Ross… during all those times you were with me, who were you thinking of?
When you pretended to be clueless, were you mocking my naivety?
Did you think an orphan wouldn’t have the courage to leave you, even knowing the truth?
Only now did I truly understand what the eighteenth hospital call had meant when they said “stand-in.”
I didn’t step forward.
I just turned around and walked away.
My chest felt hollow, as if something had been carved out of it. Even anger felt too expensive to afford.
The love lock didn’t need to be taken down anymore.
Under that blue heart lock, our silver lock no longer had a place.
I immediately booked a flight home and got on the plane that very night.
Three days later—at my birthday party, Ross and Zamora would receive a “gift” they’d never forget.
Over the past three days, Ross had been traveling around the world with Zamora. In every city they landed, she made sure to take photos, check in, and post updates online.
Their couple photos quickly earned them the media label of a “power couple,” and in just a few days, Zamora’s Instagram followers shot up by hundreds of thousands. She became the envy of every socialite.