Chapter 2

It was a recording of a live stream.

In the dimly lit center stage, Connor sang with deep emotion while the otherwise empty booths held only one person, someone I knew all too well.

Ella's voice crackled with fury, her hair practically standing on end with anger. "This livestream is trending everywhere. Now the whole world knows your fiancé has another girlfriend.

"Amelia, we should go there right now."

"Ella."

I interrupted her abruptly, my eyes fixed on the replaying video, my voice barely above a whisper. "Did you know?

"I was the first person to ever hear this song."

That was why I'd been able to overlook Connor's screw-ups time and time again because he swore he wrote this song just for me.

Back when he was a nobody, he told me I was the only listener he ever wanted to keep.

Ella fell silent, gently taking back the phone I'd been clutching too tightly.

"So what are you going to do now? The engagement party's over. Are you planning to walk down the aisle alone at the wedding too?"

She shook my shoulders in frustration. "Wake up! How long are you going to keep performing this one-woman show?"

I didn't answer. I just forced myself to stand.

The day's anxiety finally ebbed away, leaving only one thought. "At least he wasn't hurt or in danger."

Wrapped in a cocoon of exhaustion and discomfort, I had no room for other emotions. I closed my eyes to steady myself, then sent Connor a simple message. [What time will you be home?]