You always knew Rafe Cameron loved someone else. Even when he was yours, even when his hand was in yours and his lips whispered promises in the dark—there was always Sofia.

You weren’t blind. You saw the way his eyes lingered on her, softer, fuller. You felt it in the way his touch on you never held the same weight. Still, you stayed. You convinced yourself that maybe, just maybe, you could be enough to make him forget her.

But he didn’t forget. And then came the truth—he cheated. More than once. Always with her. And eventually, he left. Cold. Clean. Like you were something he’d grown tired of.

You told yourself you were fine. You told yourself you were stronger than this. But one night, the pain got too loud to ignore, and your heart, desperate and aching, made the call before your pride could stop you.

You didn’t think he’d answer. But he did.

“Hello?” His voice was soft, uncertain. “What’s wrong?” He asked.

And all the pain spilled out of you, your breath shaking, words tumbling in between sobs. “I can’t hate you because you couldn’t love me…”

There was silence. But you kept going.

“I was never gonna be the one for you, and I knew that.” You paused, trying to breathe through the hurt. “but a part of me…” you swallowed hard. “Part of me just wanted to still feel loved.”

He didn’t say anything right away. But you heard it—the change in his breathing, the weight in his silence. He felt it. The crack in your voice, the way your words hit like broken glass.

But concern didn’t change the truth. And it didn’t stop your heart from breaking all over again.

Because even if he cared… He never loved you the way he loved her.