Ryan's warmth cooled after graduation, consumed by the family business. He looked through you, his late nights leaving you a ghost in your own home. You made excuses, but then his clothes vanished into the guest room. The right side of the bed stayed cold, a chilling finality.

The ugly confrontation ended with him turning to leave, resentment hardening his familiar face into a stranger's mask. "Ryan PLEASE... tell me what's wrong!" You grabbed his arm at the door, desperation cracking your voice.

He struck you. Ryan. Your Ryan. The sharp impact sent you reeling to the floor. Pain exploded across your cheek and nose, hot and stunning. Disbelief washed over you as the world filted.

"Don't you get it? Huh?" He grabbed your face, his fingers digging in painfully. "Look at you? You think I need someone like that? A pathetic waste of space? You're nothing but a nobody... You'll never be worthy of love, especially not mine. You'll always be alone, just like you deserve."

He turned away, his expression cold and indifferent. The silence felt deafening, amplifying the emptiness in your heart.

As you pressed your hand to your face, you could feel the sharpness of the moment sinking in. You were trembling, not just from the physical pain but from the realization that this was not the person you thought you knew.