully pinched her nose, eyes dripping with affection.

Something inside me froze.

I knew Barry didn't love me. I had accepted it.

But watching them like this? It still cut deep.

And when my gaze landed on the sparkling diamond on Lyla's finger, the pain turned suffocating.

That ring—one-of-a-kind. A true love piece. Something you could only custom-order once in a lifetime.

I had seen it before. In Barry's pocket.

Back then, I thought it was meant for me.

But on the day of our engagement, he slid a pair of plain, forgettable bands onto my finger instead.

I still remembered the way my parents' expressions darkened when they saw those cheap rings.

I hadn't minded. Barry told me he made them himself.

I even reassured my parents. Told them those were just engagement rings—that I had already seen the real one. The one he'd custom-made for me.

Never, not even in my worst nightmares, did I think I'd see that ring on Lyla's finger.

Humiliation crashed over me. The band on my own hand burned like a brand.

I thought back to my past self, so full of joy, so blind. I had never felt like more of a fool.

Tears pricked at my eyes.

Then Lyla noticed me. Something flickered in her gaze.

She pointed straight at me. "Barry, who's this girl? A friend of yours?"

Barry stiffened. Panic flashed across his face.

Then, instinctively—without hesitation—he denied me. "No. She's not my friend."

Lyla tilted her head. "If she's not your friend, then who is she?"

A thin sheen of sweat formed on Barry's forehead. His gaze snapped to me, cold. Accusing. Like I was the problem. Like I had put him in this mess.

Bitterness curdled in my chest.

And then, just like that, he drove the knife all the way in.

"She's my buddy's girlfriend. She came here looking for him."

The guy next to me jolted out of his daze, then jumped in fast. "Yeah, yeah, my girlfriend. She's with me."

I stood frozen in place.

Barry's warning gaze shattered whatever shred of hope I had left.

Lyla, completely oblivious to the silent war between us, tilted her head. "But they don't look like a couple, Barry. You're not lying to me, are you?

"She's looking at you kinda weird."

Barry's voice turned sharp. "What's weird about it? You're overthinking again... Fine, what would make you believe me?"

Lyla's smile was all sugar. "Have them kiss."

I didn't move. Didn't speak. Just looked at Barry.

He hesitated.

Then, voice flat, he said, "Fine. Kiss her."

Barry's words crushed whatever was left of my hope.

I yanked the plain band off my finger and hurled it at him.

Tears spilled down my face, hot and unstoppable.

Then I slapped him. Hard. "Barry, you bastard."

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

The night air bit at my skin, the chill snapping me out of my daze.

Before I knew it, I was standing outside the apartment Barry and I once shared.

A year into our relationship, I had moved out of the dorms to be with him.

Barry was juggling an internship, and the campus curfew made it tough. I worried he'd burn himself out, so I moved in—to take care of him.

Then three months ago, he told me he was moving back to the dorms. Said it was closer to the lab, that he didn't want to waste time commuting.

Not wanting to be too far from him, I went back to campus too.

With graduation keeping us both busy, neither of us had set foot in this place since.

I should've just left.

But something made me unlock the door.

Inside, the apartment was spotless.

A faint trace of home-cooked meals still lingered in the air.

Memories of our three years together hit me like a freight train, twisting my stomach into knots.

Then—something felt off.

Barry and I had moved out months ago.

But the apartment? It had clearly been used.

On the balcony, a woman's lingerie hung out to dry.

Not mine. Not even my style.

My fingers trembled. A sickening realization clawed its way up my throat.

I yanked open the bedroom door.

My things—gone.

In their place? A stranger's.

A framed photo sat on the nightstand.

Barry and Lyla.

My legs gave out. I collapsed.

So this was the truth.

While I had been in the dark, they'd already been living together. Like lovers.

My gaze landed on the trash can.

Used rubbers.

Tears splattered onto the floor.

I didn't know how long I sat there before Barry walked in, looking exhausted.

The moment he saw me, his expression twisted. "What are you doing here?"

A cold laugh slipped past my lips. "Barry, why shouldn't I be here? If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known someone already took my place. If I hadn't come... I wouldn't have realized I was just a stand-in all along."

Barry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like I was the one being difficult. "Lyla's family had problems. I'm the only one she has left. She's not in good health, and I didn't want to upset her.

"I need you to get this, Amelia. Lyla is important to me. I can't let anything happen to her.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused me today? I'm exhausted. Can't you just behave? Stop making me worry?"

Before, whenever Barry looked this exhausted, my heart used to ache for him.

But now?

I laughed. "So, to keep from upsetting her, you took care of her in bed? Don't you find that disgusting?"

His response was a slap across my face.

A sharp sting bloomed on my cheek. My vision blurred, dizziness nearly knocking me off my feet.

Regret flickered across Barry's face. He reached out—

Then his phone rang.

Lyla's tearful voice spilled through the speaker.

"Barry, I had a nightmare... I'm so scared. Can you come get me?"

Barry's entire demeanor shifted. He murmured a few comforting words before heading for the door.

Before leaving, he glanced back at me.

"Amelia, you should go. If Lyla sees you, she'll only feel worse. Once she calms down, I'll explain everything. Wait for me, okay?"

I watched him walk away.

Then, I smiled.

'There won't be a next time, Barry.'