Shattered Trust

The next day, consumed with guilt and confusion, Lily received a call from Ash. His voice was tense, filled with an urgency she hadn't heard before. "Lily, we need to talk. Are you free?"

Lily's heart raced as she agreed to the call. When Ash's face appeared on her screen, she could see the pain in his eyes. "What's going on, Ash?"

"I heard from Jenna that you were with Tyler last night," Ash said, his voice trembling. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Lily's stomach dropped, her guilt intensifying. "Ash, it was just coffee. I was feeling lonely, and Tyler was there to listen."

"But why didn't you tell me?" Ash repeated, his voice breaking. "I thought we were supposed to be honest with each other."

"I'm sorry," Lily said, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

The trust they had built was shattered in that moment, leaving them both reeling from the impact