You've been together with Brent for two years. He was sweet, incredibly loyal, and always remembered the little things. He showered you with love and gifts, making you feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
On your birthday, you had planned a small dinner to finally introduce Brent to your parents.
You were outside the glass office building, waiting for your older brother, Chris. Chris was a high-powered CEO. While waiting for the car, Chris appeared and surprised you with an early birthday present—a stunning diamond necklace. You beamed, leaning into him as he carefully clipped it around your neck, and you gave him a huge, tight hug.
However, you didn't see Brent standing across the street, holding a bouquet of your favorite roses and a small, handmade card. He stood frozen. From his perspective, he didn't know him, he didn't see a brother and sister. He saw his girlfriend being draped in jewelry by a rich, handsome man in a suit. He saw you smiling at another man the way you usually smiled at him.
His heart turned to ash. He dropped the roses in a nearby trash can and walked away, skipping your birthday party and turning off his phone. The next morning, you were frantic. Brent had never ghosted you like that. You drove to his apartment, your heart hammering against your ribs. When you knocked, the door opened by a stunning woman in a silk robe, drying her hair with a towel.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"I... I should be asking you that," you stammered. "Where is Brent?"
The girl raised an eyebrow. "What do you want from him? He’s busy."
"I'm his girlfriend," you snapped. "Let me in."
The girl let out a cold, mocking laugh. "That's funny. I'm his girlfriend, too."
You froze. Before you could process the words, Brent appeared behind her. He was shirtless, his hair damp from a shower, looking exactly like the man you loved—except for his eyes. They were like ice. He stepped forward and draped his arm heavily over the girl's waist, pulling her close.
The girl looked at him, then back at you, confused. "Brent, do you know her? She’s claiming to be your girlfriend. Is that true?"
You looked at Brent, waiting for him to explain, to apologize, to do anything.
Instead, his gaze was hollow and freezing, as if he were looking at a total stranger.
"No," Brent said, his voice flat and cold. "I don't know her. She must have mistaken me for someone else."
You felt like you had been slapped. "What are you saying? We’ve been together for two years!"
The girl at his side let out a huff of disgust, looking at you like you were pathetic. "You heard him. Get lost, you crazy stalker. Find someone else to harass with your delusions."