His First Love, My Last Goodbye

the horrifying screech of tires. One moment, we we

o comfort his first love, Cassie, who was crying in the backseat. He didn't even gla

e for a second. It was like I wasn't even there anymore. He didn't remember my birthday, never knew my favo

al star of his life returned. I had been obsessed with Adrian Payne, but it

o submissive, so unlike myself? It felt like I was being co

ing and a sudden, desperate longing for someone else: Kellen Campos, my childhood swee

pte

the horrifying screech of tires. One moment, we we

n in my arm. Adrian, in the driver's seat, was already movi

Tate. His

, a small cut

kay?" Adrian asked

Cassie let out a sob.

there anymore. He unbuckled his seatbelt, scrambled into

softer than I had ever heard it. He didn't even glance back at me, h

rough the haze of pain, I watched Adrian hover ove

my arm, I felt a strange sense of clarity. It was like a spell had been broken

votion. He didn't love me. He never had. I was just a placeholder

haracter in th

All that was left was a cold, empty feeling an

en C

oy I had left behind five year

I pulled out my phone with my good ha

first fligh

d a few hours later. My arm was in a cast, but the pain was nothing compare

the hurry?" she

I said, my voice shaking

e she could ask

ng to fin

ad

heiress to the Beard hotel empire. Then I met him, and I bent and broke p

o submissive, so unlike myself? It felt like I was being co

he was the com

nd. My first love.

me a kite, wade into a freezing lake to retrieve my lost bracelet,

ry dish for me. He knew I loved stargazing, so he

raduation night. He' d told me later, his voice full

he night I met

the world stopped. He was handsome, powerful, the CEO

l. It felt like I had no choice. I left the party with him, leaving

Kellen wit

of attention were proof of his love. But his heart was never with me. It was

orite food. He never cared that I was allergic to the

ain after another fight with Adrian. He held an umb

, his voice soft. "He doesn't des

f again. I saw the truth. I agreed

use, a half-hearted apology, and I fell right back in

ced by a deep, final disappointment. He left for New Y

choose Cassie without a second's hesitation, the

s just a character playing a part.

the "love" I felt for him evapor

t for Kellen washed over me. The real love.

, his unwavering support. The way he looked a

. He had alway

oom, my voice thick with tears. "I'm coming f

e first thing I did was go to my closet. I pulled out the bright

t it

s to please him. I had kept my hair long because h

m

. The red dress felt like a decl

saw me. "Miss Beard," he said, a small, approving s

in years. I spun around, the fabric swir

nd Cassie walked in. They had just come from a follow-up appo

en he saw my dress. He did

ce sweet as honey. Her eyes were fixed on the simple, el

Take it off. Give it to Cassie." It

go, stepped forward nervously. "Mr. Payne, I'm sorry, but that p

id, give it to her. You know Cassie likes these things." It was the t

f without a second thought. I would have

t that pers

m straight

N

ocked, as if the word was foreign to

did yo

chin held high. The re

aid

like he was seeing me for the first first time. And