Sera's POV

This is not a good idea. 

But it's not a bad idea either. 

At least that's what I keep trying to tell myself while staring at the flight tickets to New York in the next four hours.

"Sera?" 

I'm jerked out of my thoughts to find Owen blinking at me, a frown on his face.

"How're you feeling?" He asks. 

I shrug. "I'm okay."

His brows dip. "Do you still love him? You never told me about your relationship with him."

A bitter laugh leaves my lips. "I'd rather not rehash the memories."

"I understand," he hums, eyes dimming. "I got you coffee and donuts, though."

Owen holds up the bag of goodies, the scent wafting through my nostrils. My stomach grumbles, eager.

"Thank you."  I grab the bag from him, taking a sip of the coffee. 

Coffee makes everything feel better, and I need it for the way my heart is hurting.

"You're welcome." He smiles. "How's Ezzy?"

My son's little face comes to the forefront of my mind, and I find his picture on my desk. "He's fine. He's at school, thankfully." 

"Alright." Owen smiles back and gets up to leave but pauses, settling back down.

I raise a brow. "What's going on?"

"Not to be a bummer but... did you see the post?" He leans forward, voice dropping an octave lower. "The internet is going crazy."

The smile on my face disappears, spine stiffening. 

"Yea." My lips press into a thin line. "I did."

I had to turn my phone off when every notification chime almost made me lose my mind.

"The most eligible bachelor slash billionaire is off the market. There's a lot of wailing, and speculation about the mystery woman."

"Of course there is," I reply. "Everything's pretty hush hush."

This is the last conversation I want to have, not to mention I had to write about my ex's engagement last night.

"But he hasn't been seen with anyone, so why now?"

I shrug. "Because he knows what the media is like."

Owen nods. "I don't blame him though, I wouldn't want to-"

A chime from his iPad interrupts him.

"Oh shit!" He cusses, shooting to his feet with wide eyes. "Wendy just got into the office."

Owen and Wendy have their...differences. He's never at his office, and Wendy hates that.

I chuckle at his panic-stricken face. "She's going to be upset if she sees you here, hurry up."

"I'll talk to you later, Sera." 

He leaves my office, and I take a bite of the donut.

The flight tickets still glare at me, and I let out a long sigh.

I just need closure. To let him go officially.

"I hope I don't regret this," I mutter.

Grabbing my phone, I call Ivy, my best friend. She picks up on the fourth ring.

"Hi!" She greets, sounding out of breath.

I smile. "Ivy, hey. Is this a bad time?"

"No, Sera. What's up?"

"D-did you hear about Adrian?" I mumble.

"Oh honey," she sighs. "He's proposing to his mystery lady."

"Yea..."

The line crackles for a bit, and her voice comes in again. "I know you still like him but-"

"I don't!" I blurt.

"But," she punctuates, "I think you should let him go, holding on to the past is not healthy."

"I'm not holding on to anything. It's just Ezra..."

"Sera look-" she cuts in, "Ezra's still young. There's still years for him to know his father."

I don't reply for a while, staring at the flight tickets.

"Okay, don't judge me Ivy-"

"Oh no," she groans. "What did you do?"

My heart pounds, throat drying up. She's already judging me and I've barely gotten a word in.

"I-I need closure, Ivy. You adviced that I should move on, but I can't do that unless I get closure."

"And how do you want to get closure?"

I chew on my bottom lip.

"No, Sera!" She gasps. "Don't tell you want to crash his engagement."

"I don't!" I nearly shriek, shaking my head as if she can see me. "I'm not going to crash it. I just want to talk with him."

Ivy clicks her tongue. "It's a bad idea, and that's me putting it nicely because frankly, it's the worst idea you've ever had."

The bite in her tone sends a pang through my chest.

"Why?" I hiss, eyes twitching. "Four years, Ivy. It's been four years since, and I've not been able to move on."

"And you don't think that's a 'you' problem?" She snaps.

My brows pull together and I stare at the caller ID to be sure I'm still talking with Ivy. Sure enough her name with a bunch of flower emojis stare back at me.

She sighs. "Listen, I'm your best friend, Sera, and trust me when I tell you you're only going to get yourself more hurt."

"Too late," I say. "I've already gotten tickets."

The line goes quiet before she speaks again. "How are you going to get in? It's invite only."

"I know you were invited, Ivy." I roll my eyes. "Don't play coy with me."

Ivy is a model with a large fan base, so she gets invites to most of the events. Having her as a friend has helped my career because she gives most of the gossip for my articles.

Unfortunately, she didn't give me this one.

"I was," she confirms.

"Please, Ivy," I beg her. "You know I need this, come on."

Adrian Cross was once the boy I loved. Until he broke my heart, and I was left with a baby that belonged to him...and a heart that still beats for him.

"Sera... there's no way to change your mind, is there?" Ivy asks.

I frown. "Why do you keep trying to stop me?"

"Because you will get hurt, Sera," she practically wails. "I'm only trying to protect you. But if it's what you want, I'll send you the code to get in."

Seeing the rumors and the confirmations have already hurt me. There's nothing left to hurt, nothing left for him to ruin.

Now, I just need to officially cut all ties. Just...nip it in the bud and move on with my life.

"Thank you," I whisper, heart heavy. "It's something I have to do."

The notification from her pops up on my open laptop.

"I can only wish you the best, Sera."

"What do you mean by that?" I ask, lips pulled down in confusion.

"It means whatever you want it to mean," she replies. "By the way, what of Ezra? You'll keep him in LA?"

"No," I respond. "I'm taking him to meet his father."

Sera's POV

I was twenty when I met Adrian in college, and it wasn't love at first sight. At twenty four, I got the video, and the news that ruined us.

~Flashback~

"I'm sorry," I say into the phone, eyes watering. 

Adrian sighs. "I know baby, but you need to trust me."

We had our usual fight the night before. Adrian is a the quarterback captain, and it's safe to say the ladies love him. 

This time, I found red lip stains on his jersey, so I got upset. He didn't like that.

"I'm trying," I sniffle.

"I have never cheated on you, and I'd never. I love you, Sera. You know that."

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I love you, too. I'm sorry for accusing you of cheating like I always do."

"Are we good?"

"Yea," I croak, wiping my eyes. "How was the party?"

I was too upset to meet him at the last party for the semester. We're heading home today, and I'm regretting standing him up all because of red lip stains.

He yawns, loudly. "It was alright, I didn't really have a lot of fun, you know why. Can I see you at the cafeteria before you go home?"

"Definitely." 

"Alright, darling. I'll text you."

We say our goodbyes, everything is settled between us and I smile, the line disconnecting.

My phone chimes with a message from an anonymous number. 

I frown, clicking on it to reveal a video clip.

That should've been the point to turn off my phone, or to delete the video immediately. But curiosity got the best of me, and like they say... it kills the cat.

I jam my fingers down on the play button, and watch the video of my boyfriend, Adrian.

He's shirtless on the bed, and in only a tiny piece of briefs. An equally undressed girl clings to his chest, and he holds her.

My jaw drops, stomach dipping. 

No, this can't be. 

I squeeze my eyes shut, wishing that when I open them, it won't be my boyfriend wrapped half naked around some girl.

But the picture is still there... and I don't need a genie to tell me that I had just been played.

Adrian's text pops in at that moment, with the time to meet up at the cafeteria, and the screen blurs from the tears in my eyes.

I don't respond. Instead, I grab my already packed suitcase and leave the hostel, shooting a text to Ivy that I've left for home.

Unknowing to me that an even terrible news was waiting for me at home.

~End Of Flashback~

"This way, Laurel," I tell the sitter I hired, voice loud over the chatter, as I direct her toward the entrance flanked by reporters.

I tighten my grip on Ezra's hand, making our way down the carpeted aisle. 

Ezra and I arrived in New York yesterday. Unfortunately for him, he's not going to do a lot of sight-seeing because this is only meant to be a weekend dash in, dash out.

"Good evening, ma'am," a tall lady in a uniform greets."Your name and the code, please?"

She stands beside a bouncer, earpiece in and an iPad in her hands.

"Good evening, I'm Sera," I say. "Sera Lane. The code is..."

"Wait," she says, typing on the iPad with furrowed brows. "There's no Sera Lane on the invite."

My heart stops. "I have the c-code."

She shakes her head. "I'm sorry but if you're not on the invite, we can't let you in."

"You don't understand-"

"Ma'am please leave the way." She looks over my shoulder, motioning for the next person.

Ezra begins whining and Laurel immediately takes him from me. I dig around in my purse for my phone, dialing Ivy.

The call rings, and rings... but I get her voicemail.

"Excuse me..." I glance at the lady's name tag. "Toria. Excuse me, Toria."

Irritation crosses her face, her jaw tightens. "Yes, ma'am?"

"I'm sorry," I apologize. "I don't mean to be a bother, b-but can't you just run the code? I have a son here who's going to get cranky real soon."

She spares Ezra and Laurel a look. "I suggest you go home, ma'am. We're under strict instructions, and Mr Cross doesn't take to being disrespected."

"Why can't you just use the code?"

"The code is only respective to invitees."

Ivy didn't tell me this. My cheeks burn with embarrassment. Fingers trembling, I try Ivy again.

This time it rings once, and goes straight to voicemail, almost like it's intentional. I try two more times, and the same thing happens.

Other guests go through freely, some staring at me as I hover in a corner, all dolled up for an event I wasn't officially invited to.

I shouldn't have come.

Typing out a text to Ivy that I'm stuck outside , it double ticks immediately. She's seen it. The three dots appear and disappear, but no texts come in.

I try again, and this time... only a single tick.

And that's the confirmation that she's ignoring me on purpose. Why?

Anger brews in my chest, heart pounding.

"Toria..."

She glares at me, and I bite my tongue.

Clicks from reporters go by, and I pray to everything holy that they don't capture this embarrassment, this humiliation.

"Come on, Laurel..." I mutter, voice shaky. I clamp down on my jaw, keeping my tears at bay. 

I shouldn't cry. It's fine.

We turn to leave when a voice stops me.

"Are you leaving, dear?" 

An African-American woman speaks, her lips pulled into a confused frown. She's stunning with Afro hair adorned with gold jewelry.

"Yes, urm-" I clear my throat. "My best friend...she didn't tell me about the code being on invite only, and I j-just..."

"Is that your son?" She points to Ezra.

I nod with a wobbly smile. "Yes, he is."

"Hm." She squints. "Come on, I'll tell them you're with me."

My heart soars. "Are you sure? I don't want to be an inconvenience."

"Nonsense." She waves me off, her jewelry clinking with every movement. "Something tells me you really want to be here."

This feels like a Cinderella moment, except this fairy godmother is helping me have my final heartbreak, pushing me to the painful closure I desperately need.

"Thank you, so much," I say, eyes watering at her kindness. I look down on my phone, but still no text or call from Ivy.

She shakes her head, giving Ezra a little handshake. "It's nothing. Besides, you didn't come all this way with such a beautiful boy only to be sent back home."

I walk beside her and immediately remember my manners.

"I'm Sera Lane," I introduce myself.

She smiles. "Antoinette."

Antoinette informs Toria that we're with her, and just like that... we're allowed into the beautifully decorated room filled with only a handful of people.

I scan the room for Adrian, plucking a glass of champagne from one of the waiters and snagging a cupcake for Ezra.

"Thank you all for joining us tonight." 

I can recognize that voice anywhere, even in my sleep. My eyes find him immediately.

Adrian stands tall in the front of the room, and for a moment he's the only one I see. 

"As you all know, I'm proposing to my future wife tonight... so," he pauses, eyes scanning the room, and he gives a nod to someone in the crowd.

The crowd parts as a woman steps out.

Adrian drops to one knee. "Ivy Shawn, will you marry me?"

Everyone gasps, squeals erupting but they slowly fade to the background.

"Yes," Ivy smiles.

All the air leaves my lungs, and I watch with parted lips as my ex boyfriend proposes to my supposed best friend... and she says yes.

As if they can hear the sound of my heart breaking, their eyes find my shocked ones. 

And they stay locked.

Sera's POV 

Adrian strides towards me, Ivy in tow. The crowd parts, giving way to them until they stop in front of me.

"Sera?" Adrian breathes, eyes raking down my body. 

Tears well up in my eyes, Ivy's diamond glinting at me, mocking me. 

"Ivy, h-how could you?" I whimper, blinking hard so the tears don't fall. "You could've told me."

Ivy rolls her eyes. "Oh stop being a baby, Sera."

"Really?" My lips wobble.

Adrian glances around, all eyes are fixed on us. "Come on," he says. "Let's go somewhere more private."

I walk behind them, Adrian's hand rests on Ivy's back. The sight taunts me, it hurts me.

Grabbing my phone, I shoot a text to Laurel, asking her to wait with Ezra for a bit. She replies with a thumbs up, and I shove my phone back into my bag.

We round the corner, Adrian leading us into a room. It's tiny and dark until Ivy flicks on the light. 

Being this close to them, I take in Adrian. He's bigger than the media paints him out to be, taller too. 

Tattoos crawl up exposed arms, some peeking out from beneath the collar of his shirt. His dark hair is styled messily, falling over his eyes... and his green eyes... the resemblance between him and Ezra is uncanny.

"What are you doing here, Sera?" His voice pulls my eyes away from his body.

Ivy snorts. "She came for closure."

"Ivy," I gawk, surprised at what's going on. "I don't understand. Did I offend you?"

"Closure?" Adrian scoffs.

"I'm tired of your whining, Sera. Adrian this, Adrian that... I am so fucking tired," she snaps.

My heart skips a beat, eyes stinging. "That's a lie, Ivy. I've never asked about him until I heard about the engagement."

"And so what?" Adrian asks. "You came to see if it was true?"

"Adrian..." I hiccup, my voice weak. "I j-just-"

Ivy shakes her head at me. "Sera, move on! Adrian and I are in love, and we're going to get married."

"I'm not trying to stop you-"

"You ditched me, Sera! You just...disappeared on me, and now you want closure?" Adrian hisses. "Did you give me the chance to ask for closure?"

By now, the tears are already streaming down my face. I struggle to wipe them, my breath coming out in short pants.

"You hurt me, Adrian, but that's fine." I sniffle. "It's in the past."

Turning to Ivy, I speak. "You didn't have to hide it from me, Ivy. I thought we were best friends?"

"Not anymore." She shrugs, face blank.

"Is that why you ditched me outside?" I gasp, swiping my wet cheeks again. "Is that why you ignored my calls and texts while I was being embarrassed outside?"

A humorless laugh rips from her throat. "You never always get the hint, Sera."

"Who embarrassed you?" Adrian asks, eyes flashing.

I shrug. "It doesn't matter anymore, does it? I made it in, although I should've taken the embarrassment as a sign not to attend this."

"Yeah, you should've." Ivy nods, rolling her eyes. "Like I said, you never get the hint."

The lump in my throat thickens. "I guess. Now it's glaring, isn't it? I have one question though..."

"I really don't care, Sera."

"Ivy," Adrian murmurs. "You never told me you and Sera were still in touch."

"That's because we weren't," Ivy replies. "She was always the one calling me, texting me..."

A bitter laugh spills from my lips, a tear rolling down my face. I sniffle, and wipe it away.

I wish I could say Ivy is wrong, but she isn't. I was always the one checking in on her, always the one to reach out... and that's the problem I've always had.

I've always put in so much in every relationship, I only know how to give, and give...and just fucking give my everything.

What do I get in return? Heartbreak, ingratitude, betrayal.

I guess I never learn my lessons... and I never take the hints.

My mom used to tell me that my big heart will only get me killed, and here I am...doing the same thing and reaping the exact same reward. 

And I can't even be mad.

"How long have you both been together?" I ask Adrian.

His jaw ticks, grip tightening in Ivy's hands. "It doesn't concern you, Sera. You left me, remember?"

You cheated! Those are the words I want to scream over and over again at him. But I'm not here to reopen old wounds.

"Of course, how dare I ask?" I press my lips together, head bobbing. "I came for closure but I guess I've gotten more than I bargained for."

Ivy rolls her eyes, flicking her wrist to check the time. Adrian only stares at me, wordlessly.

So, I continue. "I didn't come to fight any of you. It's good to see you, Adrian. And I wish you both a wonderful home and relationship."

Adrian holds a hand out, but thinks better of it. He squeezes it into a fist, and it falls at his side.

"It's good to see you too, Sera."

Ivy doesn't say anything, she doesn't even look at me. I dig into my purse and pull out a napkin.

Dabbing my wet eyes and cheeks, I open the door. "I'll be out now. Good bye, Adrian....Ivy."

Adrian's jaw ticks, green eyes swimming with words he wants to say but doesn't. I don't stay to find out though, instead, I walk out.

The chatters and music that meet my ears are a necessary distraction. I'm typing on my phone, trying to figure out where Laurel and Ezra are, when a high pitched voice stops me.

"Aunt Ivy!" 

I whirl around to find Ezra running up to Ivy, Laurel grabs him on time and he shrieks.

Adrian stands just outside the door I walked out from, a deep frown on his face, eyes darting between Ezra and Ivy.

Ezra sees me from across the room, goosebumps prickle my skin because I know what's about to happen.

And it does.

"Mommy!" Ezra cries, breaking away from Laurel's grip and his little legs run to me. I squat to his level, catching his tiny body in time to pick him.

"Hey baby," I whisper. 

Laurel crosses over to my side, but Ezra refuses to go to her.

"Mommy, that's aunt Ivy!" Ezra points at Ivy who despite looking pale, still glares at both of us.

I push his hands down, avoiding Adrian's gaze. "No pointing. Come on, let's go."

"Wait!" I freeze at Adrian's voice. He steps closer to us, my heart drops. "Mommy?" He asks me, staring at Ezra.

"Urm..." I clear the thickness from my throat, offering a shaky smile. "He's my son, but we've got to go now."

Adrian ignores me, smiling up at Ezra. "What's your name, buddy?"

Ezra grins, dimples popping. "Ezzy!" 

"Ezra," I correct. Adrian glares briefly at me.

"How old are you, buddy?"

"Four!" Ezra holds up three fingers.

I feel the tension that arises between us. Adrian's jaw flexes, his eyes drag up to mine.

"He's four, Sera," he says, voice low. "I'm going to ask you once, and don't think of lying to me."

Cold sweat drips down my spine, and I swallow.

"Who's son is he?"