Chapter 1

The engagement ring Liam bought for me, three days later, was on the ring finger of Brittany, his 'dream girl,' as he knelt before her at her birthday party.

Only, the ring was a little loose. Brittany bent her finger, and with a soft "clink," it dropped to the floor.

In the video, Liam awkwardly tried to cover it up, quickly picking it up. He then spouted nauseating sweet nothings in front of everyone: "Brittany, I'm still waiting for you. Will you come back to me?"

He cried, shedding those pathetic, fake tears that were supposed to be heartfelt but just looked ridiculous.

My awful friends, always eager for drama, sent me several more videos, along with a message: "LOL, your 'dream guy' of eight years is acting like such a simp now."

The words were steeped in sarcasm and mockery, as if tearing open my already tattered heart and harshly pouring salt into the wound.

He was right. The boy I loved with all my being was someone else's simp. I'd loved him for how many years? He'd been simping for her for just as long.

That ring was my last hope for our relationship. Now, it feels like all my efforts just paved the way for someone else.

With a soft sigh, my tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. I coolly and quickly messaged my friend back: "We're not close."