Chapter 20 Seeing Sid, Zephyrâs expression instantly darkened.
âPhoebe? So thatâs it? You picked Stanford because of this guy? You-â
Sid stepped slightly in front of me, cutting him off casually.
âActually, we both got early admission scholarships. Neither of us went through regular admissions.â
Zephyr stood there, visibly struggling to process this.
âYou were completely into me for years. This doesnât make any sense. When did you two even-â
I responded with calm clarity: âI submitted my Stanford application the night I overheard you discussing what kind of lingerie would look best on my body with your friends.â
âSid was the one who sat with me in the hospital when I was burning with fever. He was the one who publicly defended me when those disgusting rumors spread. He was the one who saw meâreally saw meânot just what he could get from me.â
As I spoke, I realized these words werenât just for Zephyrâs benefit.
They were my acknowledgment of what Sid had meant to me during the darkest chapter of my life.
How his quiet support had given me space to heal on my own terms.
âThere are a hundred more moments I could list... but honestly, I donât think either of us needs to hear them,â
Zephyrâs face crumbled, his lips trembling, unable to form words.
I gave his shoulder a gentle squeezeânot out of lingering affection, but as a final goodbye to the childhood friendship that once meant so much.
âZephyr, Iâm genuinely happy now. You should try looking forward instead of backward. Itâs much easier to see where youâre going that way.â
As we walked away, Sid leaned down and whispered with a playful smile: âHe wasnât even worthy Velvet Nights 45.3%
Chapter 20 of the title âexâboyfriend,â so why waste another minute?â
I laughed despite the emotional weight of the moment: âOh, so âexâboyfriendâ would have been an acceptable title?â
Sid lifted our intertwined hands and kissed my knuckles gently.
âNot a chance. Iâm planning to make sure you never have to use the prefix âexâ with me,â
It wasnât a grand declaration, but the simple promise in his voice made my heart flutter in a way that Zephyrâs dramatic gestures never had.
This wasnât possession or obsessionâit was partnership.
Behind us, Zephyr remained frozen, shoulders slumped, finally understanding what he had truly lost.
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