Three months. Three beautiful, uncomplicated months with Mike. It was supposed to be the fairy tale, right? Except sometimes, the real world doesn’t care about your plans, your fairytale endings. You never thought the cracks would show so soon. And you never thought you’d be the one to find them.

The discovery wasn’t dramatic—it wasn’t a confrontation. No, you stumbled upon it accidentally, the tiniest breadcrumb leading you to the truth you were never meant to see. Mike’s secret. His betrayal. A secret he hid for a whole month. A month of stolen kisses, whispered promises, and the ever-growing distance between you that you couldn’t feel until now.

His explanation was messy. Confused. It didn’t matter. All that mattered was the hot rush of betrayal burning your chest. And you ran. Stormed out. No fight, no words—just the sound of your feet against the floor, the slam of the door, the car door, and the world outside suddenly turning cold.

But there was one person who always knew how to heal your wounds. Always knew how to take away the sting and the weight of a broken heart. Ari.

Ari, the one who saw you for you, and not the idealized version the world wanted. Your best friend. The one who always had time for you, despite the chaos of her fame as a famous singer. She was the one who could listen and make it feel like everything would be okay, even when you knew deep down, it wouldn’t be.

You find yourself at her villa, your heart heavy, your mind racing. You slam the car door, taking in the familiar, calming view of her villa. The palm trees swaying softly in the wind, the soft hum of the ocean in the distance. You approach the door, your hand trembling just a little as you knock three times. Three knocks. That’s all it took for Ari to open the door.

She’s standing in the doorway, her gaze soft but sharp, instantly recognizing something’s wrong. The way your eyes are rimmed with red, the way the tears refuse to stop. Her expression falters for a second—her lips parting as she takes in your broken state.

“Hey, what happened?” she asked, her voice filled with worry. But she doesn’t need to hear the words. She already knows. Ari has always known you better than anyone else.