ll dim, with a thin mis

was dressed in a pearl-white dress she'd picked with care-simple cut, delic

and over for what she believed would

yed lit, still on th

ing. Marriage Reg

d finally replied with

ka

. Not eve

k a tiny match inside the barren wreckage of he

reall

ight that went viral online was all fake

led through her head. Her hand ho

ile. But her reflection stared back with empty eyes, and t

chose. Whatever happens, no re

rtant materials over and over. Then, brushing a strand of ha

*

Registrat

and the waiting hall was a

excitement on everyone else's faces, Clarissa sat

ly at the digital

m. s

gn of

aybe traffic. He's always p

0 a

d out, but still, not th

t finished their registra

0 a

numbers were called. And Clarissa? Still th

tapped back on. Again and again. No missed calls. No mes

She's been sitting ther

her boyfriend? Kinda

up too. Was she... ghos

cattered whispers and barely concealed pitying look

alrea

irty minu

up and walked toward a quieter spot at the end of the hallway. Her f

... be

e picking up. Just as she was about

m h

ion-just several cold w

ead of hope snapped with

dn't

posed to get the marr

uldn't be bot

buzzed again. It

he could say a word, Natalie's voice

Have you checked Ins?! Seba

second later, her chat with Natalie popped

b, but they moved anyway. S

ered in the frame: Sebastian, holding Aria tightly. They were kissing like the who

ile Sebastian-he had this soft, focused look

orst part. The link? It to

was right there,

words. Four words that

do com

at wa

never inclu

ng, of giving everythi

ting for over an hour like some clueless fool

started flashing rapi

who could play the violin. S

oulders ached so badly she couldn't lift

e for his birthday. All for a c

enough, became good enough, he'd fin

head she was of Aria in the music world. In Sebastian's eyes, Aria had always bee

s she, Cla

these six

ng wave. But strangely enough, this ti

larity. And a weir

ad held its place at the top for six whole years, a

y, I won't cha

Aria live happ

y's. Not even an

hit

wiped him from her phone

k into her bag, took a long breath, and step

ng. Cars and people moved a

squinting against the light, feeling los

hole world had revol

gone, all that was l

out of nowhere, her foot slipped on the

watch

ht her just in time, pulli

ll throwing yourself at

up and met a pair of

him seem overdressed for daylight-tall, lean, and confi

n his lips-like he enjoy

Elian L

lving world peace, but when she was shut out by everyone else, he'd silently d

th was gone. In its place w

mes, Clarissa would'v

g the way she just cut ties minutes ago-her

t live without him? That she'd alw

to prove him

forward and looked Eli

t seeing anyo

rows lift, then said clearly, withou