All I remember was that, in that moment, it felt like the blood in my body flowed backward. It was like a massive stone had dropped into a peaceful lake, shattering every beautiful illusion I’d ever held.

Back then, I kept scrolling. I saw years of messages between them, uninterrupted.

The very first one was from the day Veronica returned to the country after her divorce, the day I threw her a welcome-back dinner.

While I was drunk, Liam confessed to her.

He told her, [My feelings for Sierra aren’t love. They’re responsibility. You’re the unattainable love of my youth.]

The latest message was from last night.

She had said to him, [You already undressed me, and now you say you’re leaving?]

[Liam, what exactly do you take me for?]

[If you can’t let go of Sierra, then we should cut this off.]

[Sierra is my best friend. She helped me find a place to live and a job when I came back. Without her, I would’ve been on the streets. I don’t want to hurt her.]

By then, Liam was already asleep, so he hadn’t replied yet. He hadn’t even had the chance to choose before I saw everything.

That snowflake that had become a tear now turned into an icicle stabbing straight into my chest.