Chapter 1

It was early spring, but the weather was still pretty cold.

Stephanie Rowell opened the door while speaking into her phone, her soft voice fading into the drizzle. "Mom, Dad, I'll be home by the end of the month for blind dates and to get married."

She pulled her collar up, hearing her parents, Hubert Rowell and Rita Bassett, breathe a long sigh of relief from the other end.

"Steph, our health isn't what it used to be, so we hope you'll settle down soon. It's a relief that you've figured things out. I'll have Laura set up a few dates for you when you get home."

Hearing that Hubert and Rita had already made plans, Stephanie's eyes showed a flicker of emotion, and she had a sudden realization.

They talked for a little while longer before hanging up.

Stephanie glanced at the place she'd been staying before heading to the bedroom to clean up her stuff.

She had a drawer full of love letters, photo albums with candid shots tucked away in the cabinet, and diaries she'd kept for years on the bookshelf—all keeping the secret of her crush on Liam Lowry.

Stephanie threw everything into a box, carried it downstairs, and set it on fire without a second thought. While the flames danced in shades of orange and yellow, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her.

She looked up instinctively and saw Liam approaching in his flight uniform, looking as striking as ever. He clearly had just returned from a flight.

Liam didn't expect to find her there. Smiling, he asked, "What are you burning?"

He leaned down to pick up a pink envelope that wasn't fully burned and raised an eyebrow. "Love letters? You actually wrote love letters? To who?"

Stephanie stared at him, about to say something, when he tossed the letter back into the fire with a grin. After that, he ruffled her hair.

"I was just messing with you. You're such a softie, huh? I don't mind your past and won't dig into it. Hurry back inside once you're finished here. It's cold out."

With that, Liam turned and headed for the elevator.

Once he was out of sight, Stephanie looked away and let out a wry smile. She wondered if he truly didn't mind or just didn't care at all.

The envelope had his name on it. He would've seen it if he'd bothered to take a closer look, but he just threw it into the fire.

She'd been secretly into Liam for ten years, but he didn't have the slightest idea.

Stephanie was sent to a high school in the city at 15 because of her impressive grades.

She was just another average girl back then, with no sense of style and always looking a little sloppy. People barely noticed her.

Liam was her classmate. His privileged background and striking looks gave him a certain glow, putting him just out of her reach.

It was the first day of school when they first met.

Stephanie got on the bus, only to realize she'd lost her transit card. The students in line behind her were losing patience and kept grumbling.

They told her to walk if she couldn't pay, saying they wouldn't have minded if she were a stunner, but she was so plain that it was hard to even look at her.

Her face went red with embarrassment, and she was about to get off the bus when someone up front paid her fare.

Stephanie thanked him. When she looked up, her face turned even redder when she saw that unbelievably handsome guy.

She stammered, "H-Hey, I'm Stephanie Rowell. What class are you in? I'll pay you back for the fare."

His voice was nice but kind of distant. "No, it's all good."

Later, she found out his name was Liam—the heartthrob of Southcrest High School, known for hopping from one girlfriend to the next every few days.

After that day, Stephanie found herself always looking for him. She knew his desk was piled high with love letters but still stayed up late writing down her growing feelings for him.

Aware that Liam was into beautiful, outstanding girls, she dove into her studies, slimmed down, learned how to do her makeup and shed her shy, self-conscious side.

She did everything she could to be worthy of him.

Eventually, they both ended up at the same college, and Liam noticed Stephanie for the first time after her transformation.

He made his move in their sophomore year. Without recognizing her as his high school classmate, he smiled and asked if she'd like to be his girlfriend. She fought back her tears and nodded.

Stephanie was Liam's 78th girlfriend and turned out to be his last. Instead of ending things after just a few days like he usually did, he actually dated her for six years.

Everyone was convinced he was in love for real—that the guy who never settled down had finally found someone.

Stephanie thought she had finally won over the one she'd been longing for after all these years. Her heart swelled with happiness during all those nights when she lay beside him, watching him sleep peacefully.

It wasn't until three days ago, when Liam got drunk, that she went to pick him up and accidentally overheard his conversation with his friends.

His buddy draped an arm around him. "Liam, you've been with her for six years. Why haven't you ended it yet?"

Liam's voice was raspy, and it was obvious he was drunk. "I can't just yet. She might think I'm not committed enough."

"Maeve really had you under her spell. You acted like a playboy after she rejected you, hopping from one girlfriend to the next every few days just to get over her.

"Later, she said you weren't committed enough and told you to prove yourself with a stable relationship before she'd consider dating you.

"And you just went with a girlfriend and dated her for six years. Dude, you're hopeless."

The room was alive with laughter and conversation, and no one noticed Stephanie outside, feeling like she'd just been dunked in freezing water.

She'd heard of Maeve Stewart, who went to the neighboring high school. However, she'd never thought Liam had feelings for her or that she was just a pawn in his game to win Maeve over.

All those feelings that Stephanie had built up for him over the last ten years shattered in a heartbeat. She'd fallen for him, but he never felt the same. He'd stolen her heart but never once glanced her way.

She finally figured everything out and knew it was time to let go. So she agreed to the blind dates.

Today marked ten years of Stephanie loving Liam and the first day she chose to let go.

Chapter 2

Stephanie didn't go home immediately after burning everything. She sat on a bench outside for what seemed like hours.

When she finally made it home, Liam was already asleep, but his phone on the bedside table was buzzing away.

She went to turn it off but accidentally opened his WhatsApp instead, and his chat history with Maeve popped up on the screen.

"Li, talk about a coincidence! I never expected to be on your flight back home, or that someone as chill as you would end up being a captain."

It took Liam a while to reply. "You seriously don't know why I became a captain?"

Maeve sent a cheeky emoji. "Is it because of me? Just because I mentioned liking guys in captain uniforms?"

"Yes."

That one word from Liam was enough to tear Stephanie's world apart. Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away.

She exited the chat and saw the noticeable pinned icon next to Maeve's name. Beneath it was her chat with Liam. The icon there was different, though—it was the "Do Not Disturb" sign.

Stephanie realized that the way Liam treated someone he loved was worlds apart from how he treated someone he didn't. But that didn't matter anymore since she had already decided to move on.

Liam was getting closer to the one he loved, while Stephanie was ready to start a new chapter in her life. They ended up with what they wanted, which was the best for them.

…

The next morning, Stephanie was jolted awake by her alarm and noticed Liam was already gone. He hadn't mentioned where he was headed, but she had a feeling he went to see Maeve.

After all, Maeve had casually mentioned wanting breakfast from that spot near her high school last night, and he had already gone ahead and made a reservation.

Stephanie didn't think much of it. She had her things to take care of.

After breakfast, she put on some makeup, grabbed her bag, and headed to the office to quit her job. At noon, she got together with a few of her college roommates for a goodbye lunch.

Everyone at the table knew about her decade-long secret crush. They sighed when they heard she was planning to break up and head back home for blind dates, thinking she'd wasted the best ten years of her life.

"Steph, are you seriously just going to slip away like this? Don't you think it's unfair? Aren't you going to tell Liam about everything you've done for him all these years before you go?"

"Yeah, you love him so much. Are you not going to give it one last try? If you tell him, maybe he'll ask you to stay. It's been ten years—anyone with a heart would be moved."

"Liam's definitely a jerk, but you're the one who's been with him for six years. That woman went abroad long ago, right? Maybe he's just holding onto some old obsession with her?"

Stephanie could tell they all felt sorry for her, but she had made up her mind and wasn't about to waste any more time.

She shook her head. "He doesn't feel the same way about me, so it'd be pointless to tell him. It's better for me to just walk away with some dignity."

Seeing how determined she was, they let it go with a sigh, hoping she'd end up with someone better. After chatting for over an hour, they finally went their separate ways.

After downing the last glass of wine, Stephanie headed home, feeling wide awake. The nice weather gave her the perfect excuse to clean out everything she'd bought over the years.

She had carefully handpicked everything—the matching outfits and mugs, the plush toys from claw machines that filled the cabinets, the razors in the bathroom, and the cosmetics covering the vanity.

Now, they were all heading to the trash.

The bedroom, kitchen, and living room, once so warm and inviting, were now empty and lifeless. But Stephanie knew that Maeve's things would quickly take over these empty spaces after she left.

Liam didn't come home or even texted for the next three or four days. Stephanie wasn't bothered about where he had gone. She slowly packed her things.

It was her birthday on Friday, so she went out to get a cake and bought herself a nice bouquet of flowers. She'd just put the flowers in the vase when Liam called.

"Steph, I'm outside your office. Your colleagues mentioned you quit. What happened?"

Stephanie looked surprised when she heard that. Liam had never bothered to pick her up from work after all this time together.

She wasn't sure why he was acting so off, but since she couldn't tell him why she quit, she made up an excuse. "I've been exhausted lately, so I thought I'd take a short break at home."

Liam didn't dig any deeper. He asked where she was and said he'd come get her and take her somewhere.

Half an hour later, they met outside where they were staying.

Stephanie got in the car and didn't ask where they were going or why he hadn't come home lately. She sat quietly, watching the scenery outside the window the whole drive.

Chapter 3

Once the car stopped, Liam didn't bother waiting for Stephanie and went in alone.

She walked in after him and found out it was a birthday party. But it was meant for someone else, not her.

As soon as Stephanie saw Maeve in the middle of the stage, with everyone staring at her, she immediately knew Maeve was the reason everyone was there.

Maeve was dressed in a stunning designer gown, with a custom diamond necklace that highlighted her graceful neck and pearl earrings that sparkled like something out of a fairytale. She looked breathtaking.

Stephanie couldn't stop staring at the jewelry. She recognized the pieces—they'd always been in Liam's glass cabinet before anyone wore them.

She had thought these were gifts he'd gotten her and couldn't wait to get her hands on them—until she found out the truth.

Liam always had gifts ready every year but never actually gave them to her. Eventually, she just forgot about them. It wasn't until today, when she saw them again, that she realized they were all meant for Maeve.

Maeve probably caught her staring. She casually lifted her dress and walked over with a sweet smile.

"Li, is this the girlfriend you've been dating for six years and promised you'd finally introduce me to? She's stunning—no surprise she won you over, Liam the Heartthrob."

That was when Stephanie realized Maeve had been eager to meet her. No wonder Liam had been acting out of character, bringing her along.

Stephanie finally figured out what he was up to and gave a rueful smile.

Liam's friend saw what was happening and came over, pitching in with frustration.

"Yeah, they've been together for six years. Liam's been nothing but faithful and committed. We just wish someone would keep their word and stop with all these weird tests."

"People who are sincere are rare these days, so if you've got one, don't let them slip away. Take them for granted and you'll regret it, but by then, it'll be too late to fix things."

They went all in defending Liam, thinking Stephanie wouldn't pick up on what they were hinting at.

She didn't react like they expected and just sat like it was nothing. She went along with it, playing the clueless trophy girlfriend.

Stephanie sat there all night, quietly watching Liam follow Maeve around. He'd never been one for socializing, but he stuck with Maeve as she mingled with the socialites.

He was the type who usually didn't care much, but when it came to Maeve, he knew her preferences and even drank in her place.

Stephanie was right there, but Liam got jealous and scowled just because Maeve shook hands with some guy.

In just a few hours, Stephanie saw how attentive Liam could be when he truly loved someone. After six years together, it was today that she finally saw what he looked like when he was in love.

After singing the birthday song on stage, everyone gathered around Maeve to hand her their presents.

Liam was the last to go. He handed her the deed to an estate, his face beaming with warmth. "Mae, you told me once you wanted a home that brings warmth and comfort, so I'm giving you this estate. I hope it's the one you wished for."

His words had his friends cheering them on right away.

"Just so you know, Liam did all the designs for this estate. He spent six years renovating it!"

"I heard the garden's packed with lavender and tulips. I'm guessing those must be someone's favorite flowers."

"I honestly think a home needs a guy to make it feel warm and cozy. Don't you guys agree?"

Maeve's cheeks slowly turned red from all the teasing. She quickly pressed her hands together like she was making a wish, and everyone went quiet.

Stephanie's phone dinged a few times in the silence. It was some voice messages from Hubert. She held down the message to convert it to text but accidentally played it out loud.

"Hey Steph, happy birthday! It's almost midnight—did you get any cake yet?"

All eyes on Maeve quickly shifted to Stephanie. Everyone looked shocked.

Liam froze for a moment, then gave her a slight frown. "Steph, is today your birthday?"

Stephanie kept a straight face and nodded.

Usually, Liam would ask about her birthday ahead of time and get her a gift. But this year, he completely forgot because of Maeve's. It almost felt like it was bound to happen.

It was such an unexpected coincidence, and everyone exchanged awkward glances.

In the end, Maeve stepped in and saved the day. She grabbed Stephanie's hand, guided her to the cake, and lit a candle. "Since this is such a lucky coincidence, why not celebrate together? Go ahead, make a wish."

Stephanie went along with it and closed her eyes.

After she made her wish, Liam tried to lighten the mood by asking, "So, what did you wish for? Is there anything you want for a gift?"

Stephanie glanced at him and said, "I hope to get married by the end of this year."

Chapter 4

Stephanie's words dropped the room into silence, except for Maeve, who laughed. She turned to Liam and said something that carried more weight than it seemed.

"Li, looks like your girlfriend's hoping you'll make her wish come true this year. You might want to speed things up, and if it works out, save me a spot at the wedding!"

Liam was stunned at first, but soon, his face twisted with rage after her remark.

Stephanie could tell he was mad and was about to explain, but he cut her off.

"Maeve Stewart! What's your deal? Do you get some kind of thrill from driving me crazy? You know exactly…"

He wasn't yelling at Stephanie but Maeve, who had just pushed his buttons.

Everyone could tell what was upsetting Liam just by how frustrated he looked and the way he held back from speaking. He was pissed at Maeve for playing dumb and for stomping on his feelings again.

The room went dead silent.

Liam kicked a chair over, grabbed his car keys, and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The birthday party, which started out great, ended on a sour note.

With everyone leaving and saying their goodbyes, Stephanie dropped her gaze, grabbed her bag, and headed to the restroom.

The guests were all gone when she came out, but a heated argument could be heard down the hallway.

"Maeve, you've gone way too far! Do you realize how much time Liam put into planning this birthday party? Why did you have to ruin all his hard work and say those things in public?"

"I was just speaking the truth, wasn't I? His girlfriend wants to get married, and it's obviously to him, not some other guy."

"Damn it! Do you actually think that's interesting? Liam's always been into you. Your rejection crushed him and turned him into a player. Later, you gave him hope, and he came back to you.

"But you bitched about him not being committed enough, so he did what you said and started dating this 'place-holder' girlfriend. How much more do you want from him? You can't just stomp all over his feelings!"

"I'm not expecting anything from him. I've never seen someone so obsessed, so I wanted to see how far he'd go for me. He's doing it on his own, so why are you freaking out about it…"

It was Maeve arguing with Liam's childhood friend.

Stephanie didn't mean to listen in, but she couldn't help wondering how Liam would react if he heard those words.

Would he be crushed? Would he feel like he was dying inside, just like she did when she learned the truth?

Liam had the upper hand in his relationship with Stephanie. Her emotions would swing with every little move he made.

But with Maeve, he was the one under her thumb. His world would crumble if she even showed the slightest hint of disinterest.

Stephanie thought anyone who stomped on someone else's heart deserved to endure the worst kind of pain. She turned and went down the stairs on the other side.

Back home, Stephanie picked up the cake left by the door and spent her birthday alone. She ate half of the six-inch cake before heading to bed.

…

The next day at noon, a knock at the door woke Stephanie up. She rubbed her eyes and got up to answer it.

It was Liam.

A night apart didn't change much—he still looked upset and in a bad mood. But when their eyes met, he quickly forced a smile and pulled a diamond bracelet out of his pocket.

"Happy birthday! This is for you. I had too much to drink yesterday and forgot to hand it over."

One look was all it took for Stephanie to realize that the bracelet was from the same set as the necklace Maeve wore last night.

She guessed Maeve didn't like it, so Liam simply gave it to her—saving himself the effort of picking a gift.

When Stephanie didn't react, Liam thought she didn't like it and quickly added, "You don't like it? Just take my card and buy whatever you want."

Stephanie shook her head, took it, and casually set it on the entryway table. "I like it, so don't worry about it."

Chapter 5

Liam dropped the subject. He shrugged off his jacket and placed it on the couch. He froze when he saw the cake on the table from the corner of his eye.

After a slight hesitation, he said, "So, about that birthday wish you made yesterday…"

Stephanie could tell he was feeling things out, so she replied with a lighthearted tone, "It was kind of awkward since no one knew it was my birthday, so I made a joke. I thought they'd catch on, but they didn't. Sorry about that."

Liam let out a sigh of relief after hearing what she said. "So, what did you really wish for?

"I wish Mom and Dad to stay healthy and all their dreams to come true."

Her wish was simple, but it came from the heart.

Liam felt a warm tug in his chest. He brushed her nose and smiled. "You're so thoughtful. Your wish is sure to come true."

Stephanie felt the same. She was sure her blind date would go well, that she'd get married, stay with her parents, and take care of them into their later years.

Over the next few days, Liam stayed in almost all the time, barely stepping out. He noticed several things missing around the house and asked about it more than once.

"Steph, where'd the matching mugs you got go?"

"They broke a few days ago."

"What about the tie you gave me?"

"I'm not sure. It probably got swept away in the wind while drying outside."

They were small, unimportant items, so Liam didn't give them much thought. Stephanie made up an excuse to brush him off every time he asked.

Meanwhile, she'd put together a long list. She was set on trying every famous restaurant and local dish before leaving the city.

She'd followed a low-fat vegetarian diet for years to maintain her shape, and it had been ages since she'd let herself dig into a hearty meal. Still, the beauty she had worked so hard to maintain hadn't brought her the love she hoped for.

Liam felt nothing for her—whether she was stunning or average, curvy or slim, wearing makeup or not, it made no difference. Her flawless look, earned at the expense of her health, meant nothing to Liam, who only had eyes for Maeve.

The birthday cake Stephanie indulged in awakened her appetite and reminded her that love wasn't the only source of joy.

Great food, flowers, and care from families and friends were all key parts of life, and she shouldn't have to give up one for the other.

Liam noticed Stephanie was heading out more often. He called out to her, "Out again? Where are you off to?"

"I'm going to Westfield for lunch."

Watching the heavy rain outside, Liam casually asked, "Are you meeting up with someone? Do you need a ride?"

Stephanie shook her head and bent down to change her shoes. "I'm going alone to try some foreign dishes. Don't worry about it, I'll just grab a cab."

Liam gave her a confused look after hearing that. He remembered how she'd always kept her meals light to maintain her figure. So what made her start craving food all of a sudden?

But she was so skinny that he thought she really should eat more. He was honestly worried the wind might just carry her off.

Realizing he had no plans for the afternoon, he got up, grabbed his jacket, and went over to Stephanie. "Let's go. It's pouring outside, and I can give you a lift."

Stephanie was surprised. She hadn't expected him to join her.

The rain grew heavier, and the streets were almost deserted. The slippery roads had Liam holding the steering wheel firmly with both hands. He asked Stephanie to get his phone and plug it in to charge.

She did as asked, and the second she connected the charger, the screen lit up with an unread message.

"Liam, you joining us at the bar? Maeve's here, too."

Stephanie saw it and was about to act like she hadn't when Liam asked her to help him reply. "Tell him I can't make it and we're grabbing some foreign cuisine."

She glanced at him and saw a flash of something complicated in his expression. He wore a frustrated, defiant look, but a glimmer of hope hid beneath it, almost like he was waiting for someone's reaction.

Stephanie knew exactly what he was up to. Just seconds after she hit send, Liam's phone rang.

It was Maeve.

Liam saw the call coming in and couldn't help but smile, but he didn't say if he was going to answer it.

After about ten seconds, he acted like he'd just noticed the ringtone, pulled over, and grabbed his phone. "I've already told you—"

"Li, some guys asked for my number and started getting handsy. I was pissed, so I smashed a bottle at them. Now they're cornering me at the bar. I need your help!"