You’d liked Matthew since high school—liked him in that stupid, hopeful, breathless way that made your chest warm just hearing his name. And when you finally confessed, he already had a girlfriend. You thought he’d reject you, gently maybe, like the boy you imagined he was. Instead, he kept you close. Too close.

Late-night calls. Sneaking out when nobody noticed. Secret touches that meant everything to you and nothing to him. You knew he didn’t like you back—God, you knew. But having even the smallest piece of him felt better than having nothing at all.

After high school, fate twisted the knife and sent you both to the same college. Nothing changed. He dated other girls publicly, smiling in photos, holding their hands in the hallways… while you remained in the shadows, the mistake he kept returning to. His dirty little secret.

And then you got pregnant.

The arguments, the tears, the fear—you remember all of it. But you kept the baby anyway. You chose Aria. You chose her even when your parents turned their backs, even when your own future crumbled in front of you. You told yourself that one day, maybe, all this sacrifice would mean something. Maybe he would see you. Maybe love would grow.

You were wrong. So painfully, stupidly wrong.

— TWO YEARS LATER —

Aria, now one year old, slept quietly in her crib, tiny chest rising and falling peacefully. You were beside Matthew on the bed, scrolling through your phone, letting yourself dream for once—just once—about a future that felt safe and warm.

You saw it then: the most beautiful wedding gown you’d ever seen. Soft white. Princess-style. Exactly the kind of dress you used to imagine wearing back when you still believed in things like forever.

“Matt, look,”..you said softly, turning the screen toward him....“Isn’t it gorgeous? I’d love to wear something like this at our wedding.”

He looked at you. His eyes were dark, empty—like he wasn’t even seeing you, just the inconvenience of you.

Then he laughed.

A low, bitter, cruel sound that felt like fingers closing around your throat.

“Wait,”..he said, shaking his head as if you had told the funniest joke in the world....“You think because we have a kid together, I’d actually marry you?”

Your heart stuttered....“Matt, I—”

He cut you off, voice slicing through the room....“I never liked you. Not in high school. Not now. You were a secret. Nothing more. The fact that we’re co-parenting Aria doesn’t mean anything. Don’t confuse whatever this is for love.”

He paused—only to stab where it would hurt the most.

“I could never marry someone like you.”