A storm of emotions churned inside me as my finger hovered over the screen. With a shaky breath, I tapped play.
The video flickered to life, filled with swirling smoke, and I recognized the familiar setting of the Evans family’s private clubhouse.
Daniel sat at the center, exuding effortless calm. Felix lounged beside him, casually throwing out words that made my stomach churn. “Daniel, now that Delilah’s back, your family’s engagement is basically a done deal. What about the one at home? Your mother won’t let any obstacles stand in her way.”
My heart dropped, the weight of his words sinking in like a stone.
Daniel’s lips curled into a mocking smile, his voice cool and detached. “She’s just a distraction. I’m not marrying her. My mother can’t do anything about it.”
The words struck me like a knife to the chest, leaving me gasping for air.
“Well, that’s how we rich kids operate, isn’t it? Always keeping something on the side.”
His words blurred into nothingness, the truth of what I was to Daniel crashing over me.
A plaything. That’s all I had ever been.
Years of devotion, love, and sacrifice, all for a cruel joke in his eyes.
Unable to watch any longer, I dropped my phone, the weight of his betrayal suffocating me. Tears streamed down, soaking my pillow.
Just then, a loud commotion broke through my grief, followed by the unmistakable sound of fireworks exploding in the distance.
Instinctively, I slid the window open, the night air hitting me with a chill. Bright fireworks exploded in the sky, a magnificent burst of colors that should have been beautiful, but to me, they were nothing more than cruel reminders of what I had lost.
My heart felt like it had been cast into an icy abyss, its weight sinking lower and lower.
Before I could pull myself from the dark abyss of my thoughts, my phone buzzed again. Another message from Delilah.
Another video.
The scene unfolded in Evercrest, where the night sky was set ablaze with a breathtaking fireworks display.
Beneath the brilliant lights, Daniel knelt, holding a stunning engagement ring, his gaze locked on Delilah, filled with something I had never seen for me: genuine affection.
“Delilah, will you marry me?”
Her face lit up, radiant with joy, and without a moment’s hesitation, she answered, “I do!”
The sound of cheers and applause rang out from the crowd, a chorus of congratulations that seemed to mock the emptiness in my chest.
Then, another message popped up.
[I once mentioned wanting fireworks over Evercrest just for me. So, he arranged for the whole city’s fireworks to go off in my honor.]
[Did you really think you were important to him? You were just a toy, one he’d toss away when he was done with you.]
The words hit me like a thousand needles stabbing deep into my heart, the pain so raw it left me gasping for air.
I had once believed love was a bond of sincerity, something that would be reciprocated, but I was nothing more than a cruel joke to him.
I had been too naive, lost in my own web of illusions, only to be left battered and broken in the end.
That night, social media erupted.
[The Crown Prince of Innovex Group Proposes to Miss Delilah Watson at Evercrest!]
The headline shot to the top of the trending list, climbing to unbelievable heights as if mocking my pain.
The comment section flooded with blessings, an endless tide of congratulations pouring in like waves, drowning me in their hollow cheer.
But every kind word felt like a dagger, piercing deep into the already fragile pieces of my heart.
With trembling hands, I dialed my agent’s number, my breath shallow as I waited for the call to connect.
The moment I heard Reagan Collin’s voice, I didn’t waste a second. “Reagan, I want to terminate my contract.”
My agency had long been backed by Daniel’s investment. If I wanted to sever all ties with him, canceling the contract was the only way to truly escape.
I had worked tirelessly through the grind of the entertainment industry, my wealth built on years of sweat and sacrifice.
I knew I had more than enough to cover the termination fee.
With Daniel behind me, I could finally carve my own path in this chaotic, unpredictable world.
