9

9

Bethany's POV

The house felt suffocating the moment Mason left. His cologne lingering in the air and choking me as best as it could.

Grabbing my keys, I walked out the door, my chest tight and tears threatening to spill again. The evening air hit my face, crisp and biting, but it wasn't enough to clear my head.

I didn't know where I was going—I just needed to get away. I got into the car and started the engine before driving off.

The city blurred around me as I drove aimlessly, the hum of the engine filling the silence. My thoughts raced, each one more painful than the last. How had I been so blind? So naive?

The man I'd trusted with my heart, my future, had betrayed me so easily. His words from earlier replayed in my mind, each one like a dagger twisting deeper into my chest.

"You're overreacting."

"It doesn't mean anything."

"You're the one I want to marry."

How could he be so so detached? I'd built my life around him, dreamed of a future with him. And he'd destroyed it all without a second thought.

The buzzing of my phone on the passenger seat startled me. I glanced over, and Lily's name lit up the screen. I hesitated for a moment before grabbing it and answering.

"Hey," I said, my voice raw and trembling.

"Beth? What's wrong?" Lily asked immediately, her voice laced with concern. I could already picture her frowning, her brows furrowed as she sat on the couch in her tiny apartment. She knew something was wrong. She always did.

The knot in my throat tightened, and for a moment, I couldn't speak. The silence must have said enough because Lily's voice softened even more.

"Bethany, talk to me. What happened?"

"I caught him, Lily," I said finally, my voice breaking. "I caught Mason."

"Caught him?" Her tone was sharp now. "Caught him doing what?"

"With someone else. Another woman." The words tasted bitter, and saying them out loud made it feel even more real. My grip on the steering wheel tightened, my knuckles aching.

"Oh my God," Lily whispered. There was a pause, the kind that felt like an eternity. "Are you serious? That asshole. I'll kill him. I swear to God, Beth, I'll kill him."

I let out a shaky laugh, the sound completely humorless. "Get in line."

"Wait—how did you find out? What happened?" Her voice was urgent now, as though knowing the details would help her figure out how to fix this for me.

"I walked in on him," I said, my stomach churning at the memory. "In the end tbags supposed to be ours, Lily. With some woman named Danielle. I don't even know who she is, but apparently, she's been around long enough for him to call her a 'meaningless distraction.'" My voice cracked again, but I swallowed hard, refusing to cry.

"Oh my God, Bethany," Lily breathed. "What the hell? Are you okay? No—of course, you're not okay. I'm so sorry. What did you do? Did you kick his sorry ass out?"

I barked out a bitter laugh. "I wish. I was too stunned to do anything but yell at him. And do you know what he had the audacity to say? That I was overreacting. That it didn't mean anything. That I'm the one he wants to marry."

"What?" Lily's voice was incredulous. "You're kidding. He cheated, and he's acting like you're the problem?"

"Exactly," I muttered. "He said I was making it a bigger deal than it needed to be. Like I was being unreasonable for not accepting his 'lapse in judgment.'" My voice was dripping with sarcasm now, my anger bubbling up again. "And then he had the nerve to say I was throwing away everything we've been building over 'one stupid mistake.'"

"Unbelievable." Lily was practically growling now. "What a selfish, manipulative piece of trash. He's trying to gaslight you, Beth. He's trying to make you feel guilty when he's the one who messed up."

"I know," I whispered. "But it still hurts. I feel so stupid, Lily. How did I not see this coming? Were there signs? Did I ignore them? I thought we were happy. I thought he loved me."

"Hey," she said firmly. "Don't do that to yourself. Don't you dare blame yourself for his actions. Mason is a grown man, and he made a choice. This is not on you."

"I just…" My voice trailed off, my mind spinning. "I feel like my whole world just collapsed. We were supposed to get married, Lily. I've been planning our future, building our life together. And now—now it's gone. Just like that."

I heard her sigh on the other end. "Beth, I wish I could be there with you right now. I'd bring ice cream, wine, and a baseball bat so we could really deal with this properly."

The image made me laugh. "Thanks, but I don't think breaking his stuff will fix anything."

"Maybe not, but it'd feel good," she said, and I could hear the grin in her voice. Then she sighed again. "I'm so sorry I can't be there tonight. I have this work event I can't get out of, but first thing tomorrow, I'm coming over. We'll figure this out together, okay?"

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Okay."

"And Beth? You're going to be okay. I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you will be. You're one of the strongest people I know. Mason doesn't deserve you—he never did."

Her words made my chest tighten.

"Thank you," I said softly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd probably still be with that cheating jerk," she said with a teasing edge to her voice, making me smile despite everything.

"True," I admitted. "I should've listened to you from the start. You never liked him."

"Because I knew he wasn't good enough for you," she said simply. "But don't worry. You'll find someone who is. Someone who sees how amazing you are and doesn't take you for granted."

I didn't respond right away. I wasn't ready to think about someone else—not yet. But a part of me hoped she was right.

"Anyway," Lily continued, her tone brightening slightly. "What are you going to do now? You shouldn't stay home alone. Go out, do something for yourself."

"I don't know," I said honestly. "I was just driving around, trying to clear my head."

"Find a cozy spot, grab a drink, and just breathe," she suggested. "You don't need to figure everything out tonight. Just take it one step at a time."

I sighed, knowing she was right. "Okay. I'll try."

"That's my girl," she said warmly. "And remember, Beth: Mason doesn't define you. You were amazing before him, and you'll be even more amazing after him."

"Thanks, lily," I replied with a sigh.

"Ok I have to go now but I'll talk to you later, ok?"

"Ok." And with that she hung up. It didn't take long for me to pull up in the nearest bar I saw. I needed an escape.

***

The bar was dimly lit and sparsely populated, the quiet hum of conversation blending with the soft strains of an old rock ballad playing from the jukebox. I made my way to the counter, the heels of my boots clicking softly against the worn wooden floor.

The bartender looked up as I approached, a friendly smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He was in his mid-thirties, with a scruffy beard and kind, knowing eyes.

"What can I get you?" he asked, his voice warm and casual.

I hesitated, my hands fidgeting with the strap of my bag. "Something strong," I said finally, my voice hoarse from crying.

He nodded, not pressing for details. "Coming right up."

A moment later, he slid a glass across the counter toward me. The amber liquid sparkled under the dim light, promising a temporary reprieve from the ache in my chest.

I took a sip, the burn of the alcohol making me feel just a tad bit better.

"Tough day?" he asked, leaning against the counter.

I laughed bitterly, the sound almost foreign to my own ears. "You could say that."

"Want to talk about it?" he offered. "Sometimes it helps to unload on a stranger."

I glanced at him, debating whether to open up. Something about his demeanor, calm and unassuming, put me at ease.

"My fiancé," I said finally, the word catching in my throat. "I caught him cheating on me today."

He winced, shaking his head. "Ouch. That's rough."

I nodded, my fingers tracing the rim of my glass. "I thought I knew him. I thought we were building a life together. But apparently, I was wrong."

The bartender frowned, his eyes full of sympathy. "Some people don't realize what they have until it's gone. Sounds like he didn't deserve you."

I shrugged, the tears threatening to spill again. "I just feel so stupid. I should've seen it. The signs were there, but I ignored them."

"That's not on you," he said. "When you care about someone, you want to see the best in them. It's not your fault he let you down."

His words offered a small measure of comfort, and I found myself relaxing slightly.

"What's your name?" I asked, realizing I hadn't even introduced myself.

"Chris," he said with a smile. "And you?"

"Bethany," I replied, managing a small smile in return.

"Well, Bethany," Chris said, topping off my drink, "I can tell you're strong. You'll get through this."

"Oh, well, thanks," I murmured with a sigh. "Can you get me another drink please?"

"Coming right up," he replied and turned around to do just that. In a few minutes he turned back to me and gave me a glass of wine which I drank in one gulp.

The night blurred as the alcohol coursed through my veins, the sharp ache in my chest softening into a dull throb. I hadn't eaten much before I left the house, and the second drink Chris poured me hit harder than I expected. My head felt heavy, my thoughts hazy and jumbled.

"Whoa," I muttered, clutching the edge of the counter as I tried to steady myself. "Maybe that was… a bit too strong."

Chris noticed immediately, his brows knitting together in what looked like concern. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle.

"Yeah," I lied, blinking rapidly to fight off the dizziness. "Just… feeling it more than I thought I would."

The room seemed to tilt slightly, the dim lights blurring into streaks. I rubbed my temples, trying to focus, but it was no use. Something wasn't right.

"Here," Chris said, moving around the bar toward me. "Let me help. You're not looking so good."

I waved him off weakly. "I'm fine, really. Just need to sit here for a second."

But my body betrayed me. My legs wobbled as I tried to stand, my knees buckling slightly. Chris caught me before I could fall, his arm firm around my waist.

"Easy, Bethany," he said, his tone calm and steady. "Let's get you somewhere quiet where you can sit down for a bit."

I wanted to protest, but the words didn't come. My head was spinning too fast, and the room felt suffocating. Chris guided me carefully toward the back of the bar, away from the other patrons. My steps felt sluggish, my limbs heavy, and a part of me wondered if I'd underestimated how much I'd had to drink.

"Where are we going?" I mumbled, trying to make sense of my surroundings.

"Just to the staff restroom," Chris replied smoothly. "It's quieter there. You can take a minute to catch your breath."

Something about his voice felt off—too calm, too calculated—but I couldn't focus long enough to question it. My vision blurred further as we entered a small, dimly lit hallway. The sounds of the bar faded behind us, replaced by the quiet hum of fluorescent lights.

Chris pushed open a door marked Private and guided me inside. It was a men's restroom, though cleaner than I expected, with a single stall and a small sink. The scent of bleach lingered faintly in the air.

"Here," he said, helping me sit on the closed toilet seat. "Just take a moment. I'll get you some water."

I nodded weakly, my head lolling forward. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, and I couldn't tell if it was the alcohol or something else. My mouth felt dry, and my limbs felt disconnected from my body. Something about this didn't feel right, but I couldn't string the thought together clearly.

Chris crouched in front of me, his face blurry as he studied me closely. "You're really out of it, huh?" he said softly, his tone almost… amused.

I tried to respond, but my tongue felt heavy, my words slurring before they could form. Panic flickered in the back of my mind, but it was distant, muffled, like it was trapped under a thick layer of fog.

"You just need to rest for a bit," Chris said, his hand brushing lightly against my arm. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

His words should have been reassuring, but instead, they sent a shiver down my spine. I wanted to push him away, to stand up and leave, but my body refused to cooperate. The edges of my vision darkened, the room spinning faster and faster.

"Chris…" I murmured, my voice barely audible. "What… what's happening?"

But he didn't answer. He just smiled—a faint, knowing smile that sent a cold wave of dread crashing over me.