The dimly lit room hummed with the quiet chatter of friends gathered around, the warmth of the fire crackling softly in the corner. Theodore sat on one of the couches, his fingers lightly tapping against the rim of his glass. His usual cocky grin was replaced with something more pensive, more serious.

"I have been with someone," he said, his voice quiet but firm.

The words hung in the air, as if time had slowed for a moment. Mattheo, Pansy, Draco, Lorenzo, and Regulus all froze in their tracks, their gazes locking onto Theodore. Silence stretched for an awkward second before you burst out, a laugh escaping your lips.

"Yeah right, you're just trying to mess with me, come on," you said, shaking your head in disbelief, but the smile didn't quite reach your eyes.

Theodore didn't smile back. He just stared at you, his expression still and serious, more serious than you had ever seen him.

"I am sorry... I... cheated on you," he murmured, the words laced with regret.

A chill ran through you. Your breath caught in your throat as your eyes widened, the laughter in your chest dying out.

"You... you aren't lying..." you whispered, almost as if saying it out loud would make it real.

He nodded once, slowly. "It was a mistake."

You felt your world tilt. It was like the ground beneath you had shifted, leaving you unsteady. Your chest tightened, your hands suddenly trembling.

"Theodore, no," you said, your voice breaking, a mix of anger and disbelief rising. "You… you cheated?"

He winced, and for a moment, it was as if he couldn't meet your eyes. The weight of the truth hit you harder than you ever expected. He had crossed a line—one that you couldn’t see a way back from.

Mattheo moved in, stepping toward you with urgency in his eyes. "He’s not the right one for you," he said, his voice tight with frustration. "You don’t deserve this, not from him. He—he doesn’t respect you. He never did."

You didn’t want to believe it, didn’t want to accept what Theodore had done, but there was no denying it now.