That afternoon, Ste headed to a film shoot.


    The director had helped her out when she was just starting, and she’d agreed to this gig to return the favor.


    When she arrived on set, only the extras were there-none of the main cast had shown up yet.


    Ste found a quiet corner and settled in.


    “Oh my God, they’re perfect together! Like, absolutely perfect! It’s like a romance novele to life.”


    A sweet, innocent rising star and a business mogul-I’m literally obsessed.”


    I heard they’re getting back together! Childhood sweethearts who got separated after high school, and he waited almost ten years for her. If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is!”


    Apparently Gabriel never even did magazine shoots before, but today when he heard Lily had a kissing scene, he immediately switched out the actor. He’s Hoing it himself!”


    “OMG, we’re gonna witness a real-life couple kiss on set!”


    Tm literally dying right now!”


    The girls kept gushing, and Ste’s head started spinning. Lily was the lead in this project, and Gabriel wasing too.


    A


    Her eyes welled up as she remembered their early days together. She’d been so excited that she’d snuck a photo of them while he was sleeping and posted it to


    er Instagram story-visible to only a few close friends.


    Sabriel had been furious.


    Ste, I hate having my picture taken, and I especially hate being on Instagram. Don’t post me on your Insta without asking, okay?”


    he hadn’t understood then. Now she realized-it was only because she was the one taking the photo.


    f it had been Lily, everything would’ve been different.


    You okay? You look really pale.”


    One of the girls was looking at her with concern.


    I it had been Lily, everything would’ve been different.


    You okay? You look really pale.”


    ne of the girls was looking at her with concern.


    hat’s when Ste realized her whole body was shaking uncontrobly.


    Blood sugar crash? I’ve got some candy. Wait, are you here as an extra too?”


    Are you a shipper like us? I’ve got tons of content if you want!” The girl chattered excitedly while Ste couldn’t process a single word. <fn9251> Read full story at find·novel</fn9251>


    he’d known Gabriel didn’t love her, but she hadn’t expected it to be this humiliating. Even when he was supposedly most grateful to her, she’d meant less to im than a stupid photo.


    Whoa, girl, from this angle you kinda look like Lily! That’s why you seemed familiar!”


    The girl excitedly shoved her phone at Ste.


    In the photo, with her head tilted down, she looked about seventy percent like Lily.


    Pain radiated through every inch of her body. She’d been trying so hard to ept that Gabriel didn’t love her.


    Why did the universe keep ripping open her wounds to show her even crueler truths?


    Not being loved wasn’t the worst part-it was realizing that everything she’d done meant absolutely nothing to him..


    He’d only said yes to her confession because she looked like the girl he actually wanted.


    Memories shed before her eyes.


    “Gabriel, what are you looking at?”


    “You look beautiful when you tilt your head down like that.”


    “You’re being ridiculous. Nobody looks good with their head down-you can’t even see my face properly…”


    Ste couldn’t take it anymore. She bolted toward the bathroom.


    One more second and she’d break down crying in front of everyone.


    She quickly texted the director and rushed off set, but froze at the exit.


    Gabriel stood there with an umbre in one hand, the other in his pocket, while Lily nestled against his side.


    They looked like the perfect golden couple.


    Whatever they were talking about made Lilyugh as she yfully hit his arm. Then her silver heel strap came undone, and without her even moving, Gabriel naturally knelt down to fix it.


    He didn’t care about getting his expensive suit dirty.


    I was so happy you came to the wrap party with mest night,” Lily said with a smile.


    It was nothing. I’ll be at all of them from now on.” Gabriel’s smile was pure adoration.


    So sweet! They’re literally perfect!”


    The screaming behind her gradually numbed the pain in Ste’s chest.


    Their rtionship had never gotten this kind of blessing. This whole mess was what she deserved.


    she pulled on her mask and slipped out the back exit.


    When she got home, Gabriel was already in the kitchen wearing an apron, cooking.


    Ceeing her return, he looked confused. “Where’d you go? And what’s with all these boxes everywhere?”


    Ceveral packing boxes were scattered around the living room-she’d started organizing her things.


    Nothing special. Just getting rid of old stuff.”


    Good idea. I’ll buy you new things to rece them.”


    Gabriel didn’t probe further.


    te stood quietly in the living room, watching him bustle around. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she never would have believed the tender, caring Gabriel in the kitchen was the same person from that afternoon.


    ust then, his phone rang.


    The moment Gabriel saw the caller ID, his face lit up.


    “Hey, is dinner ready? I’m starving over here!”


    “Almost done, almost done. Be right there.”


    Gabriel efficiently packed the food into containers and rushed toward the door without even ncing at her.


    Only as he was leaving did he seem to remember: “I made dinner-it’s in the pot. Help yourself. Something came up at work, so I’m taking this with me,”


    She stood frozen for a long time before walking into the kitchen.


    He’d forgotten to turn off the burner. The food at the bottom of the pot had turned to charcoal.


    She took a bite.


    Bitter as hell.