Chapter 4

I had just gotten home in the evening and was about to start cooking when I heard a knock on the door. I opened it to find Rodney standing there, his face a mix of concern and guilt.

"Cecilia, are you mad at me? Let me explain about the house," he said, voice tight with anxiety.

I raised an eyebrow. "What's there to explain?"

"The photos she sent you were all fake. I just found out about it."

His words hit me like a punch. We'd been through a lot together, high school, four years of college. I always thought he was the one. A small part of me almost wanted to believe him, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I watched him step forward, reaching for my arm, trying to pull me into his embrace. I didn't move.

"What photos are you talking about?" I asked, keeping my voice calm, even though my heart was racing. Was he talking about the kiss? Or the house purchase contract? After everything we'd been through, was all of it just a waste?

He sighed and gave me a look that seemed genuine. "How about I add your name to the house contract?"

His sudden change caught me completely off guard. After all these years, he was finally thinking about me? But I wasn't ready to let my guard down yet.

"No need," I replied flatly, the unease still creeping up my spine. There was something about this shift that didn't sit right with me.

"Cecilia, please. Can you come back with me? This apartment, it's not enough for you."

I couldn't believe my ears. It wasn't the size of the apartment that mattered to me; it was the fact that I was happy here. But to him, it was always about something more, something bigger, something better.

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "My dad and Macey's mom are here. Macey's leaving with them."

I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth, but I did know that Makai Cook, his dad, and Brylee Cook, Macey's mom, had always been kind to me. They'd liked me from the start. I even remembered the first time I met Brylee, she gave me a gift.

"They want to meet you," Rodney said, his tone sincere, almost pleading.

Something in me shifted. Maybe it was time to face them, to end this properly. I clenched my fists, took a deep breath, and finally said, "Okay."

Rodney rushed into the bedroom to help me pack, but I stopped him with a frown.

"I'll meet your parents first. We'll pack later," I said, not wanting to bring up my job change just yet.

The next day, Rodney showed up to pick me up. I was driving the car my parents had bought me, while he'd gone out and bought a new one.

"No need," I said, opening the door to my own car. "I'll drive myself."

Rodney wasn't thrilled about it, but he didn't push. He knew his family was waiting in the neighboring city, and the drive would take at least an hour. He sighed and nodded.

When we arrived at the hotel, my heart sank. It was the same hotel where Rodney and I had planned our engagement. How ironic. Of all places, they decided to have dinner here.

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly to myself. What a perfect reminder of everything that went wrong. Still, I had to face this. I took a deep breath and steeled myself for whatever was coming next.