He Chose Her While I Was Dying

Alouette's POV: My best friend, Sereia Ellsworth, went through a terrible experience where her partner cheated on her, and after that she decided no man could be trusted. The day I took my wealthy boyfriend to meet her, she poured water sharply onto the floor and said, "Men like him are the most unfaithful. Sooner or later, he will leave you too." Maelor Valmont did not take offense. He held me close and said firmly, "You are mistaken. If that day ever comes, may I lose everything I have." My best friend gave a snort. "As if anyone would care." From then on, the two of them clashed constantly, and I was caught in the middle. My company sent me to headquarters for a three-month training program. In my second month there, I came across a post online. I can't help falling in love with my best friend's fiancé. We are like sisters. What should I do? Every comment section was filled with people saying she was wrong, that you never go after your best friend's partner. Then I saw a post from an account I recognized. It isn't her fault. I'm the one who fell for her. Her past breaks my heart. All I want is to take care of her for the rest of my life. My fingers trembled as I clicked to view the photo. It showed the two of them holding each other, watching a meteor shower. I went cold all over. The dress she was wearing was the limited-edition birthday gift I had given my best friend earlier that year. I stared fixed at that photo of them embracing beneath the stars. A coldness spread from my feet all the way up, and my breath caught and shook. The dress she was wearing was the limited-edition piece I had asked a friend to bring back from abroad just last month, her twenty-fifth birthday present. I remembered how she had held it that day, hugged me tight, and said I was the best friend in the world. Now here she was, wearing my gift, leaning in my fiancé Maelor's arms. How could she live with herself? My hand hovered over the screen, trembling, unable to tap the back button. Maelor, the man known for being decisive, sharp, and ruthless in business. The man who would cancel every appointment after my work events just to make me soup to settle my stomach. Who would stock up on brown sugar and dates days before my period came? He used to say I was his undoing. Now all that tenderness and care belonged to someone else. And to my very best friend. A wave of sickness rose in my throat. I covered my mouth and ran to the restroom, retching again and again, though nothing came up. In the mirror I looked deathly pale, eyes streaked with red. These past three months, I had pushed myself so hard at headquarters so I could stand beside him, sleeping less than four hours a night. He called me every night at eight without fail, making sure I ate, then again at ten to check I was actually in bed. A month ago, he said he had a work event and skipped our scheduled call. So that was when he took Sereia to watch the meteor shower. Lies. It was all lies. I splashed cold water over my face, forcing myself to steady. Don't rush, Alouette Delacroix. Maybe it isn't what it looks like. I opened his social feed. Three days ago he had posted: A rare quiet evening. Just unwinding. Attached was a photo of the night sky. I held the image as close as it would go. Reflected clearly in the glass were two figures. Sereia, in that dress, resting gently against his shoulder. And Maelor, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. My heart sank completely. It was true. They were together. My phone rang, Maelor, video call. I took a deep breath and answered. On screen, Maelor looked sharp in a tailored suit, tie loosened, that commanding ease about him. He frowned slightly, his voice low and soft, with that familiar indulgence. "Alouette, why did it take you so long? Still working?" I looked at the face I knew so well, swallowed the ache, and said simply, "Yes." He gave a soft laugh. "Don't push yourself so hard. I'll take care of you. By the way, Sereia's ex has been bothering her again. I stepped in to help, for your sake." He spoke so naturally, as if he truly only cared because of me. "Is that so?" I managed a thin smile. "What happened?" He sighed, a look of tenderness in his eyes. He didn't even seem to notice. "She isn't half as strong as you. She just falls apart. I couldn't stand by and let anything happen to your best friend. You understand, don't you?" 'Fragile?' I thought of that post, 'Her past breaks my heart. All I want is to take care of her.' So it was true. "Then look after her well. Don't let anyone hurt her," I said. Before he could reply, I ended the call. My chest ached so sharply it was hard to breathe. I opened our last conversation. Her message from yesterday. Sereia: Alouette, I miss you so much. Take good care of yourself there. Maelor has been so helpful lately. You have such a wonderful fiancé. I'm truly happy for you. Reading it now made my stomach turn. Then a company notification popped up. Shortlist confirmed, Overseas Market Expansion Project. Please confirm your availability. My name was there, clear as day. A three-year assignment. If I took it, I would be stepping away from everything here. I had turned this opportunity down before, for Maelor. Because he said once my training ended, we would get married. There was no need for that anymore. I typed: Confirming participation. The moment it sent, I breathed out, long and slow. Maelor. Sereia. Keep your performance to yourselves. If that's what you both want, then be together. I pulled my suitcase over and began to pack. Every item held memories, all of them now bitter reminders. I booked a flight for tomorrow morning. I would vanish from their lives completely.