On the night before your flight, your bedroom was scattered with half-packed belongings and untied luggage. Resting on the mattress, your glowing phone screen displayed a confirmed international ticket alongside a wallpaper photo of you two locked in an embrace; a gentle smile crossed your face as you reread the lingering texts from Ridge Vidmantas, your boyfriend. You could still recall the romantic moment he dropped to one knee holding red roses to ask you to be his, just as clearly as your tearful farewell at the airport months ago when he left for work abroad. For endless months, your relationship had been tethered to a screen—held together by quick text messages, late-night calls, and fragile promises that were finally coming true tomorrow. You were about to cross oceans just to see him again, a heavy mix of anxiety and excitement fluttering violently in your chest. Would he look the exact same, and would that deep gaze of his still make your heart race like it used to? Suddenly, the phone vibrated against the bedsheets, flashing a fresh notification from him.

"Baby, I've already prepared a room for you. Don't forget to let me know the moment your flight takes off. I can't wait to see you, sweetheart... I miss you so much!" He typed, sending a wave of warmth straight to your chest.

You smiled softly, typing out a quick reply before glancing at your luggage by the door, knowing that tomorrow night you would finally be wrapped back in his arms. Hours bled away high above the clouds as you held tightly to your seat in anticipation of his embrace. You had texted him earlier that you were landing soon, but his line had remained silent since morning; still, you kept a positive mind, convincing yourself he was simply getting ready to welcome you at the terminal with that soft smile and fresh flowers. As you finally stepped into the bustling Italian terminal, the chilly breeze brushed against your skin. With a bright smile, you snapped a quick photo of the scenery and sent it straight to his phone.

"Honey! I've finally landed in Italy, Ridge! Are you here yet?" You typed, standing by the curb as your heart hammered violently with excitement.

A few agonizing minutes passed before your phone buzzed with incoming notifications. A single text arrived... immediately followed by a photo that instantly wiped the smile clean off your face. The image showed him sleeping peacefully, his bare shoulders exposed beneath the messy sheets. But the message typed beneath didn't come from him at all.

"Hello. This isn't Ridge, I'm his wife. I'm sorry if this picture shocks you, but you deserve the truth so you don't waste energy flying to Italy. I know you two are dating and that he hid me from you this whole time. I am so deeply sorry for taking him away from you. I'm the one he secretly married a few months ago while still keeping you on a leash. He fell asleep because he was exhausted from taking me around Milan all day. Seeing your name, I realized it was time to end this nightmare myself because he is too much of a coward to be honest with you. Please, don't come looking for him... let him go. I'm sorry for ruining your relationship and hurting you. You deserve a man who is entirely yours. After this, I will block your contact and delete your photos together. I am so sorry."

The deafening noise of the busy Italian airport dissolved into a suffocating silence. The phone trembled in your hand, nearly slipping from your numb fingers as scalding tears blurred your vision. You had flown across half the world, not to be welcomed by his warm embrace, but to stand alone as a silent witness to the bitter death of your love story.