James thought leaving her would be the hardest part.
But finding out she cheated on him—with Clinton, his so-called friend—felt like his world had crumbled. Every memory, every laugh, every promise they had shared suddenly twisted into lies.
"How could she…? How could they?" he whispered to himself, staring at his phone like it had all the answers. His hands shook, chest tight, a storm of anger and heartbreak raging inside him.
Ben, his closest friend, watched silently for a moment before speaking, voice steady, sharp, and impossible to ignore:
"James… she's not worth it. Forget her. You deserve better than this."
James let out a bitter laugh, the kind that tastes of pain and disbelief. "Better? Ben… I thought I knew her. I thought we were real. And now… everything I believed in—gone."
Ben leaned forward, eyes serious. "Listen, bro. Life's too short to waste on people who don't value you. You've got a good heart. Don't let her—or him—trash it. You can do better. You will do better."
James sank back into the couch, closing his eyes. The memories came flooding back—her smile, her laugh, the way she made him feel like he mattered. And now, those same memories were poison. Betrayal burns slow, deeper than anyone can see.
But amidst the chaos of heartbreak, a tiny spark of hope flickered. Maybe he could move on. Maybe someone out there would see his worth. Maybe he could love again… without fear, without pain, without the shadow of her haunting him.
Still, he knew it wouldn't be easy. Trust once broken doesn't heal overnight. And as much as Ben's words tried to comfort him, the path ahead was uncertain, messy, and full of questions he wasn't sure he wanted answers to.
But one thing was certain—this was only the beginning.
And whatever came next, James had to survive. Not for her. Not for Clinton. But for himself.