His Secret, Her New Beginning

I stared at my phone, Liam's name glowing on the screen. For five years, I was his secret, his on-again, off-again lover, hidden from everyone, especially his sister, my best friend.

Then, two weeks ago at a tech gala, he introduced another woman as his girlfriend, dismissing me with a cold, small nod, as if I were a distant acquaintance. My heart shattered as he laughed away my five years of devotion as just "fun."

I finally typed a reply to his persistent messages: "I'm getting married, Liam." His immediate, angry calls followed, demanding to know who.