Celeste held the ring box tighter in her palm, her fingers trembling slightly as she approached Ethan's apartment door. Her heart thumped in her chest, loud and hopeful. This was it. The moment.
She smiled to herself, brushing her hair behind her ear.
After everything that had happened — Naomi's death, Zara's sudden presence in her life — she needed this. Something stable. Something real. Ethan had always been her comfort zone. Her choice. Tonight, she would ask him to be more.
Her thumb hovered over the doorbell, but something pulled her hand away.
It was quiet inside. Oddly quiet.
She knew his car was parked outside, and he wasn't responding to her texts — probably just showering or napping. Celeste decided to let herself in. She had a spare key, and it wasn't unusual for her to use it.
With a deep breath, she slid the key into the lock, turned it, and stepped inside.
The apartment was dim. The smell of candles lingered in the air. Romantic, almost. She smiled, thinking maybe Ethan had somehow guessed her surprise.
"Ethan?" she called softly, walking past the couch.
No response.
Her heels clicked lightly against the wooden floor as she made her way down the hallway toward the bedroom. The door was slightly ajar.
She pushed it open.
And her world stopped.
There, tangled in sheets and skin and betrayal — were Ethan and Sadie.
Her best friend.
Her boyfriend.
Making out. Kissing like the world was theirs. Ethan's shirt was half off, Sadie's dress pushed up. They didn't even notice her at first — too wrapped up in their passion.
Until Celeste's gasp escaped her throat.
Ethan turned first. Shock drained the color from his face. Sadie's eyes went wide, and she scrambled to pull the blanket over herself.
"Cece—" Ethan stammered, sitting up. "It's not what it looks like."
Celeste didn't speak. Couldn't.
The ring box slipped from her hand and hit the floor with a dull thud.
Sadie's lips parted, panic written across her face. "I—I didn't mean—"
Celeste backed away, numbness spreading through her limbs. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Ethan got up, still buttoning his shirt, reaching out like he could fix it with a touch. "Wait—just listen—"
"No." Her voice was low, raw, but sharp. "Don't come near me."
Tears blurred her vision as she stumbled back into the hall. She could still hear them — Sadie whispering, Ethan cursing under his breath — but all of it sounded distant. Fuzzy. As if she were underwater.
She reached the door. Fumbled with the knob.
And then she was outside, the cold night air slapping her across the face.
Her heart was hammering. Her stomach churned. She bent over, breath caught in her throat, trying not to throw up.
She had planned to propose to him.
She loved him.
She had trusted them both.
Her phone buzzed, but she didn't look. She walked blindly down the street, barely registering where she was going, until her legs took her to the place she hadn't planned to visit that night.
Adrian's building.
Somehow, even before she rang the bell, the door opened. He must've seen her from the balcony.
"Celeste?" His voice was gentle.
She said nothing. Just threw herself into his arms, her body shaking.
He held her tightly, pulling her inside, closing the door to the world behind her.
And for the first time in hours, she let herself cry