Millie had sensed it for a while now—Lucas was changing. The way he spoke to her, the way he barely made an effort anymore. She wasn’t sure when it started, but something felt… off.

  Then, one night, she got her answer.

  ---

  The Truth Unfolds

  Emma, always the observant one, had overheard some whispers at The Maple Brew.

  "You’re not going to like this," Emma said gently, placing a hand on Millie’s.

  Millie’s stomach churned. "Just tell me."

  Emma sighed. "Lucas… he’s been seeing someone else."

  Millie’s breath hitched. "That’s not funny, Emma."

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  Emma shook her head. "I wouldn’t joke about this. Someone saw him at a restaurant with another girl last night. And it wasn’t just dinner, Millie. They… they kissed."

  Millie felt like the air had been sucked out of her lungs.

  She grabbed her phone, her hands shaking as she dialed Lucas’s number.

  "Hey," his voice was calm, almost too calm.

  "Where are you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

  "At home," he lied.

  Millie clenched her jaw. "Liar."

  There was silence.

  Then, Lucas sighed. "I guess you know."

  Millie’s heart pounded. "So it’s true?"

  "...Yeah."

  Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Why, Lucas? Was I not enough?"

  Lucas let out a humorless chuckle. "That’s the thing, Millie. You never wanted me in the first place."

  She froze. "What are you talking about?"

  "You love Henry," he said simply. "Even if you don’t realize it yet."

  Millie opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out.

  Lucas continued, his voice softer now. "I could see it, Millie. You were pulling away. And I knew—no matter how hard I tried, your heart was never mine."

  Millie wiped at her eyes, trying to process his words. "So… you cheated to make me leave?"

  "Because I knew you wouldn’t, otherwise," he admitted. "You’re too kind, Millie. You would’ve stayed with me even if it made you unhappy."

  A lump formed in her throat. "I hate you for this."

  Lucas sighed. "I know."

  And with that, she hung up.

  ---

  Goodbye for Now

  Millie didn’t go back to the group after that. She needed time—time to process everything, time to heal.

  Henry, meanwhile, sat with his own guilt, convinced that his confession had pushed Millie away.

  He had no idea that, in reality, Lucas had just set things in motion for something much bigger.

  ---

  To Be Continued…