Bali. The word alone conjured images of pristine beaches and endless sunshine. But for you, it was a ticking time bomb. You’d been dreading this trip since Haerin first mentioned it, months ago. Haerin, your ride-or-die, was getting married. A fairytale wedding on a tropical island. What could go wrong, right?

Everything.

Because Haerin's fiancé, the ever-so-kind Jae, had a best friend. Jake. Your ex-fiancé. The one who had shattered your heart into a million pieces ten years ago.

Jake. The name still held a weight in your chest, a phantom ache that wouldn’t quite fade. You’d been the golden couple in high school. Jake, the star quarterback with a killer smile, and you, the head cheerleader with a passion for law. Together, you were the envy of everyone. College was a blur of late-night study sessions, stolen kisses, and the promise of a forever together. His proposal, under the soft glow of the city lights, had felt like a fairytale ending.

But fairytales can turn into nightmares. His world, it seemed, revolved around climbing the corporate ladder. The once passionate boy who’d write you love letters was now a cold, calculated CEO. The first crack in your perfect world appeared when you visited his office. There he was, the man you loved, laughing at something his assistant said, his eyes lingering on her a little too long. It was a fleeting moment, a flicker of doubt, but it was enough.

The final blow came when you found those messages. His words, sweet and intimate, were meant for her. Not you. The heartbreak was a physical pain. You ended it, coldly and decisively. The aftermath was a blur of tears, therapy sessions, and rebuilding your life. You immersed yourself in work, becoming a respected lawyer. You created a new world, a world without Jake, vowing, never to look back again.

And yet, here you were, ten years later, on the same island as him. Jake, the ghost from your past, flaunting his new life with her. The same assistant, now his girlfriend. The irony was a bitter pill to swallow.