Sophia sat in the quiet kitchen, a mug of untouched coffee cradled between her palms. The morning light filtered through the curtains, but it did nothing to chase away the storm in her chest.
She had watched the footage. She had read the name.
Cassidy Moore.
She couldn't deny it any longer—Cassidy had been with Adrian that night at the hotel.
But what disturbed her more was not the possibility of betrayal—it was how carefully Adrian had hidden it. Why would he hide something if it were innocent?
She didn't know what to believe anymore.
Ethan's laughter rang from the living room, but even that couldn't soften the ache in her chest.
Then, her phone buzzed.
Text from Cassidy:
"Meet me. Rooftop café. Noon. Come alone. There are things you don't know about Adrian."
Sophia stared at the message for a long moment.
She didn't want drama. She didn't want to be dragged into jealousy or gossip. But her gut told her—this wasn't about a petty ex. Cassidy knew something.
And if there was one thing Sophia feared more than pain—it was not knowing the truth.
---
At Noon…
The rooftop café was nearly empty, wind teasing loose strands of her hair as she approached the table where Cassidy sat waiting.
Cassidy looked different. Tired. Not like the confident, sharp-tongued woman she remembered.
"I thought you'd ignore my message," Cassidy said, her voice softer than expected.
Sophia sat down. "Let's not waste time."
Cassidy nodded. "Fine. I loved Adrian. You know that. I still do… in some way. But it's not about that."
Sophia kept silent.
"Five years ago, Adrian wasn't just hurt by your departure. He was destroyed. After you left, he... changed. Obsessed with his work. He disappeared into surgeries and silence."
"I had no choice," Sophia whispered.
Cassidy looked at her. "Did you know he nearly died in a car crash three years ago?"
Sophia's breath caught. "What?"
"He was driving home from a double shift. No sleep. Lost control. The car flipped. He was in a coma for two days. He didn't tell anyone—not even his family. Just signed himself out once he could walk."
Sophia felt her world shift beneath her.
Why didn't he tell her?
Cassidy leaned forward. "I met him a week after that. We weren't dating. We were both... broken. And when he asked for help rebuilding a foundation under his mother's name, I helped. That night at the hotel? It was for that."
Sophia swallowed hard. "Why didn't he just say that?"
"Because he's Adrian. He'd rather suffer than ask for comfort. You should know that."
Silence fell between them. Heavy. Unspoken.
Cassidy sighed. "I won't lie. I hoped he'd come back to me. But he never looked at me the way he looks at you."
Sophia closed her eyes. The truth wasn't what she expected—but it was far heavier.