As Valeria approached with her guest, Jason felt his pulse quicken. He was ready to bask in the validation he’d craved. But as they drew closer, Jason’s confident facade crumbled. Valeria’s guest stood beside Valeria dressed impeccably and exuding a quiet confidence.
But as soon as Jason’s eyes met the mystery man, his face paled – this mystery man was none other than Emily’s long-term ex-boyfriend. The realization hit him like a cold slap, unraveling the carefully constructed narrative he had built for this day.