I stopped at the door.
On the screen was a new question:
“Should Valeria forgive Adrian and stop making trouble?”
Yes.
No.
Adrian looked at me.
—Since you care so much about the votes, let’s settle this once and for all.
Hazel immediately added:
—Everyone just wants you two to be okay again.
Clara grabbed my arm.
—Let’s leave.
But I didn’t move.
I wanted to see it.
Adrian pressed START.
Votes appeared immediately.
Yes: 5.
Yes: 11.
Yes: 16.
Finally:
YES: 17
NO: 1
Someone laughed.
—Again seventeen to one!
Hazel covered her mouth.
—Valeria, don’t tell me you voted for yourself this time.
I looked at Adrian.
—No.
His smile faded.
—What?
—I didn’t vote.
The room became quieter.
Then Clara slowly raised her phone.
—It was me.
Everyone turned.
Clara looked directly at Adrian.
—I was also the person who voted for Valeria last night.
Adrian froze.
So did I.
Clara continued:
—For three years, I’ve watched all of you turn someone’s relationship into entertainment.
—Every time Valeria was hurt, you called her sensitive.
—Every time Hazel wanted Adrian, you called it friendship.
Hazel’s face reddened.
—Clara, that’s unfair.
—Is it?
Clara opened her phone.
—Then maybe we should vote on something more interesting.
She connected her screen to the television.
A photograph appeared.
Adrian and Hazel leaving the movie theater last night.
Then another.
Hazel holding Adrian’s arm.
Then a screenshot of their messages.
My heart stopped.
Hazel stood abruptly.
—Where did you get that?
Clara ignored her.
One message was from Hazel:
If she really leaves this time, will you come to me?
Adrian’s reply:
She won’t leave. She never does.
The room went dead silent.
I stared at those words.
So that was why he had laughed at my breakup.
He truly believed I had nowhere else to go.
Adrian stood.
—Valeria, listen—
I took the small gift box from the table.
—Is this what you called me here for?
He reached toward me.
—Yes. I bought it months ago.
I opened it.
Inside was a bracelet.
Beautiful.
Expensive.
And painfully familiar.
Hazel suddenly lowered her sleeve.
Too late.
On her wrist was the exact same bracelet.
Someone whispered:
—Wait…
Adrian’s face changed.
Hazel quickly explained:
—Mine was a gift from my mother.
Clara laughed.
—Really?
She changed the image on the screen.
A payment receipt appeared.
Two identical bracelets.
Purchased by Adrian Shaw.
Same day.
One labeled:
H.L.
The other:
V.M.
Except mine had been purchased three weeks later.
I looked at Adrian.
—So even my birthday gift was the second copy?
—Valeria, that’s not what happened.
I closed the box.
Then placed it in Hazel’s hand.
—Keep both.
I turned to leave.
This time Adrian grabbed my wrist.
—Enough.
His voice was low.
—What do you want from me?
I looked at his hand until he released me.
—Nothing.
That answer frightened him more than anger.
—Valeria—
—You wanted everyone to decide our relationship for three years.
I looked around the room.
Seventeen people who had laughed every time I lost.
—So let them keep voting.
Then I looked back at him.
—I’m just no longer one of the options.
I walked out with Clara.
But before the elevator doors closed, Adrian’s phone rang.
He answered impatiently.
Then his expression suddenly changed.
—What do you mean she withdrew?
The elevator doors almost closed.
Almost.
Then I heard the next sentence.
—Without Valeria’s signature, the investment is canceled?
I looked at Clara.
She smiled.
—You really didn’t tell him?
—Tell him what?
Clara stared at me.
—Valeria…
—Do you seriously not know who has been secretly funding Adrian’s company for the last three years?
I froze.
The elevator doors opened again.
Adrian was standing outside.
His face had lost all color.
And for the first time since I’d known him…
he wasn’t looking at Hazel.
He was looking at me.
—Valeria.
His voice shook.
—Why does my investor’s contract have your name on it?
