Social media lit up instantly. Posts, photos, and stories spread like wildfire.
In seconds, Emily’s name was suddenly trending—not for her work, but for being the girl who "mistook herself for Lucas’s girlfriend.”
Photos of her attending events with Lucas flashed on screens. Memes surfaced, mocking her.
'Delusional woman clings to man already taken,' read one.
'When the side chick thinks she’s the main character,' mocked another.
'Sis showed up like it was her red carpet. It wasn’t'
'When he gives you eye contact and you plan the wedding,' said one of the top-liked comments.
'Main character energy on a background role'
The reporters didn’t let up. Microphones pushed forward, flashes blinding.
“Mr. Cantrell, is it true you used to date Miss Emily Crawford?”
“There are rumors she was introduced as your fiancée at past business events. Is that not true?”
“Wasn't she your lead designer before Ms. Jones? Why the sudden change?”
Lucas stood tall, arm still locked with Amelia’s. She pressed herself against him, the perfect image of a woman in love.
Lucas’s face remained expressionless. Calm. Dismissive.
“I’ve only had one girlfriend in my entire life,” he said into the mic. “And that’s Amelia. We’re planning to get married soon.”
In the audience, Emily sat still.
She kept her posture still, composed. But inside, her chest ached as if someone had carved out her heart and put it on display.
‘Only one girlfriend... and that’s Amelia.’
How ironic.
She had stood by him for five years. Loved him. Believed him. Endured being a secret. Defended him when people questioned. Thought he was just being private. But now he had spoken. Not just spoken—denied her existence.
To the world.
Lucas looked at her just once—briefly, guiltily—but she didn’t blink. Didn’t blink. She just stared back, calm. Quiet.
But inside her, voices were screaming.
‘This is the moment I finally erase you from my heart. You’ll never choose me, Lucas Countrell. So I won’t let you stay in my life—not even as a possibility.’
The event eventually came to a close. The lights dimmed. The media slowly dispersed, and the crowd thinned. Laughter and glasses clinking replaced the earlier buzz. The place began to empty.
Lucas made his way down from the stage, ignoring Amelia tugging at his hand.
She was still sitting in the same chair. Unmoved. Watching.
He walked over and knelt in front of her.
“Emily…” His voice dropped low, almost like he was soothing a child.
“It was a big business deal. I couldn’t risk it. You know how important this is for the company. Amelia’s name is on the designs, and Mr. Sanchez insisted on the ‘couple’ image. I couldn’t humiliate him in front of everyone.”