The Unraveling Truth

Nick's words hung in the air, venomous and irreversible. Jane stared at him, her chest rising and falling with ragged breaths, eyes burning with fury.

"It's no wonder your ex-husband left you. Now I understand. You get attracted to these kinds of men and let them use you."

The moment the words left his mouth, a suffocating silence followed. Jane's fingers curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.

"What did you just say?" Her voice was low, dangerous.

Nick's gaze was unwavering, his own pain twisting into something cruel. "I came here to warn you about him, but you're protecting him. Why? Because you love him? Or is it something more than that?"

Jane took a step back, her brows furrowing. "What?"

Nick let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Oh, don't act so innocent. I was there, Jane. I came to his birthday party and saw him taking you to his room."

And then, before she even realized what she was doing, her hand flew through the air.

The sharp crack of her palm meeting his cheek cut through the night. Nick staggered back, his eyes wide with shock. Jane's own chest heaved, the impact of her action sending a shiver down her spine.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The streetlights above cast long shadows between them, an invisible chasm neither knew how to cross.

"I can't believe you would say that," Jane whispered, her voice thick with betrayal. Her throat tightened as she took another step back, as if putting physical distance between them would dull the pain of his accusations.

Nick swallowed, his face burning—not from the slap, but from the realization of what he had just done. "I was just trying to protect you!" he pleaded, his voice raw.

Jane's laugh was hollow, void of warmth. "But at what cost, Nick? You're not listening to me. You never listen."

Her voice trembled, a mix of heartbreak and rage lacing every syllable. Then, without another word, she turned and bolted down the street, her hair whipping behind her as she disappeared into the night.

Nick's breath caught in his throat. "Jane, wait!" he called after her, his pulse pounding in his ears. But she didn't stop. She didn't even look back.

Emily stepped forward, her face a mask of disbelief. "What have you done?" she demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut through his lingering haze of anger.

Nick stood frozen, his hands still clenched at his sides.

Emily shook her head. "You're an idiot, Nick."

He blinked at her, still too stunned to respond.

"She planned a surprise for your birthday!" Emily's voice cracked, frustration spilling over. "You misunderstood everything!"

Nick's stomach twisted painfully. "What do you mean?"

Emily let out a sharp breath. "She didn't invite Richard! He came for his own business and met us coincidentally. She asked him to stop you so she could surprise you. Do you even realize what she did for you?"

Nick's chest tightened. "I…" His voice faltered.

Emily's gaze softened just a fraction, disappointment clouding her expression. "You shouldn't have spoken to her that way. Go inside and see for yourself what you just missed."

She shook her head and turned away, leaving Nick standing alone.

The weight of everything pressed against his chest like a boulder. He had ruined everything.

With leaden steps, he made his way home, his mind reeling.

The moment he stepped inside the restaurant room, a sudden explosion of confetti burst in the air, cascading down in a flurry of colors.

Nick flinched, his breath catching. His eyes widened as he took in the room—balloons, decorations, a massive cake sitting in the center of the table. Candles flickered, their glow casting soft, dancing shadows against the walls.

And then, the screen in front of him flickered to life.

Nick's throat tightened as images filled the screen—pictures of him and her, frozen moments in time. Him sleeping on Jane's couch, a ridiculous face mask smeared across his face. Him laughing uncontrollably as they played games late into the night. Him stealing fries from her plate, a teasing grin tugging at his lips.

Every single memory she had saved. His vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. He never realized how much she had cherished their moments together. Never realized how much she cherished him.

And then came her voice.

"Happy Birthday, Nick."

The warmth in her tone seeped into his bones, wrapping around his heart like a gentle embrace.

"Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for being my friend. I know you must be feeling embarrassed to see all these things, but these are the memories I cherish."

Nick's breath hitched.

"When I came to the U.S., I was living a plain life, but when you came into my life, it started to become fun. You made me look forward to the next day, knowing you'd always be there. You gave my life meaning. You made me understand who I truly am. And you made me love myself again."

Nick's chest ached, his heart pounding against his ribs.

"You know everyone around me use to say that my life was over and always urged me to focus on my career alone. I never wanted love in my life again. But when I met you things changed. I started to feel alive. My heart really skipped a beat when I first saw you. I never thought much about you after our meeting in the hospital. But then I met you again. We became friends and I really loved spending time with you. I didn't realize when my feelings changed towards you. I wished to be more than just a friend to you. I don't know if you feel the same but I wanted you to know how I feel."

"I love you, Nick. Will you be mine?"

Her words hit him like a wave, knocking the breath from his lungs. His hands gripped his knees as he watched her on the screen, her eyes vulnerable and wide, her expression full of hope. He could feel the sincerity of every word she spoke, the quiet desperation in her voice as she poured her heart out.

The screen flickered as her image froze for a split second, her smile shy yet full of longing.

Nick's breath stilled, his entire body going rigid. His eyes blurred as he saw her expression shift from hope to a hesitant uncertainty, a fear that perhaps she had confessed too much, too soon. But there was no mistaking it—the depth of her feelings for him was written in every word, in every tear she hadn't let fall. The weight of her confession hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.

Her voice still echoed in his mind, a silent plea: "Will you be mine?"

The room around him seemed to disappear, his heart and mind filled with only one thought: how had he been so blind? How had he missed the way she had looked at him all this time? The love she had given him, hidden in plain sight.

He stood there, rooted to the spot, his chest tight with the weight of regret. His throat closed up as his own feelings, the ones he had buried deep, surfaced. He had always known there was something special about her. But hearing her say those words, seeing her raw emotion on the screen—that was the moment he truly understood.

Nick closed his eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. He had to find her. He had to make it right. The weight of his earlier actions was unbearable. He couldn't just let this moment slip away—he couldn't lose her.