Chapter 13
Roy had spent the entire night lost in dreams of Emma. Her laughter, her tears, the gentle curve of her waist, the way she whispered his name In his dreams, she was still there with him, nestled comfortably like she used to be, letting him soak in her presence. Her scent lingered around him, as if she had never really left.
But as he woke up, reality hit him hard. The bed was empty. He reached out instinctively, but all he found were cold sheets. The emptiness in his chest tightened, as if something crucial had been ripped away.%
His phone rang, snapping him back to the present. He answered, recognizing his friend’s voice on the other end. “Roy, everything’s set for the birthday party. Angela knows too. When are you coming over?”
Roy rubbed his temples, his voice still rough with sleep. “I’ll be there soon.”
After the call, he dragged himself to the bathroom. Cold water cascaded over him, a desperate attempt to wash away the lingering memories of Emma. But no matter how hard he tried, her presence haunted him.”
Once he was dressed and ready to leave, the apartment’s owner showed up. The guy knew Roy had money and wore a smile that was a bit too eager. “Sir, did you have a good stay last night? If you want to extend, we can work something out, maybe offer a discount…”
Roy cut him off sharply, “I don’t need it.“”
The owner was caught off guard by Roy’s bluntness and quickly added, “This place is in a prime location, beautifully decorated. I can give you a better deal if you’re interested…”
“This was the place I shared with my ex–girlfriend,” Roy said, his voice icy. “I’m not coming back.“”
And with that, he walked out without another glance./
The birthday party was nothing short of spectacular. Flowers, balloons, lights–everything screamed romance and opulence. As Roy arrived, his friends rushed to him, handing over a beautiful jewelry box.
“Roy, we got the necklace you wanted–limited edition, one of a kind. Angela’s going to be over the moon.“>
Roy opened the box, the diamonds inside catching the light in a dazzling display. But despite the anticipation he’d felt, a strange emptiness gnawed at him.
Angela soon made her entrance with a crowd of friends. She looked stunning in a flowing white dress, her makeup on point, and her smile radiant. Her friends surrounded her, showering her with praise.”
“Angela, you look amazing! Roy really outdid himself with this party–it’s so romantic!”
“Yeah, Roy’s been the heartthrob since college, always had eyes for you. He’s really devoted!“}]
Angela soaked up the compliments, her smile full of triumph. She walked over to Roy, her eyes sparkling with expectation. “Roy, thank you for all of this.”
Roy looked at her, feeling a strange irritation. He forced a smile and handed her the jewelry box. “Angela, happy birthday.“>
Angela opened it and gasped, “Oh my God, this necklace is stunning! Roy, you’re so sweet!”
Her friends chimed in, “Roy, are you finally going to confess today?”
“Yeah, you’ve been in love with her forever. Today’s perfect!”
Roy stood there, microphone in hand, but words failed him. He took a deep breath, trying to find the right moment. “Angela, I…”
Before he could continue, a cold voice cut through the room from the doorway. “You can’t be together.”