As I read the endless stream of adoration for their fabricated romance, I felt my heart sink deeper.
The rumor between them was growing bigger, while the relationship between me and Rheymond was getting weaker and weaker every day.
The ring on my finger, once a symbol of our engagement, felt hopelessly empty at that moment. It hurt to have received it from a waiter on what should have been the most memorable night of my life.
“It should’ve been you putting it on my finger. Why did I have to wear it myself?” I muttered, tossing my phone aside and curling up in bed, sinking into the depths of loneliness.
The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed, knowing I had to head to Bright Agency, where I worked as a model.
My manager arrived at the Penthouse to pick me up as usual.
Even if meetings for an upcoming photoshoot awaited, but my mind was miles away, stuck in the turmoil of last night.
At the agency, I could also not escape the whispers about Darla and Rheymond.
In the restroom, I overheard two colleagues chatting.
“Did you see Darla’s post yesterday?”
“Yes! Her posts are getting bolder every day. I bet there is a big announcement coming soon!” one squealed.
“I know, right? They are so adorable together. I can’t believe they are not official yet!”
I never imagined the rumors about Darla and Rheymond would snowball like that. Whenever I confronted him, he would brush it off, assuring me that I was the only one he had loved for the past five years.
We had met at Fashion Week, back when I was representing a brand, and Rheymond was a special guest. He approached me first, and for a year, we had an undefined relationship before he finally asked me to be his girlfriend.
In all that time, I was like his personal diary, listening to his work-related rants and triumphs. We kept our relationship secret for mutual benefit, known only to close friends and family, including Darla and Matthew Bishop, Rheymond’s childhood friends.
The Charles, Schwartz, and Bishop families had been close for generations, so it was no surprise their children were friends too.
However, unlike Rheymond, who was an only child, Darla and Matthew chose to become content creators because they were the second child.
Right from the start, I always felt out of place among them. Like Darla’s birthday party a few weeks ago.