The day of his graduation, I went to surprise my boyfriend of four years with a proposal.
On the athletic field, in the cheers of a thousand people, I saw him on one knee—proposing to my best friend.
The “best friend” who had been my trusted spy for years.
Chapter 1
I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for all four years of college.
I never worried he'd cheat on me.
After all, my best friend went to his school and could give me a play-by-play of his every move.
Over those four years, Tyler Cooper came to see me more than two hundred times, spending over thirty thousand dollars on travel and hotels.
He’d laugh and ruffle my hair, saying, “You get carsick and airsick, so I’ll be the one to come to you. You’ll never have to be jealous of anyone else’s boyfriend.”
“I make good money tutoring. What else would I spend it on, if not coming to see my dramatic little girlfriend?”
On the day he was taking his graduation photos, I told him my advisor had me stuck in the lab for three days.
In reality, I was on a twenty-hour train ride to his graduation ceremony, planning to propose to him.
When I got to Deepwater University, a proposal was already happening on the athletic field, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.
I tilted my head to get a look, and there he was—the man down on one knee was my boyfriend, Tyler.
And the one he was proposing to? My best friend.
It was like I'd been struck by lightning. I rubbed my eyes hard.
The stench from the train must have gotten to my head, making my eyes play tricks on me.
But when I saw Tyler’s face clearly again, the tears came first, streaming down my face.
The ring box in his hand was trembling. “Luna, I’ve never imagined spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”
“For me, it’s always just been you, Luna Turner, and then everyone else. So, will you marry me?”
I turned my head mechanically to look at Luna. Her hand was covering her mouth as she sobbed with emotion.
She was dressed so beautifully today in a pristine white tiered dress and cute leather shoes, like she was already wearing a wedding gown.
She rarely wore makeup, but today her face was done up exquisitely. She looked breathtaking.
Her voice from two weeks ago echoed in my ears.
“Grace, which dress do you think I should get?”
I’d told her to pick the white tiered one.
She had sounded conflicted. “But this one is fifty bucks more. Is it worth it?”
I’d nodded immediately. “It’s gorgeous! And it looks amazing on you. Treat yourself and just buy it. If you’re short, I’ll Venmo you some cash!”
At the time, I thought she was buying it for a dinner with her roommates.
But now, here she was, wearing the dress she’d bought with my money to accept Tyler’s proposal.
The shock was so immense that my limbs went rigid, and I couldn't move.
All I wanted was to rush over there, snatch that ring box, and stomp it into the ground.
Luna laughed through her tears. “I’ve never thought about loving anyone but you, either. The thought alone could kill me.”
“Tyler Cooper, yes! I’ll marry you!”
I watched, paralyzed, as Tyler emotionally slid the ring onto her ring finger.
They pulled each other into a kiss, and the cheers from the crowd of students rose in wave after wave.
The envious whispers of two girls next to me delivered another crushing blow.
“Tyler Cooper and Luna Turner are so perfect together. From campus sweethearts to the altar… I’ve been shipping them so hard since they got together freshman year!”
“I know, right? He’s the student union VP, and she’s a star in the literature department. You couldn’t write a better romance novel. Three years of dating and now a proposal… I’m literally dying of romance!”
The flowers and the ring box in my hands crashed onto the track.
It was only then that I learned my best friend and my boyfriend had been the campus’s most famous power couple for the last three years.
A coppery taste rose in my throat, and my body suddenly started to convulse.
In an instant, I collapsed to the ground.
Some kind students carried me toward the campus clinic.
Meanwhile, Tyler and Luna were so lost in their kiss that they didn’t spare a single glance at the world around them.
When I woke up in the clinic, the campus nurse breathed a sigh of relief.
“Honey, your blood sugar is low. You need to be more careful.”
I frantically called Tyler, but he didn’t pick up.
Then I spammed every one of Luna’s social media accounts and messaging apps with calls and texts. She didn’t answer either.
Tears splashed onto my phone screen.
The nurse handed me a piece of candy. “Why are you crying? Here, have some candy. One of the students gave it to me to celebrate.”
“That Luna and Tyler are such a sweet couple. The proposal on the field today was really something, wasn’t it?”
Chapter 2
I wandered through the Deepwater University campus in a daze.
The school nurse’s words kept echoing in my head.
“Back in freshman year, Luna Turner fainted during the fitness test, and it was Tyler Cooper who brought her to the clinic. He was a nervous wreck.”
“After that, they started dating. They were practically joined at the hip, wishing there were twenty-five hours in a day. People even wrote stories about them. They were inseparable. And now, it looks like they’ve finally gotten their happy ending.”
Every word was a knife, carving a raw, bleeding wound in my heart.
I remembered fainting during that same fitness test freshman year. My roommate had to help me to the clinic.
But I never thought Tyler and Luna would lie to me.
While I was there, they were in the clinic too, flirting with each other.
Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification.
I opened a voice message from Tyler. He sounded drunk.
“Babe, it was the graduation ceremony today. I went out drinking with my roommates and had a little too much, so I missed your call.”
“Babe, don't be mad, okay? How about we FaceTime? Actually, never mind. I’m a total mess right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“I already ordered your breakfast for tomorrow, so don't forget to grab it. Love you.”
After listening to the message, my heart plummeted.
A message from Luna came in right after.
“Grace, are you having a hard time with your thesis? I was so busy with graduation photos with my roommates today, I didn't even get to check on you. That's my bad!”
“And don't worry, your Tyler is being a total gentleman. He turned down all the girls in our class who wanted to take graduation photos with him. He only wants to take them with you, you know.”
They had gone to such great lengths to hide this from me, deliberately staggering their messages.
If I hadn't seen the proposal with my own eyes, I would have been stupid enough to believe every single word.
The phone nearly slipped from my fingers. I broke down completely, squatting on the ground and burying my face in my hands as I sobbed.
Suddenly, I heard their voices—Tyler's and Luna's.
I looked toward the sound and saw them under a streetlight by the lake. Tyler had his arm around Luna, and they were both laughing, giddy with joy.
They were feeding an orange cat.
Luna's voice was wistful. “Kitty, we’ve been feeding you for over three years now. You’ve been our little witness, haven't you?”
Tyler's eyes never left her, brimming with a love so intense it felt like it would spill over.
“Luna, I love you.”
Those three words sent a tremor through my soul.
Luna bit her lip, a heartbroken look on her face, and threw herself into his arms.
“You've already done so much for me,” she said. “After today, we can't be together out in the open anymore.”
“You’re going to be living with Grace, building a life with her. And I'm going to France to study. It'll be so hard for us to see each other.”
But Tyler said, “Luna, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always be in my heart. I'm the one who proposed, remember?”
She nodded, a relieved smile spreading across her face. “I already have so much. At least you proposed to me first. Even when you marry Grace, I won't be jealous.”
“You don't have to feel guilty that we can't get a marriage license. Maybe this way, you'll remember me even longer.”
My nails dug into my palms as I watched Tyler and Luna kiss, lost in each other.
His breathing was ragged. “I'm sorry, Luna. I'll find a way to visit you in France.”
They tangled together again, and the wet sound of their kissing was sickeningly clear.
Tyler was an expert at splitting his love in two.
He'd secretly propose to Luna, and then, eventually, marry me.
Luna was the one he couldn't live without, the one who haunted his dreams.
My face burned as if it were on fire, and my tears pasted strands of hair to my cheeks.
I had crushed the celebratory candy in my hand into a sticky mess. I turned and threw it in the trash.
Without a second thought, I got on the first flight home.
I had arrived full of hope, but I was leaving with my heart in ashes.
Chapter 3
Exhaustion dragged me into a murky, chaotic dream.
Flashes of Tyler and Luna walking hand-in-hand across campus played over and over.
Them, feeding a tiny kitten together until it grew into a chunky cat.
Them, eating in the cafeteria, trading the food they didn’t like off each other’s plates.
Them, huddled under a single scarf as they walked through the first snow…
I jolted awake. My pillow was soaked with tears, and my forehead was slick with sweat.
My roommates were all peering down at me from my bedside, sighing in relief.
“Grace, weren’t you going to propose to your boyfriend? Why do you look so wrecked?”
“Yeah, did your bestie get it on video? C’mon, show us! Proposing to your guy is so badass. You’re my hero!”
I’d wanted to surprise Tyler, so I hadn’t told anyone I was going to see him.
I just never expected him to be the one to gut-punch me.
Looking at the three curious faces in front of me, I couldn’t even manage a weak smile.
“Tyler had to suddenly go collect data with his advisor. I missed him, so I just came back.”
They glanced at each other, but seeing I wasn’t going to say more, they let it go.
I couldn’t bring myself to say it. How could I tell them that the “best boyfriend in the universe,” the one I’d bragged about countless times, had been cheating on me with my best friend for three years?
My head was splitting. I was on the balcony brushing my teeth when I glanced down and saw Tyler, looking like he’d rushed all the way here.
He was holding a bouquet of my favorite cappuccino roses and the matcha cake I’d mentioned last week.
His eyes were still brimming with that familiar love, but the sight of him sent a chill down my spine.
He could spend last night in a passionate tryst with Luna and then show up in front of me today like nothing happened.
He shouted up, “Grace, let’s take our graduation photos together!”
My roommate nudged my shoulder, envious. “So romantic! Hurry up and go down to him!”
I moved like a robot, not even realizing I’d forgotten my shoes as I walked barefoot to the dorm entrance.
When Tyler saw me, he frowned and ran over, scooping me up and setting me down on a nearby bench.
“Are you so happy you’ve gone silly? Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”
“Once we’re living together, I’m definitely gonna help you break this bad habit.”
The future? The words made me laugh for no reason.
He froze.
“Grace, are you not feeling well?”
“Or are you still mad? I know it was messed up not to text you back when I was drunk last night. That’s why I rushed to get you flowers and cake to make it up to you. I took the earliest flight I could.”
A wave of fury surged through me, and I smashed the cake right in his face.
When that wasn’t enough, I threw the entire beautiful bouquet of roses at him.
“Tyler, do you really think I’m some kind of idiot you can just string along?!”
My own shriek was deafening. Even I was shocked by the crazed, wild way I was acting.
The ring was still on his finger. How could he not be over Luna?
Tyler’s good temper was terrifying.
He was still smiling. “Baby, are you having trouble with your lab work?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already sorted everything out at my university. Now I can focus on helping you get ready for graduation. I'm here, so don't stress.”
“We’ll go on a trip right after we graduate. C’mon, cheer up.”
“And didn’t you want to get your best friend a going-away present for her study abroad program? I'll make the money, and you can buy her something nice and expensive.”
He carefully started cleaning up the mess, not forgetting to warn me, “Watch out for the thorns.”
But I was numb to it. I walked right up to him and slapped him across the face.
“Tyler, you are absolutely shameless!”
But the crushing grief had hollowed me out, and the next second, I collapsed.
Before everything went black, I saw the panic on Tyler’s face as he lunged to catch my falling body.
Chapter 4
When Tyler heard the doctor say I'd passed out from a nasty stomach flu, a flicker of guilt and pain crossed his eyes.
He squeezed my hand tightly. "Grace, it's all my fault. I'm the reason you didn't even want to tell me you were sick."
"But don't worry, I'm going to stay right here with you. I'll email your professor and get you an extension."
He was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I'd been completely blind to the rotten hypocrisy under his mask.
I couldn't even summon the energy to be angry as he bustled around, sponging me down, buying food, and handling the hospital bills.
He’d taken such good care of me ever since high school.
He always brought me fruit that was already peeled and sliced, and he never skipped on the grand gestures when it came to gifts.
After we finished our SATs, he showed up with a bouquet he’d arranged himself and asked me out.
My heart fluttered as I dove headfirst into my sweet first romance.
But Luna couldn't stand him.
"Babe, I just don't think Tyler is good enough for you."
They were like oil and water, and I was always stuck in the middle trying to play peacemaker.
When we got into different colleges, I cried my eyes out.
Luna was by my side the whole time, and she even offered to keep an eye on Tyler for me.
"Babe, I'll be your eyes and ears. If Tyler so much as breathes in another girl's direction, you'll be the first to know."
I leaned smugly against her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Tyler. "See that? Don't even think about cheating on me. I've got Luna monitoring your every move!"
He promised, "Don't worry. She'll never have anything to report."
Back then, I thought I had the most considerate boyfriend and the most trustworthy best friend in the world.
Little did I know, they were taking advantage of the fact that I'm not on social media, flaunting their romance all over campus and becoming the school's favorite power couple.
Tyler went to get some hot water, and the phone he’d left on the table started ringing.
The caller ID said "Mom." Remembering how Mrs. Cooper always held my hands and brought me homemade meals, I answered it.
But her words made me freeze on the spot.
"Son, when are you bringing Luna over for dinner? Your father and I both miss her."
"Don't bring Grace this time. Every time she's here, I have to wait on her and force a smile. She acts like such a little princess. I just like that Luna girl so much better."
"Tell Luna I miss her, and that I have a bracelet for her next time she visits. It's one I'd never give to Grace."
It felt like an iron fist was squeezing my heart.
I couldn't believe that the woman who always smiled so warmly to my face was secretly treating Luna like her future daughter-in-law.
My voice was hoarse. "Mrs. Cooper, if you really can't stand me, why are you always so sweet to my parents, acting like we're already family?"
She recognized my voice and immediately hung up.
I laughed bitterly.
On some strange impulse, I reached into Tyler's jacket and pulled out another phone.
I typed in Luna's birthday, and it unlocked.
In the photo gallery, I found thousands of intimate pictures of them together.
His wallpaper was Luna. His lock screen was Luna. He even had a folder for his apps named after her.
No wonder. No wonder Tyler was always so confident, practically begging me to check his phone.
He had a whole separate phone to hide his affair with Luna.
Just then, a message popped up from Luna, whose chat was pinned to the top.
"Babe, I'm heading over to see Grace now. She doesn't suspect anything, does she?"
"I can't wait to see you. Besides, with that princess attitude of hers, she'll probably blame me for not caring if I don't show up."
The words were like poison pouring down my throat.
I typed back: "Come over."
"On my way! Wait for me, my love!"
I put the phone back where I'd found it. A strange calm washed over me as I waited for the performance to begin.
Tyler came back and started cutting up some fruit, just as Luna burst into the room and threw her arms around me.
Her eyes were red with worry. "Grace! Oh my god, how could you have fainted? I'm so sorry, I came as soon as I heard."
I let out a small laugh. "It was all Tyler's fault. Luna, why don't you slap him for me?"
The moment the words left my mouth, both of their expressions froze.
She instinctively looked at Tyler.
Tyler was quick on the uptake. He leaned in, presenting his cheek. "Go ahead, Luna. Slap me. It'll help Grace feel better."
A flicker of pain crossed Luna's eyes.
Then, she slapped Tyler across the cheek.
She must have been heartbroken to do it. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the hand she lowered was trembling.
She smiled at me. "Feel better now, Grace? And Tyler, honestly, why do you have to go and make our Grace upset?"
Tyler, still smiling, held a piece of watermelon to my lips. "My fault. I totally understand if Grace isn't ready to forgive me yet."
I spat the watermelon right in his face.
Then I turned to a stunned Luna. "So, Luna," I said, "how come you're not wearing the engagement ring Tyler gave you yesterday?"The upcoming chapters are even more exciting! Click the download button below to read the entire book!👇👇👇 {"title":"The Proposal Betrayal","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/novel/landing-page/image-crawl/fe3d6b4bcb4a162f614006bd762d6e67.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","chapter_title":"Chapter 1","chapter_text":"I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for all four years of college.\nI never worried he'd cheat on me.\nAfter all, my best friend went to his school and could give me a play-by-play of his every move.\nOver those four years, Tyler Cooper came to see me more than two hundred times, spending over thirty thousand dollars on travel and hotels.\nHe’d laugh and ruffle my hair, saying, “You get carsick and airsick, so I’ll be the one to come to you. You’ll never have to be jealous of anyone else’s boyfriend.”\n“I make good money tutoring. What else would I spend it on, if not coming to see my dramatic little girlfriend?”\nOn the day he was taking his graduation photos, I told him my advisor had me stuck in the lab for three days.\nIn reality, I was on a twenty-hour train ride to his graduation ceremony, planning to propose to him.\nWhen I got to Deepwater University, a proposal was already happening on the athletic field, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.\nI tilted my head to get a look, and there he was—the man down on one knee was my boyfriend, Tyler.\nAnd the one he was proposing to? My best friend.\nIt was like I'd been struck by lightning. I rubbed my eyes hard.\nThe stench from the train must have gotten to my head, making my eyes play tricks on me.\nBut when I saw Tyler’s face clearly again, the tears came first, streaming down my face.\nThe ring box in his hand was trembling. “Luna, I’ve never imagined spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”\n“For me, it’s always just been you, Luna Turner, and then everyone else. So, will you marry me?”\nI turned my head mechanically to look at Luna. Her hand was covering her mouth as she sobbed with emotion.\nShe was dressed so beautifully today in a pristine white tiered dress and cute leather shoes, like she was already wearing a wedding gown.\nShe rarely wore makeup, but today her face was done up exquisitely. She looked breathtaking.\nHer voice from two weeks ago echoed in my ears.\n“Grace, which dress do you think I should get?”\nI’d told her to pick the white tiered one.\nShe had sounded conflicted. “But this one is fifty bucks more. Is it worth it?”\nI’d nodded immediately. “It’s gorgeous! And it looks amazing on you. Treat yourself and just buy it. If you’re short, I’ll Venmo you some cash!”\nAt the time, I thought she was buying it for a dinner with her roommates.\nBut now, here she was, wearing the dress she’d bought with my money to accept Tyler’s proposal.\nThe shock was so immense that my limbs went rigid, and I couldn't move.\nAll I wanted was to rush over there, snatch that ring box, and stomp it into the ground.\nLuna laughed through her tears. “I’ve never thought about loving anyone but you, either. The thought alone could kill me.”\n“Tyler Cooper, yes! I’ll marry you!”\nI watched, paralyzed, as Tyler emotionally slid the ring onto her ring finger.\nThey pulled each other into a kiss, and the cheers from the crowd of students rose in wave after wave.\nThe envious whispers of two girls next to me delivered another crushing blow.\n“Tyler Cooper and Luna Turner are so perfect together. From campus sweethearts to the altar… I’ve been shipping them so hard since they got together freshman year!”\n“I know, right? He’s the student union VP, and she’s a star in the literature department. You couldn’t write a better romance novel. Three years of dating and now a proposal… I’m literally dying of romance!”\nThe flowers and the ring box in my hands crashed onto the track.\nIt was only then that I learned my best friend and my boyfriend had been the campus’s most famous power couple for the last three years.\nA coppery taste rose in my throat, and my body suddenly started to convulse.\nIn an instant, I collapsed to the ground.\nSome kind students carried me toward the campus clinic.\nMeanwhile, Tyler and Luna were so lost in their kiss that they didn’t spare a single glance at the world around them.\nWhen I woke up in the clinic, the campus nurse breathed a sigh of relief.\n“Honey, your blood sugar is low. You need to be more careful.”\nI frantically called Tyler, but he didn’t pick up.\nThen I spammed every one of Luna’s social media accounts and messaging apps with calls and texts. She didn’t answer either.\nTears splashed onto my phone screen.\nThe nurse handed me a piece of candy. “Why are you crying? Here, have some candy. One of the students gave it to me to celebrate.”\n“That Luna and Tyler are such a sweet couple. The proposal on the field today was really something, wasn’t it?”","chapter_content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","chapters":[{"chapter_key":"hW1xF3CTdt","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","word_count":853,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for all four years of college.\nI never worried he'd cheat on me.\nAfter all, my best friend went to his school and could give me a play-by-play of his every move.\nOver those four years, Tyler Cooper came to see me more than two hundred times, spending over thirty thousand dollars on travel and hotels.\nHe’d laugh and ruffle my hair, saying, “You get carsick and airsick, so I’ll be the one to come to you. You’ll never have to be jealous of anyone else’s boyfriend.”\n“I make good money tutoring. What else would I spend it on, if not coming to see my dramatic little girlfriend?”\nOn the day he was taking his graduation photos, I told him my advisor had me stuck in the lab for three days.\nIn reality, I was on a twenty-hour train ride to his graduation ceremony, planning to propose to him.\nWhen I got to Deepwater University, a proposal was already happening on the athletic field, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.\nI tilted my head to get a look, and there he was—the man down on one knee was my boyfriend, Tyler.\nAnd the one he was proposing to? My best friend.\nIt was like I'd been struck by lightning. I rubbed my eyes hard.\nThe stench from the train must have gotten to my head, making my eyes play tricks on me.\nBut when I saw Tyler’s face clearly again, the tears came first, streaming down my face.\nThe ring box in his hand was trembling. “Luna, I’ve never imagined spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”\n“For me, it’s always just been you, Luna Turner, and then everyone else. So, will you marry me?”\nI turned my head mechanically to look at Luna. Her hand was covering her mouth as she sobbed with emotion.\nShe was dressed so beautifully today in a pristine white tiered dress and cute leather shoes, like she was already wearing a wedding gown.\nShe rarely wore makeup, but today her face was done up exquisitely. She looked breathtaking.\nHer voice from two weeks ago echoed in my ears.\n“Grace, which dress do you think I should get?”\nI’d told her to pick the white tiered one.\nShe had sounded conflicted. “But this one is fifty bucks more. Is it worth it?”\nI’d nodded immediately. “It’s gorgeous! And it looks amazing on you. Treat yourself and just buy it. If you’re short, I’ll Venmo you some cash!”\nAt the time, I thought she was buying it for a dinner with her roommates.\nBut now, here she was, wearing the dress she’d bought with my money to accept Tyler’s proposal.\nThe shock was so immense that my limbs went rigid, and I couldn't move.\nAll I wanted was to rush over there, snatch that ring box, and stomp it into the ground.\nLuna laughed through her tears. “I’ve never thought about loving anyone but you, either. The thought alone could kill me.”\n“Tyler Cooper, yes! I’ll marry you!”\nI watched, paralyzed, as Tyler emotionally slid the ring onto her ring finger.\nThey pulled each other into a kiss, and the cheers from the crowd of students rose in wave after wave.\nThe envious whispers of two girls next to me delivered another crushing blow.\n“Tyler Cooper and Luna Turner are so perfect together. From campus sweethearts to the altar… I’ve been shipping them so hard since they got together freshman year!”\n“I know, right? He’s the student union VP, and she’s a star in the literature department. You couldn’t write a better romance novel. Three years of dating and now a proposal… I’m literally dying of romance!”\nThe flowers and the ring box in my hands crashed onto the track.\nIt was only then that I learned my best friend and my boyfriend had been the campus’s most famous power couple for the last three years.\nA coppery taste rose in my throat, and my body suddenly started to convulse.\nIn an instant, I collapsed to the ground.\nSome kind students carried me toward the campus clinic.\nMeanwhile, Tyler and Luna were so lost in their kiss that they didn’t spare a single glance at the world around them.\nWhen I woke up in the clinic, the campus nurse breathed a sigh of relief.\n“Honey, your blood sugar is low. You need to be more careful.”\nI frantically called Tyler, but he didn’t pick up.\nThen I spammed every one of Luna’s social media accounts and messaging apps with calls and texts. She didn’t answer either.\nTears splashed onto my phone screen.\nThe nurse handed me a piece of candy. “Why are you crying? Here, have some candy. One of the students gave it to me to celebrate.”\n“That Luna and Tyler are such a sweet couple. The proposal on the field today was really something, wasn’t it?”"},{"chapter_key":"RjZ29eUzbp","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/2/en_8832d203-9bdc-4850-be14-2f983955ef46.txt","word_count":756,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I wandered through the Deepwater University campus in a daze.\nThe school nurse’s words kept echoing in my head.\n“Back in freshman year, Luna Turner fainted during the fitness test, and it was Tyler Cooper who brought her to the clinic. He was a nervous wreck.”\n“After that, they started dating. They were practically joined at the hip, wishing there were twenty-five hours in a day. People even wrote stories about them. They were inseparable. And now, it looks like they’ve finally gotten their happy ending.”\nEvery word was a knife, carving a raw, bleeding wound in my heart.\nI remembered fainting during that same fitness test freshman year. My roommate had to help me to the clinic.\nBut I never thought Tyler and Luna would lie to me.\nWhile I was there, they were in the clinic too, flirting with each other.\nSuddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification.\nI opened a voice message from Tyler. He sounded drunk.\n“Babe, it was the graduation ceremony today. I went out drinking with my roommates and had a little too much, so I missed your call.”\n“Babe, don't be mad, okay? How about we FaceTime? Actually, never mind. I’m a total mess right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”\n“I already ordered your breakfast for tomorrow, so don't forget to grab it. Love you.”\nAfter listening to the message, my heart plummeted.\nA message from Luna came in right after.\n“Grace, are you having a hard time with your thesis? I was so busy with graduation photos with my roommates today, I didn't even get to check on you. That's my bad!”\n“And don't worry, your Tyler is being a total gentleman. He turned down all the girls in our class who wanted to take graduation photos with him. He only wants to take them with you, you know.”\nThey had gone to such great lengths to hide this from me, deliberately staggering their messages.\nIf I hadn't seen the proposal with my own eyes, I would have been stupid enough to believe every single word.\nThe phone nearly slipped from my fingers. I broke down completely, squatting on the ground and burying my face in my hands as I sobbed.\nSuddenly, I heard their voices—Tyler's and Luna's.\nI looked toward the sound and saw them under a streetlight by the lake. Tyler had his arm around Luna, and they were both laughing, giddy with joy.\nThey were feeding an orange cat.\nLuna's voice was wistful. “Kitty, we’ve been feeding you for over three years now. You’ve been our little witness, haven't you?”\nTyler's eyes never left her, brimming with a love so intense it felt like it would spill over.\n“Luna, I love you.”\nThose three words sent a tremor through my soul.\nLuna bit her lip, a heartbroken look on her face, and threw herself into his arms.\n“You've already done so much for me,” she said. “After today, we can't be together out in the open anymore.”\n“You’re going to be living with Grace, building a life with her. And I'm going to France to study. It'll be so hard for us to see each other.”\nBut Tyler said, “Luna, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always be in my heart. I'm the one who proposed, remember?”\nShe nodded, a relieved smile spreading across her face. “I already have so much. At least you proposed to me first. Even when you marry Grace, I won't be jealous.”\n“You don't have to feel guilty that we can't get a marriage license. Maybe this way, you'll remember me even longer.”\nMy nails dug into my palms as I watched Tyler and Luna kiss, lost in each other.\nHis breathing was ragged. “I'm sorry, Luna. I'll find a way to visit you in France.”\nThey tangled together again, and the wet sound of their kissing was sickeningly clear.\nTyler was an expert at splitting his love in two.\nHe'd secretly propose to Luna, and then, eventually, marry me.\nLuna was the one he couldn't live without, the one who haunted his dreams.\nMy face burned as if it were on fire, and my tears pasted strands of hair to my cheeks.\nI had crushed the celebratory candy in my hand into a sticky mess. I turned and threw it in the trash.\nWithout a second thought, I got on the first flight home.\nI had arrived full of hope, but I was leaving with my heart in ashes."},{"chapter_key":"pGUvoVPWmT","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/3/en_42c5d5a8-6251-4889-b514-568882cb9610.txt","word_count":751,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"Exhaustion dragged me into a murky, chaotic dream.\nFlashes of Tyler and Luna walking hand-in-hand across campus played over and over.\nThem, feeding a tiny kitten together until it grew into a chunky cat.\nThem, eating in the cafeteria, trading the food they didn’t like off each other’s plates.\nThem, huddled under a single scarf as they walked through the first snow…\nI jolted awake. My pillow was soaked with tears, and my forehead was slick with sweat.\nMy roommates were all peering down at me from my bedside, sighing in relief.\n“Grace, weren’t you going to propose to your boyfriend? Why do you look so wrecked?”\n“Yeah, did your bestie get it on video? C’mon, show us! Proposing to your guy is so badass. You’re my hero!”\nI’d wanted to surprise Tyler, so I hadn’t told anyone I was going to see him.\nI just never expected him to be the one to gut-punch me.\nLooking at the three curious faces in front of me, I couldn’t even manage a weak smile.\n“Tyler had to suddenly go collect data with his advisor. I missed him, so I just came back.”\nThey glanced at each other, but seeing I wasn’t going to say more, they let it go.\nI couldn’t bring myself to say it. How could I tell them that the “best boyfriend in the universe,” the one I’d bragged about countless times, had been cheating on me with my best friend for three years?\nMy head was splitting. I was on the balcony brushing my teeth when I glanced down and saw Tyler, looking like he’d rushed all the way here.\nHe was holding a bouquet of my favorite cappuccino roses and the matcha cake I’d mentioned last week.\nHis eyes were still brimming with that familiar love, but the sight of him sent a chill down my spine.\nHe could spend last night in a passionate tryst with Luna and then show up in front of me today like nothing happened.\nHe shouted up, “Grace, let’s take our graduation photos together!”\nMy roommate nudged my shoulder, envious. “So romantic! Hurry up and go down to him!”\nI moved like a robot, not even realizing I’d forgotten my shoes as I walked barefoot to the dorm entrance.\nWhen Tyler saw me, he frowned and ran over, scooping me up and setting me down on a nearby bench.\n“Are you so happy you’ve gone silly? Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”\n“Once we’re living together, I’m definitely gonna help you break this bad habit.”\nThe future? The words made me laugh for no reason.\nHe froze.\n“Grace, are you not feeling well?”\n“Or are you still mad? I know it was messed up not to text you back when I was drunk last night. That’s why I rushed to get you flowers and cake to make it up to you. I took the earliest flight I could.”\nA wave of fury surged through me, and I smashed the cake right in his face.\nWhen that wasn’t enough, I threw the entire beautiful bouquet of roses at him.\n“Tyler, do you really think I’m some kind of idiot you can just string along?!”\nMy own shriek was deafening. Even I was shocked by the crazed, wild way I was acting.\nThe ring was still on his finger. How could he not be over Luna?\nTyler’s good temper was terrifying.\nHe was still smiling. “Baby, are you having trouble with your lab work?”\n“Don’t worry, I’ve already sorted everything out at my university. Now I can focus on helping you get ready for graduation. I'm here, so don't stress.”\n“We’ll go on a trip right after we graduate. C’mon, cheer up.”\n“And didn’t you want to get your best friend a going-away present for her study abroad program? I'll make the money, and you can buy her something nice and expensive.”\nHe carefully started cleaning up the mess, not forgetting to warn me, “Watch out for the thorns.”\nBut I was numb to it. I walked right up to him and slapped him across the face.\n“Tyler, you are absolutely shameless!”\nBut the crushing grief had hollowed me out, and the next second, I collapsed.\nBefore everything went black, I saw the panic on Tyler’s face as he lunged to catch my falling body."},{"chapter_key":"QBjnwh1diA","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/4/en_d6199208-887f-4905-9ee8-0b91fe192ca1.txt","word_count":941,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"When Tyler heard the doctor say I'd passed out from a nasty stomach flu, a flicker of guilt and pain crossed his eyes.\nHe squeezed my hand tightly. \"Grace, it's all my fault. I'm the reason you didn't even want to tell me you were sick.\"\n\"But don't worry, I'm going to stay right here with you. I'll email your professor and get you an extension.\"\nHe was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I'd been completely blind to the rotten hypocrisy under his mask.\nI couldn't even summon the energy to be angry as he bustled around, sponging me down, buying food, and handling the hospital bills.\nHe’d taken such good care of me ever since high school.\nHe always brought me fruit that was already peeled and sliced, and he never skipped on the grand gestures when it came to gifts.\nAfter we finished our SATs, he showed up with a bouquet he’d arranged himself and asked me out.\nMy heart fluttered as I dove headfirst into my sweet first romance.\nBut Luna couldn't stand him.\n\"Babe, I just don't think Tyler is good enough for you.\"\nThey were like oil and water, and I was always stuck in the middle trying to play peacemaker.\nWhen we got into different colleges, I cried my eyes out.\nLuna was by my side the whole time, and she even offered to keep an eye on Tyler for me.\n\"Babe, I'll be your eyes and ears. If Tyler so much as breathes in another girl's direction, you'll be the first to know.\"\nI leaned smugly against her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Tyler. \"See that? Don't even think about cheating on me. I've got Luna monitoring your every move!\"\nHe promised, \"Don't worry. She'll never have anything to report.\"\nBack then, I thought I had the most considerate boyfriend and the most trustworthy best friend in the world.\nLittle did I know, they were taking advantage of the fact that I'm not on social media, flaunting their romance all over campus and becoming the school's favorite power couple.\nTyler went to get some hot water, and the phone he’d left on the table started ringing.\nThe caller ID said \"Mom.\" Remembering how Mrs. Cooper always held my hands and brought me homemade meals, I answered it.\nBut her words made me freeze on the spot.\n\"Son, when are you bringing Luna over for dinner? Your father and I both miss her.\"\n\"Don't bring Grace this time. Every time she's here, I have to wait on her and force a smile. She acts like such a little princess. I just like that Luna girl so much better.\"\n\"Tell Luna I miss her, and that I have a bracelet for her next time she visits. It's one I'd never give to Grace.\"\nIt felt like an iron fist was squeezing my heart.\nI couldn't believe that the woman who always smiled so warmly to my face was secretly treating Luna like her future daughter-in-law.\nMy voice was hoarse. \"Mrs. Cooper, if you really can't stand me, why are you always so sweet to my parents, acting like we're already family?\"\nShe recognized my voice and immediately hung up.\nI laughed bitterly.\nOn some strange impulse, I reached into Tyler's jacket and pulled out another phone.\nI typed in Luna's birthday, and it unlocked.\nIn the photo gallery, I found thousands of intimate pictures of them together.\nHis wallpaper was Luna. His lock screen was Luna. He even had a folder for his apps named after her.\nNo wonder. No wonder Tyler was always so confident, practically begging me to check his phone.\nHe had a whole separate phone to hide his affair with Luna.\nJust then, a message popped up from Luna, whose chat was pinned to the top.\n\"Babe, I'm heading over to see Grace now. She doesn't suspect anything, does she?\"\n\"I can't wait to see you. Besides, with that princess attitude of hers, she'll probably blame me for not caring if I don't show up.\"\nThe words were like poison pouring down my throat.\nI typed back: \"Come over.\"\n\"On my way! Wait for me, my love!\"\nI put the phone back where I'd found it. A strange calm washed over me as I waited for the performance to begin.\nTyler came back and started cutting up some fruit, just as Luna burst into the room and threw her arms around me.\nHer eyes were red with worry. \"Grace! Oh my god, how could you have fainted? I'm so sorry, I came as soon as I heard.\"\nI let out a small laugh. \"It was all Tyler's fault. Luna, why don't you slap him for me?\"\nThe moment the words left my mouth, both of their expressions froze.\nShe instinctively looked at Tyler.\nTyler was quick on the uptake. He leaned in, presenting his cheek. \"Go ahead, Luna. Slap me. It'll help Grace feel better.\"\nA flicker of pain crossed Luna's eyes.\nThen, she slapped Tyler across the cheek.\nShe must have been heartbroken to do it. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the hand she lowered was trembling.\nShe smiled at me. \"Feel better now, Grace? And Tyler, honestly, why do you have to go and make our Grace upset?\"\nTyler, still smiling, held a piece of watermelon to my lips. \"My fault. I totally understand if Grace isn't ready to forgive me yet.\"\nI spat the watermelon right in his face.\nThen I turned to a stunned Luna. \"So, Luna,\" I said, \"how come you're not wearing the engagement ring Tyler gave you yesterday?\""}],"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"hW1xF3CTdt","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","word_count":853,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for all four years of college.\nI never worried he'd cheat on me.\nAfter all, my best friend went to his school and could give me a play-by-play of his every move.\nOver those four years, Tyler Cooper came to see me more than two hundred times, spending over thirty thousand dollars on travel and hotels.\nHe’d laugh and ruffle my hair, saying, “You get carsick and airsick, so I’ll be the one to come to you. You’ll never have to be jealous of anyone else’s boyfriend.”\n“I make good money tutoring. What else would I spend it on, if not coming to see my dramatic little girlfriend?”\nOn the day he was taking his graduation photos, I told him my advisor had me stuck in the lab for three days.\nIn reality, I was on a twenty-hour train ride to his graduation ceremony, planning to propose to him.\nWhen I got to Deepwater University, a proposal was already happening on the athletic field, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.\nI tilted my head to get a look, and there he was—the man down on one knee was my boyfriend, Tyler.\nAnd the one he was proposing to? My best friend.\nIt was like I'd been struck by lightning. I rubbed my eyes hard.\nThe stench from the train must have gotten to my head, making my eyes play tricks on me.\nBut when I saw Tyler’s face clearly again, the tears came first, streaming down my face.\nThe ring box in his hand was trembling. “Luna, I’ve never imagined spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”\n“For me, it’s always just been you, Luna Turner, and then everyone else. So, will you marry me?”\nI turned my head mechanically to look at Luna. Her hand was covering her mouth as she sobbed with emotion.\nShe was dressed so beautifully today in a pristine white tiered dress and cute leather shoes, like she was already wearing a wedding gown.\nShe rarely wore makeup, but today her face was done up exquisitely. She looked breathtaking.\nHer voice from two weeks ago echoed in my ears.\n“Grace, which dress do you think I should get?”\nI’d told her to pick the white tiered one.\nShe had sounded conflicted. “But this one is fifty bucks more. Is it worth it?”\nI’d nodded immediately. “It’s gorgeous! And it looks amazing on you. Treat yourself and just buy it. If you’re short, I’ll Venmo you some cash!”\nAt the time, I thought she was buying it for a dinner with her roommates.\nBut now, here she was, wearing the dress she’d bought with my money to accept Tyler’s proposal.\nThe shock was so immense that my limbs went rigid, and I couldn't move.\nAll I wanted was to rush over there, snatch that ring box, and stomp it into the ground.\nLuna laughed through her tears. “I’ve never thought about loving anyone but you, either. The thought alone could kill me.”\n“Tyler Cooper, yes! I’ll marry you!”\nI watched, paralyzed, as Tyler emotionally slid the ring onto her ring finger.\nThey pulled each other into a kiss, and the cheers from the crowd of students rose in wave after wave.\nThe envious whispers of two girls next to me delivered another crushing blow.\n“Tyler Cooper and Luna Turner are so perfect together. From campus sweethearts to the altar… I’ve been shipping them so hard since they got together freshman year!”\n“I know, right? He’s the student union VP, and she’s a star in the literature department. You couldn’t write a better romance novel. Three years of dating and now a proposal… I’m literally dying of romance!”\nThe flowers and the ring box in my hands crashed onto the track.\nIt was only then that I learned my best friend and my boyfriend had been the campus’s most famous power couple for the last three years.\nA coppery taste rose in my throat, and my body suddenly started to convulse.\nIn an instant, I collapsed to the ground.\nSome kind students carried me toward the campus clinic.\nMeanwhile, Tyler and Luna were so lost in their kiss that they didn’t spare a single glance at the world around them.\nWhen I woke up in the clinic, the campus nurse breathed a sigh of relief.\n“Honey, your blood sugar is low. You need to be more careful.”\nI frantically called Tyler, but he didn’t pick up.\nThen I spammed every one of Luna’s social media accounts and messaging apps with calls and texts. She didn’t answer either.\nTears splashed onto my phone screen.\nThe nurse handed me a piece of candy. “Why are you crying? Here, have some candy. One of the students gave it to me to celebrate.”\n“That Luna and Tyler are such a sweet couple. The proposal on the field today was really something, wasn’t it?”"},{"chapter_key":"RjZ29eUzbp","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/2/en_8832d203-9bdc-4850-be14-2f983955ef46.txt","word_count":756,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I wandered through the Deepwater University campus in a daze.\nThe school nurse’s words kept echoing in my head.\n“Back in freshman year, Luna Turner fainted during the fitness test, and it was Tyler Cooper who brought her to the clinic. He was a nervous wreck.”\n“After that, they started dating. They were practically joined at the hip, wishing there were twenty-five hours in a day. People even wrote stories about them. They were inseparable. And now, it looks like they’ve finally gotten their happy ending.”\nEvery word was a knife, carving a raw, bleeding wound in my heart.\nI remembered fainting during that same fitness test freshman year. My roommate had to help me to the clinic.\nBut I never thought Tyler and Luna would lie to me.\nWhile I was there, they were in the clinic too, flirting with each other.\nSuddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification.\nI opened a voice message from Tyler. He sounded drunk.\n“Babe, it was the graduation ceremony today. I went out drinking with my roommates and had a little too much, so I missed your call.”\n“Babe, don't be mad, okay? How about we FaceTime? Actually, never mind. I’m a total mess right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”\n“I already ordered your breakfast for tomorrow, so don't forget to grab it. Love you.”\nAfter listening to the message, my heart plummeted.\nA message from Luna came in right after.\n“Grace, are you having a hard time with your thesis? I was so busy with graduation photos with my roommates today, I didn't even get to check on you. That's my bad!”\n“And don't worry, your Tyler is being a total gentleman. He turned down all the girls in our class who wanted to take graduation photos with him. He only wants to take them with you, you know.”\nThey had gone to such great lengths to hide this from me, deliberately staggering their messages.\nIf I hadn't seen the proposal with my own eyes, I would have been stupid enough to believe every single word.\nThe phone nearly slipped from my fingers. I broke down completely, squatting on the ground and burying my face in my hands as I sobbed.\nSuddenly, I heard their voices—Tyler's and Luna's.\nI looked toward the sound and saw them under a streetlight by the lake. Tyler had his arm around Luna, and they were both laughing, giddy with joy.\nThey were feeding an orange cat.\nLuna's voice was wistful. “Kitty, we’ve been feeding you for over three years now. You’ve been our little witness, haven't you?”\nTyler's eyes never left her, brimming with a love so intense it felt like it would spill over.\n“Luna, I love you.”\nThose three words sent a tremor through my soul.\nLuna bit her lip, a heartbroken look on her face, and threw herself into his arms.\n“You've already done so much for me,” she said. “After today, we can't be together out in the open anymore.”\n“You’re going to be living with Grace, building a life with her. And I'm going to France to study. It'll be so hard for us to see each other.”\nBut Tyler said, “Luna, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always be in my heart. I'm the one who proposed, remember?”\nShe nodded, a relieved smile spreading across her face. “I already have so much. At least you proposed to me first. Even when you marry Grace, I won't be jealous.”\n“You don't have to feel guilty that we can't get a marriage license. Maybe this way, you'll remember me even longer.”\nMy nails dug into my palms as I watched Tyler and Luna kiss, lost in each other.\nHis breathing was ragged. “I'm sorry, Luna. I'll find a way to visit you in France.”\nThey tangled together again, and the wet sound of their kissing was sickeningly clear.\nTyler was an expert at splitting his love in two.\nHe'd secretly propose to Luna, and then, eventually, marry me.\nLuna was the one he couldn't live without, the one who haunted his dreams.\nMy face burned as if it were on fire, and my tears pasted strands of hair to my cheeks.\nI had crushed the celebratory candy in my hand into a sticky mess. I turned and threw it in the trash.\nWithout a second thought, I got on the first flight home.\nI had arrived full of hope, but I was leaving with my heart in ashes."},{"chapter_key":"pGUvoVPWmT","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/3/en_42c5d5a8-6251-4889-b514-568882cb9610.txt","word_count":751,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"Exhaustion dragged me into a murky, chaotic dream.\nFlashes of Tyler and Luna walking hand-in-hand across campus played over and over.\nThem, feeding a tiny kitten together until it grew into a chunky cat.\nThem, eating in the cafeteria, trading the food they didn’t like off each other’s plates.\nThem, huddled under a single scarf as they walked through the first snow…\nI jolted awake. My pillow was soaked with tears, and my forehead was slick with sweat.\nMy roommates were all peering down at me from my bedside, sighing in relief.\n“Grace, weren’t you going to propose to your boyfriend? Why do you look so wrecked?”\n“Yeah, did your bestie get it on video? C’mon, show us! Proposing to your guy is so badass. You’re my hero!”\nI’d wanted to surprise Tyler, so I hadn’t told anyone I was going to see him.\nI just never expected him to be the one to gut-punch me.\nLooking at the three curious faces in front of me, I couldn’t even manage a weak smile.\n“Tyler had to suddenly go collect data with his advisor. I missed him, so I just came back.”\nThey glanced at each other, but seeing I wasn’t going to say more, they let it go.\nI couldn’t bring myself to say it. How could I tell them that the “best boyfriend in the universe,” the one I’d bragged about countless times, had been cheating on me with my best friend for three years?\nMy head was splitting. I was on the balcony brushing my teeth when I glanced down and saw Tyler, looking like he’d rushed all the way here.\nHe was holding a bouquet of my favorite cappuccino roses and the matcha cake I’d mentioned last week.\nHis eyes were still brimming with that familiar love, but the sight of him sent a chill down my spine.\nHe could spend last night in a passionate tryst with Luna and then show up in front of me today like nothing happened.\nHe shouted up, “Grace, let’s take our graduation photos together!”\nMy roommate nudged my shoulder, envious. “So romantic! Hurry up and go down to him!”\nI moved like a robot, not even realizing I’d forgotten my shoes as I walked barefoot to the dorm entrance.\nWhen Tyler saw me, he frowned and ran over, scooping me up and setting me down on a nearby bench.\n“Are you so happy you’ve gone silly? Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”\n“Once we’re living together, I’m definitely gonna help you break this bad habit.”\nThe future? The words made me laugh for no reason.\nHe froze.\n“Grace, are you not feeling well?”\n“Or are you still mad? I know it was messed up not to text you back when I was drunk last night. That’s why I rushed to get you flowers and cake to make it up to you. I took the earliest flight I could.”\nA wave of fury surged through me, and I smashed the cake right in his face.\nWhen that wasn’t enough, I threw the entire beautiful bouquet of roses at him.\n“Tyler, do you really think I’m some kind of idiot you can just string along?!”\nMy own shriek was deafening. Even I was shocked by the crazed, wild way I was acting.\nThe ring was still on his finger. How could he not be over Luna?\nTyler’s good temper was terrifying.\nHe was still smiling. “Baby, are you having trouble with your lab work?”\n“Don’t worry, I’ve already sorted everything out at my university. Now I can focus on helping you get ready for graduation. I'm here, so don't stress.”\n“We’ll go on a trip right after we graduate. C’mon, cheer up.”\n“And didn’t you want to get your best friend a going-away present for her study abroad program? I'll make the money, and you can buy her something nice and expensive.”\nHe carefully started cleaning up the mess, not forgetting to warn me, “Watch out for the thorns.”\nBut I was numb to it. I walked right up to him and slapped him across the face.\n“Tyler, you are absolutely shameless!”\nBut the crushing grief had hollowed me out, and the next second, I collapsed.\nBefore everything went black, I saw the panic on Tyler’s face as he lunged to catch my falling body."},{"chapter_key":"QBjnwh1diA","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/4/en_d6199208-887f-4905-9ee8-0b91fe192ca1.txt","word_count":941,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"When Tyler heard the doctor say I'd passed out from a nasty stomach flu, a flicker of guilt and pain crossed his eyes.\nHe squeezed my hand tightly. \"Grace, it's all my fault. I'm the reason you didn't even want to tell me you were sick.\"\n\"But don't worry, I'm going to stay right here with you. I'll email your professor and get you an extension.\"\nHe was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I'd been completely blind to the rotten hypocrisy under his mask.\nI couldn't even summon the energy to be angry as he bustled around, sponging me down, buying food, and handling the hospital bills.\nHe’d taken such good care of me ever since high school.\nHe always brought me fruit that was already peeled and sliced, and he never skipped on the grand gestures when it came to gifts.\nAfter we finished our SATs, he showed up with a bouquet he’d arranged himself and asked me out.\nMy heart fluttered as I dove headfirst into my sweet first romance.\nBut Luna couldn't stand him.\n\"Babe, I just don't think Tyler is good enough for you.\"\nThey were like oil and water, and I was always stuck in the middle trying to play peacemaker.\nWhen we got into different colleges, I cried my eyes out.\nLuna was by my side the whole time, and she even offered to keep an eye on Tyler for me.\n\"Babe, I'll be your eyes and ears. If Tyler so much as breathes in another girl's direction, you'll be the first to know.\"\nI leaned smugly against her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Tyler. \"See that? Don't even think about cheating on me. I've got Luna monitoring your every move!\"\nHe promised, \"Don't worry. She'll never have anything to report.\"\nBack then, I thought I had the most considerate boyfriend and the most trustworthy best friend in the world.\nLittle did I know, they were taking advantage of the fact that I'm not on social media, flaunting their romance all over campus and becoming the school's favorite power couple.\nTyler went to get some hot water, and the phone he’d left on the table started ringing.\nThe caller ID said \"Mom.\" Remembering how Mrs. Cooper always held my hands and brought me homemade meals, I answered it.\nBut her words made me freeze on the spot.\n\"Son, when are you bringing Luna over for dinner? Your father and I both miss her.\"\n\"Don't bring Grace this time. Every time she's here, I have to wait on her and force a smile. She acts like such a little princess. I just like that Luna girl so much better.\"\n\"Tell Luna I miss her, and that I have a bracelet for her next time she visits. It's one I'd never give to Grace.\"\nIt felt like an iron fist was squeezing my heart.\nI couldn't believe that the woman who always smiled so warmly to my face was secretly treating Luna like her future daughter-in-law.\nMy voice was hoarse. \"Mrs. Cooper, if you really can't stand me, why are you always so sweet to my parents, acting like we're already family?\"\nShe recognized my voice and immediately hung up.\nI laughed bitterly.\nOn some strange impulse, I reached into Tyler's jacket and pulled out another phone.\nI typed in Luna's birthday, and it unlocked.\nIn the photo gallery, I found thousands of intimate pictures of them together.\nHis wallpaper was Luna. His lock screen was Luna. He even had a folder for his apps named after her.\nNo wonder. No wonder Tyler was always so confident, practically begging me to check his phone.\nHe had a whole separate phone to hide his affair with Luna.\nJust then, a message popped up from Luna, whose chat was pinned to the top.\n\"Babe, I'm heading over to see Grace now. She doesn't suspect anything, does she?\"\n\"I can't wait to see you. Besides, with that princess attitude of hers, she'll probably blame me for not caring if I don't show up.\"\nThe words were like poison pouring down my throat.\nI typed back: \"Come over.\"\n\"On my way! Wait for me, my love!\"\nI put the phone back where I'd found it. A strange calm washed over me as I waited for the performance to begin.\nTyler came back and started cutting up some fruit, just as Luna burst into the room and threw her arms around me.\nHer eyes were red with worry. \"Grace! Oh my god, how could you have fainted? I'm so sorry, I came as soon as I heard.\"\nI let out a small laugh. \"It was all Tyler's fault. Luna, why don't you slap him for me?\"\nThe moment the words left my mouth, both of their expressions froze.\nShe instinctively looked at Tyler.\nTyler was quick on the uptake. He leaned in, presenting his cheek. \"Go ahead, Luna. Slap me. It'll help Grace feel better.\"\nA flicker of pain crossed Luna's eyes.\nThen, she slapped Tyler across the cheek.\nShe must have been heartbroken to do it. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the hand she lowered was trembling.\nShe smiled at me. \"Feel better now, Grace? And Tyler, honestly, why do you have to go and make our Grace upset?\"\nTyler, still smiling, held a piece of watermelon to my lips. \"My fault. I totally understand if Grace isn't ready to forgive me yet.\"\nI spat the watermelon right in his face.\nThen I turned to a stunned Luna. \"So, Luna,\" I said, \"how come you're not wearing the engagement ring Tyler gave you yesterday?\""}],"recommend_text":"The day of his graduation, I went to surprise my boyfriend of four years with a proposal. \nOn the athletic field, in the cheers of a thousand people, I saw him on one knee—proposing to my best friend. \nThe “best friend” who had been my trusted spy for years. ","button_text":"","bottom_text":""} "2600:1f28:365:80b0:75ad:aeea:19c7:a4f2" {"clickToRead":"🔥🔥Click to read the next chapter for free 👇","continueReading":"CONTINUE READING","more":"More","open":"Open","bottomText":"The upcoming chapters are even more exciting! Click the download button below to read the entire book!👇👇👇"} {"id":1000441,"name":"The Proposal Betrayal","start_time":1764904110,"end_time":1796440110,"status":1,"version_config":[{"name":"base","traffic_interval":0},{"name":"exp1","traffic_interval":100,"landing_page_id":734,"novel":{"novel_id":6340,"novel_key":"rjAA5lvxmT","title":"The Proposal Betrayal","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/novel/landing-page/image-crawl/fe3d6b4bcb4a162f614006bd762d6e67.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","intro":"Four years long-distance. My best friend at his school kept me updated. Tyler visited me 200+ times, spending 200k on tickets: \"I'll come to you so my girl never envies anyone.\" On his graduation day, I took a 20-hour train to propose to him—and caught him proposing to my best friend.","use_default_button_text":true,"lang":"en-US","style":200003,"chapter_count":7,"word_count":6254,"use_novel_desc":true,"chapter":{"chapter_key":"hW1xF3CTdt","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","word_count":853,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},"recommend_text":"The day of his graduation, I went to surprise my boyfriend of four years with a proposal. \nOn the athletic field, in the cheers of a thousand people, I saw him on one knee—proposing to my best friend. \nThe “best friend” who had been my trusted spy for years. ","use_default_bottom_text":true,"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"hW1xF3CTdt","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","word_count":853,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for all four years of college.\nI never worried he'd cheat on me.\nAfter all, my best friend went to his school and could give me a play-by-play of his every move.\nOver those four years, Tyler Cooper came to see me more than two hundred times, spending over thirty thousand dollars on travel and hotels.\nHe’d laugh and ruffle my hair, saying, “You get carsick and airsick, so I’ll be the one to come to you. You’ll never have to be jealous of anyone else’s boyfriend.”\n“I make good money tutoring. What else would I spend it on, if not coming to see my dramatic little girlfriend?”\nOn the day he was taking his graduation photos, I told him my advisor had me stuck in the lab for three days.\nIn reality, I was on a twenty-hour train ride to his graduation ceremony, planning to propose to him.\nWhen I got to Deepwater University, a proposal was already happening on the athletic field, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.\nI tilted my head to get a look, and there he was—the man down on one knee was my boyfriend, Tyler.\nAnd the one he was proposing to? My best friend.\nIt was like I'd been struck by lightning. I rubbed my eyes hard.\nThe stench from the train must have gotten to my head, making my eyes play tricks on me.\nBut when I saw Tyler’s face clearly again, the tears came first, streaming down my face.\nThe ring box in his hand was trembling. “Luna, I’ve never imagined spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”\n“For me, it’s always just been you, Luna Turner, and then everyone else. So, will you marry me?”\nI turned my head mechanically to look at Luna. Her hand was covering her mouth as she sobbed with emotion.\nShe was dressed so beautifully today in a pristine white tiered dress and cute leather shoes, like she was already wearing a wedding gown.\nShe rarely wore makeup, but today her face was done up exquisitely. She looked breathtaking.\nHer voice from two weeks ago echoed in my ears.\n“Grace, which dress do you think I should get?”\nI’d told her to pick the white tiered one.\nShe had sounded conflicted. “But this one is fifty bucks more. Is it worth it?”\nI’d nodded immediately. “It’s gorgeous! And it looks amazing on you. Treat yourself and just buy it. If you’re short, I’ll Venmo you some cash!”\nAt the time, I thought she was buying it for a dinner with her roommates.\nBut now, here she was, wearing the dress she’d bought with my money to accept Tyler’s proposal.\nThe shock was so immense that my limbs went rigid, and I couldn't move.\nAll I wanted was to rush over there, snatch that ring box, and stomp it into the ground.\nLuna laughed through her tears. “I’ve never thought about loving anyone but you, either. The thought alone could kill me.”\n“Tyler Cooper, yes! I’ll marry you!”\nI watched, paralyzed, as Tyler emotionally slid the ring onto her ring finger.\nThey pulled each other into a kiss, and the cheers from the crowd of students rose in wave after wave.\nThe envious whispers of two girls next to me delivered another crushing blow.\n“Tyler Cooper and Luna Turner are so perfect together. From campus sweethearts to the altar… I’ve been shipping them so hard since they got together freshman year!”\n“I know, right? He’s the student union VP, and she’s a star in the literature department. You couldn’t write a better romance novel. Three years of dating and now a proposal… I’m literally dying of romance!”\nThe flowers and the ring box in my hands crashed onto the track.\nIt was only then that I learned my best friend and my boyfriend had been the campus’s most famous power couple for the last three years.\nA coppery taste rose in my throat, and my body suddenly started to convulse.\nIn an instant, I collapsed to the ground.\nSome kind students carried me toward the campus clinic.\nMeanwhile, Tyler and Luna were so lost in their kiss that they didn’t spare a single glance at the world around them.\nWhen I woke up in the clinic, the campus nurse breathed a sigh of relief.\n“Honey, your blood sugar is low. You need to be more careful.”\nI frantically called Tyler, but he didn’t pick up.\nThen I spammed every one of Luna’s social media accounts and messaging apps with calls and texts. She didn’t answer either.\nTears splashed onto my phone screen.\nThe nurse handed me a piece of candy. “Why are you crying? Here, have some candy. One of the students gave it to me to celebrate.”\n“That Luna and Tyler are such a sweet couple. The proposal on the field today was really something, wasn’t it?”"},{"chapter_key":"RjZ29eUzbp","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/2/en_8832d203-9bdc-4850-be14-2f983955ef46.txt","word_count":756,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I wandered through the Deepwater University campus in a daze.\nThe school nurse’s words kept echoing in my head.\n“Back in freshman year, Luna Turner fainted during the fitness test, and it was Tyler Cooper who brought her to the clinic. He was a nervous wreck.”\n“After that, they started dating. They were practically joined at the hip, wishing there were twenty-five hours in a day. People even wrote stories about them. They were inseparable. And now, it looks like they’ve finally gotten their happy ending.”\nEvery word was a knife, carving a raw, bleeding wound in my heart.\nI remembered fainting during that same fitness test freshman year. My roommate had to help me to the clinic.\nBut I never thought Tyler and Luna would lie to me.\nWhile I was there, they were in the clinic too, flirting with each other.\nSuddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification.\nI opened a voice message from Tyler. He sounded drunk.\n“Babe, it was the graduation ceremony today. I went out drinking with my roommates and had a little too much, so I missed your call.”\n“Babe, don't be mad, okay? How about we FaceTime? Actually, never mind. I’m a total mess right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”\n“I already ordered your breakfast for tomorrow, so don't forget to grab it. Love you.”\nAfter listening to the message, my heart plummeted.\nA message from Luna came in right after.\n“Grace, are you having a hard time with your thesis? I was so busy with graduation photos with my roommates today, I didn't even get to check on you. That's my bad!”\n“And don't worry, your Tyler is being a total gentleman. He turned down all the girls in our class who wanted to take graduation photos with him. He only wants to take them with you, you know.”\nThey had gone to such great lengths to hide this from me, deliberately staggering their messages.\nIf I hadn't seen the proposal with my own eyes, I would have been stupid enough to believe every single word.\nThe phone nearly slipped from my fingers. I broke down completely, squatting on the ground and burying my face in my hands as I sobbed.\nSuddenly, I heard their voices—Tyler's and Luna's.\nI looked toward the sound and saw them under a streetlight by the lake. Tyler had his arm around Luna, and they were both laughing, giddy with joy.\nThey were feeding an orange cat.\nLuna's voice was wistful. “Kitty, we’ve been feeding you for over three years now. You’ve been our little witness, haven't you?”\nTyler's eyes never left her, brimming with a love so intense it felt like it would spill over.\n“Luna, I love you.”\nThose three words sent a tremor through my soul.\nLuna bit her lip, a heartbroken look on her face, and threw herself into his arms.\n“You've already done so much for me,” she said. “After today, we can't be together out in the open anymore.”\n“You’re going to be living with Grace, building a life with her. And I'm going to France to study. It'll be so hard for us to see each other.”\nBut Tyler said, “Luna, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always be in my heart. I'm the one who proposed, remember?”\nShe nodded, a relieved smile spreading across her face. “I already have so much. At least you proposed to me first. Even when you marry Grace, I won't be jealous.”\n“You don't have to feel guilty that we can't get a marriage license. Maybe this way, you'll remember me even longer.”\nMy nails dug into my palms as I watched Tyler and Luna kiss, lost in each other.\nHis breathing was ragged. “I'm sorry, Luna. I'll find a way to visit you in France.”\nThey tangled together again, and the wet sound of their kissing was sickeningly clear.\nTyler was an expert at splitting his love in two.\nHe'd secretly propose to Luna, and then, eventually, marry me.\nLuna was the one he couldn't live without, the one who haunted his dreams.\nMy face burned as if it were on fire, and my tears pasted strands of hair to my cheeks.\nI had crushed the celebratory candy in my hand into a sticky mess. I turned and threw it in the trash.\nWithout a second thought, I got on the first flight home.\nI had arrived full of hope, but I was leaving with my heart in ashes."},{"chapter_key":"pGUvoVPWmT","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/3/en_42c5d5a8-6251-4889-b514-568882cb9610.txt","word_count":751,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"Exhaustion dragged me into a murky, chaotic dream.\nFlashes of Tyler and Luna walking hand-in-hand across campus played over and over.\nThem, feeding a tiny kitten together until it grew into a chunky cat.\nThem, eating in the cafeteria, trading the food they didn’t like off each other’s plates.\nThem, huddled under a single scarf as they walked through the first snow…\nI jolted awake. My pillow was soaked with tears, and my forehead was slick with sweat.\nMy roommates were all peering down at me from my bedside, sighing in relief.\n“Grace, weren’t you going to propose to your boyfriend? Why do you look so wrecked?”\n“Yeah, did your bestie get it on video? C’mon, show us! Proposing to your guy is so badass. You’re my hero!”\nI’d wanted to surprise Tyler, so I hadn’t told anyone I was going to see him.\nI just never expected him to be the one to gut-punch me.\nLooking at the three curious faces in front of me, I couldn’t even manage a weak smile.\n“Tyler had to suddenly go collect data with his advisor. I missed him, so I just came back.”\nThey glanced at each other, but seeing I wasn’t going to say more, they let it go.\nI couldn’t bring myself to say it. How could I tell them that the “best boyfriend in the universe,” the one I’d bragged about countless times, had been cheating on me with my best friend for three years?\nMy head was splitting. I was on the balcony brushing my teeth when I glanced down and saw Tyler, looking like he’d rushed all the way here.\nHe was holding a bouquet of my favorite cappuccino roses and the matcha cake I’d mentioned last week.\nHis eyes were still brimming with that familiar love, but the sight of him sent a chill down my spine.\nHe could spend last night in a passionate tryst with Luna and then show up in front of me today like nothing happened.\nHe shouted up, “Grace, let’s take our graduation photos together!”\nMy roommate nudged my shoulder, envious. “So romantic! Hurry up and go down to him!”\nI moved like a robot, not even realizing I’d forgotten my shoes as I walked barefoot to the dorm entrance.\nWhen Tyler saw me, he frowned and ran over, scooping me up and setting me down on a nearby bench.\n“Are you so happy you’ve gone silly? Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”\n“Once we’re living together, I’m definitely gonna help you break this bad habit.”\nThe future? The words made me laugh for no reason.\nHe froze.\n“Grace, are you not feeling well?”\n“Or are you still mad? I know it was messed up not to text you back when I was drunk last night. That’s why I rushed to get you flowers and cake to make it up to you. I took the earliest flight I could.”\nA wave of fury surged through me, and I smashed the cake right in his face.\nWhen that wasn’t enough, I threw the entire beautiful bouquet of roses at him.\n“Tyler, do you really think I’m some kind of idiot you can just string along?!”\nMy own shriek was deafening. Even I was shocked by the crazed, wild way I was acting.\nThe ring was still on his finger. How could he not be over Luna?\nTyler’s good temper was terrifying.\nHe was still smiling. “Baby, are you having trouble with your lab work?”\n“Don’t worry, I’ve already sorted everything out at my university. Now I can focus on helping you get ready for graduation. I'm here, so don't stress.”\n“We’ll go on a trip right after we graduate. C’mon, cheer up.”\n“And didn’t you want to get your best friend a going-away present for her study abroad program? I'll make the money, and you can buy her something nice and expensive.”\nHe carefully started cleaning up the mess, not forgetting to warn me, “Watch out for the thorns.”\nBut I was numb to it. I walked right up to him and slapped him across the face.\n“Tyler, you are absolutely shameless!”\nBut the crushing grief had hollowed me out, and the next second, I collapsed.\nBefore everything went black, I saw the panic on Tyler’s face as he lunged to catch my falling body."},{"chapter_key":"QBjnwh1diA","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/4/en_d6199208-887f-4905-9ee8-0b91fe192ca1.txt","word_count":941,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"When Tyler heard the doctor say I'd passed out from a nasty stomach flu, a flicker of guilt and pain crossed his eyes.\nHe squeezed my hand tightly. \"Grace, it's all my fault. I'm the reason you didn't even want to tell me you were sick.\"\n\"But don't worry, I'm going to stay right here with you. I'll email your professor and get you an extension.\"\nHe was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I'd been completely blind to the rotten hypocrisy under his mask.\nI couldn't even summon the energy to be angry as he bustled around, sponging me down, buying food, and handling the hospital bills.\nHe’d taken such good care of me ever since high school.\nHe always brought me fruit that was already peeled and sliced, and he never skipped on the grand gestures when it came to gifts.\nAfter we finished our SATs, he showed up with a bouquet he’d arranged himself and asked me out.\nMy heart fluttered as I dove headfirst into my sweet first romance.\nBut Luna couldn't stand him.\n\"Babe, I just don't think Tyler is good enough for you.\"\nThey were like oil and water, and I was always stuck in the middle trying to play peacemaker.\nWhen we got into different colleges, I cried my eyes out.\nLuna was by my side the whole time, and she even offered to keep an eye on Tyler for me.\n\"Babe, I'll be your eyes and ears. If Tyler so much as breathes in another girl's direction, you'll be the first to know.\"\nI leaned smugly against her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Tyler. \"See that? Don't even think about cheating on me. I've got Luna monitoring your every move!\"\nHe promised, \"Don't worry. She'll never have anything to report.\"\nBack then, I thought I had the most considerate boyfriend and the most trustworthy best friend in the world.\nLittle did I know, they were taking advantage of the fact that I'm not on social media, flaunting their romance all over campus and becoming the school's favorite power couple.\nTyler went to get some hot water, and the phone he’d left on the table started ringing.\nThe caller ID said \"Mom.\" Remembering how Mrs. Cooper always held my hands and brought me homemade meals, I answered it.\nBut her words made me freeze on the spot.\n\"Son, when are you bringing Luna over for dinner? Your father and I both miss her.\"\n\"Don't bring Grace this time. Every time she's here, I have to wait on her and force a smile. She acts like such a little princess. I just like that Luna girl so much better.\"\n\"Tell Luna I miss her, and that I have a bracelet for her next time she visits. It's one I'd never give to Grace.\"\nIt felt like an iron fist was squeezing my heart.\nI couldn't believe that the woman who always smiled so warmly to my face was secretly treating Luna like her future daughter-in-law.\nMy voice was hoarse. \"Mrs. Cooper, if you really can't stand me, why are you always so sweet to my parents, acting like we're already family?\"\nShe recognized my voice and immediately hung up.\nI laughed bitterly.\nOn some strange impulse, I reached into Tyler's jacket and pulled out another phone.\nI typed in Luna's birthday, and it unlocked.\nIn the photo gallery, I found thousands of intimate pictures of them together.\nHis wallpaper was Luna. His lock screen was Luna. He even had a folder for his apps named after her.\nNo wonder. No wonder Tyler was always so confident, practically begging me to check his phone.\nHe had a whole separate phone to hide his affair with Luna.\nJust then, a message popped up from Luna, whose chat was pinned to the top.\n\"Babe, I'm heading over to see Grace now. She doesn't suspect anything, does she?\"\n\"I can't wait to see you. Besides, with that princess attitude of hers, she'll probably blame me for not caring if I don't show up.\"\nThe words were like poison pouring down my throat.\nI typed back: \"Come over.\"\n\"On my way! Wait for me, my love!\"\nI put the phone back where I'd found it. A strange calm washed over me as I waited for the performance to begin.\nTyler came back and started cutting up some fruit, just as Luna burst into the room and threw her arms around me.\nHer eyes were red with worry. \"Grace! Oh my god, how could you have fainted? I'm so sorry, I came as soon as I heard.\"\nI let out a small laugh. \"It was all Tyler's fault. Luna, why don't you slap him for me?\"\nThe moment the words left my mouth, both of their expressions froze.\nShe instinctively looked at Tyler.\nTyler was quick on the uptake. He leaned in, presenting his cheek. \"Go ahead, Luna. Slap me. It'll help Grace feel better.\"\nA flicker of pain crossed Luna's eyes.\nThen, she slapped Tyler across the cheek.\nShe must have been heartbroken to do it. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the hand she lowered was trembling.\nShe smiled at me. \"Feel better now, Grace? And Tyler, honestly, why do you have to go and make our Grace upset?\"\nTyler, still smiling, held a piece of watermelon to my lips. \"My fault. I totally understand if Grace isn't ready to forgive me yet.\"\nI spat the watermelon right in his face.\nThen I turned to a stunned Luna. \"So, Luna,\" I said, \"how come you're not wearing the engagement ring Tyler gave you yesterday?\""}]}}]} {"name":"exp1","traffic_interval":100,"landing_page_id":734,"novel":{"novel_id":6340,"novel_key":"rjAA5lvxmT","title":"The Proposal Betrayal","cover":"https://static-v1.mydramawave.com/novel/landing-page/image-crawl/fe3d6b4bcb4a162f614006bd762d6e67.jpg?image_process=quality,85/resize,w_600/format,webp","intro":"Four years long-distance. My best friend at his school kept me updated. Tyler visited me 200+ times, spending 200k on tickets: \"I'll come to you so my girl never envies anyone.\" On his graduation day, I took a 20-hour train to propose to him—and caught him proposing to my best friend.","use_default_button_text":true,"lang":"en-US","style":200003,"chapter_count":7,"word_count":6254,"use_novel_desc":true,"chapter":{"chapter_key":"hW1xF3CTdt","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","word_count":853,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false},"recommend_text":"The day of his graduation, I went to surprise my boyfriend of four years with a proposal. \nOn the athletic field, in the cheers of a thousand people, I saw him on one knee—proposing to my best friend. \nThe “best friend” who had been my trusted spy for years. ","use_default_bottom_text":true,"chapter_list":[{"chapter_key":"hW1xF3CTdt","title":"Chapter 1","serial_number":1,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/1/en_20ea16bd-fda5-4e92-b6c9-4e06b702647e.txt","word_count":853,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend for all four years of college.\nI never worried he'd cheat on me.\nAfter all, my best friend went to his school and could give me a play-by-play of his every move.\nOver those four years, Tyler Cooper came to see me more than two hundred times, spending over thirty thousand dollars on travel and hotels.\nHe’d laugh and ruffle my hair, saying, “You get carsick and airsick, so I’ll be the one to come to you. You’ll never have to be jealous of anyone else’s boyfriend.”\n“I make good money tutoring. What else would I spend it on, if not coming to see my dramatic little girlfriend?”\nOn the day he was taking his graduation photos, I told him my advisor had me stuck in the lab for three days.\nIn reality, I was on a twenty-hour train ride to his graduation ceremony, planning to propose to him.\nWhen I got to Deepwater University, a proposal was already happening on the athletic field, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.\nI tilted my head to get a look, and there he was—the man down on one knee was my boyfriend, Tyler.\nAnd the one he was proposing to? My best friend.\nIt was like I'd been struck by lightning. I rubbed my eyes hard.\nThe stench from the train must have gotten to my head, making my eyes play tricks on me.\nBut when I saw Tyler’s face clearly again, the tears came first, streaming down my face.\nThe ring box in his hand was trembling. “Luna, I’ve never imagined spending the rest of my life with anyone else.”\n“For me, it’s always just been you, Luna Turner, and then everyone else. So, will you marry me?”\nI turned my head mechanically to look at Luna. Her hand was covering her mouth as she sobbed with emotion.\nShe was dressed so beautifully today in a pristine white tiered dress and cute leather shoes, like she was already wearing a wedding gown.\nShe rarely wore makeup, but today her face was done up exquisitely. She looked breathtaking.\nHer voice from two weeks ago echoed in my ears.\n“Grace, which dress do you think I should get?”\nI’d told her to pick the white tiered one.\nShe had sounded conflicted. “But this one is fifty bucks more. Is it worth it?”\nI’d nodded immediately. “It’s gorgeous! And it looks amazing on you. Treat yourself and just buy it. If you’re short, I’ll Venmo you some cash!”\nAt the time, I thought she was buying it for a dinner with her roommates.\nBut now, here she was, wearing the dress she’d bought with my money to accept Tyler’s proposal.\nThe shock was so immense that my limbs went rigid, and I couldn't move.\nAll I wanted was to rush over there, snatch that ring box, and stomp it into the ground.\nLuna laughed through her tears. “I’ve never thought about loving anyone but you, either. The thought alone could kill me.”\n“Tyler Cooper, yes! I’ll marry you!”\nI watched, paralyzed, as Tyler emotionally slid the ring onto her ring finger.\nThey pulled each other into a kiss, and the cheers from the crowd of students rose in wave after wave.\nThe envious whispers of two girls next to me delivered another crushing blow.\n“Tyler Cooper and Luna Turner are so perfect together. From campus sweethearts to the altar… I’ve been shipping them so hard since they got together freshman year!”\n“I know, right? He’s the student union VP, and she’s a star in the literature department. You couldn’t write a better romance novel. Three years of dating and now a proposal… I’m literally dying of romance!”\nThe flowers and the ring box in my hands crashed onto the track.\nIt was only then that I learned my best friend and my boyfriend had been the campus’s most famous power couple for the last three years.\nA coppery taste rose in my throat, and my body suddenly started to convulse.\nIn an instant, I collapsed to the ground.\nSome kind students carried me toward the campus clinic.\nMeanwhile, Tyler and Luna were so lost in their kiss that they didn’t spare a single glance at the world around them.\nWhen I woke up in the clinic, the campus nurse breathed a sigh of relief.\n“Honey, your blood sugar is low. You need to be more careful.”\nI frantically called Tyler, but he didn’t pick up.\nThen I spammed every one of Luna’s social media accounts and messaging apps with calls and texts. She didn’t answer either.\nTears splashed onto my phone screen.\nThe nurse handed me a piece of candy. “Why are you crying? Here, have some candy. One of the students gave it to me to celebrate.”\n“That Luna and Tyler are such a sweet couple. The proposal on the field today was really something, wasn’t it?”"},{"chapter_key":"RjZ29eUzbp","title":"Chapter 2","serial_number":2,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/2/en_8832d203-9bdc-4850-be14-2f983955ef46.txt","word_count":756,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"I wandered through the Deepwater University campus in a daze.\nThe school nurse’s words kept echoing in my head.\n“Back in freshman year, Luna Turner fainted during the fitness test, and it was Tyler Cooper who brought her to the clinic. He was a nervous wreck.”\n“After that, they started dating. They were practically joined at the hip, wishing there were twenty-five hours in a day. People even wrote stories about them. They were inseparable. And now, it looks like they’ve finally gotten their happy ending.”\nEvery word was a knife, carving a raw, bleeding wound in my heart.\nI remembered fainting during that same fitness test freshman year. My roommate had to help me to the clinic.\nBut I never thought Tyler and Luna would lie to me.\nWhile I was there, they were in the clinic too, flirting with each other.\nSuddenly, my phone buzzed with a notification.\nI opened a voice message from Tyler. He sounded drunk.\n“Babe, it was the graduation ceremony today. I went out drinking with my roommates and had a little too much, so I missed your call.”\n“Babe, don't be mad, okay? How about we FaceTime? Actually, never mind. I’m a total mess right now. I’ll call you tomorrow.”\n“I already ordered your breakfast for tomorrow, so don't forget to grab it. Love you.”\nAfter listening to the message, my heart plummeted.\nA message from Luna came in right after.\n“Grace, are you having a hard time with your thesis? I was so busy with graduation photos with my roommates today, I didn't even get to check on you. That's my bad!”\n“And don't worry, your Tyler is being a total gentleman. He turned down all the girls in our class who wanted to take graduation photos with him. He only wants to take them with you, you know.”\nThey had gone to such great lengths to hide this from me, deliberately staggering their messages.\nIf I hadn't seen the proposal with my own eyes, I would have been stupid enough to believe every single word.\nThe phone nearly slipped from my fingers. I broke down completely, squatting on the ground and burying my face in my hands as I sobbed.\nSuddenly, I heard their voices—Tyler's and Luna's.\nI looked toward the sound and saw them under a streetlight by the lake. Tyler had his arm around Luna, and they were both laughing, giddy with joy.\nThey were feeding an orange cat.\nLuna's voice was wistful. “Kitty, we’ve been feeding you for over three years now. You’ve been our little witness, haven't you?”\nTyler's eyes never left her, brimming with a love so intense it felt like it would spill over.\n“Luna, I love you.”\nThose three words sent a tremor through my soul.\nLuna bit her lip, a heartbroken look on her face, and threw herself into his arms.\n“You've already done so much for me,” she said. “After today, we can't be together out in the open anymore.”\n“You’re going to be living with Grace, building a life with her. And I'm going to France to study. It'll be so hard for us to see each other.”\nBut Tyler said, “Luna, no matter how far apart we are, you'll always be in my heart. I'm the one who proposed, remember?”\nShe nodded, a relieved smile spreading across her face. “I already have so much. At least you proposed to me first. Even when you marry Grace, I won't be jealous.”\n“You don't have to feel guilty that we can't get a marriage license. Maybe this way, you'll remember me even longer.”\nMy nails dug into my palms as I watched Tyler and Luna kiss, lost in each other.\nHis breathing was ragged. “I'm sorry, Luna. I'll find a way to visit you in France.”\nThey tangled together again, and the wet sound of their kissing was sickeningly clear.\nTyler was an expert at splitting his love in two.\nHe'd secretly propose to Luna, and then, eventually, marry me.\nLuna was the one he couldn't live without, the one who haunted his dreams.\nMy face burned as if it were on fire, and my tears pasted strands of hair to my cheeks.\nI had crushed the celebratory candy in my hand into a sticky mess. I turned and threw it in the trash.\nWithout a second thought, I got on the first flight home.\nI had arrived full of hope, but I was leaving with my heart in ashes."},{"chapter_key":"pGUvoVPWmT","title":"Chapter 3","serial_number":3,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/3/en_42c5d5a8-6251-4889-b514-568882cb9610.txt","word_count":751,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"Exhaustion dragged me into a murky, chaotic dream.\nFlashes of Tyler and Luna walking hand-in-hand across campus played over and over.\nThem, feeding a tiny kitten together until it grew into a chunky cat.\nThem, eating in the cafeteria, trading the food they didn’t like off each other’s plates.\nThem, huddled under a single scarf as they walked through the first snow…\nI jolted awake. My pillow was soaked with tears, and my forehead was slick with sweat.\nMy roommates were all peering down at me from my bedside, sighing in relief.\n“Grace, weren’t you going to propose to your boyfriend? Why do you look so wrecked?”\n“Yeah, did your bestie get it on video? C’mon, show us! Proposing to your guy is so badass. You’re my hero!”\nI’d wanted to surprise Tyler, so I hadn’t told anyone I was going to see him.\nI just never expected him to be the one to gut-punch me.\nLooking at the three curious faces in front of me, I couldn’t even manage a weak smile.\n“Tyler had to suddenly go collect data with his advisor. I missed him, so I just came back.”\nThey glanced at each other, but seeing I wasn’t going to say more, they let it go.\nI couldn’t bring myself to say it. How could I tell them that the “best boyfriend in the universe,” the one I’d bragged about countless times, had been cheating on me with my best friend for three years?\nMy head was splitting. I was on the balcony brushing my teeth when I glanced down and saw Tyler, looking like he’d rushed all the way here.\nHe was holding a bouquet of my favorite cappuccino roses and the matcha cake I’d mentioned last week.\nHis eyes were still brimming with that familiar love, but the sight of him sent a chill down my spine.\nHe could spend last night in a passionate tryst with Luna and then show up in front of me today like nothing happened.\nHe shouted up, “Grace, let’s take our graduation photos together!”\nMy roommate nudged my shoulder, envious. “So romantic! Hurry up and go down to him!”\nI moved like a robot, not even realizing I’d forgotten my shoes as I walked barefoot to the dorm entrance.\nWhen Tyler saw me, he frowned and ran over, scooping me up and setting me down on a nearby bench.\n“Are you so happy you’ve gone silly? Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”\n“Once we’re living together, I’m definitely gonna help you break this bad habit.”\nThe future? The words made me laugh for no reason.\nHe froze.\n“Grace, are you not feeling well?”\n“Or are you still mad? I know it was messed up not to text you back when I was drunk last night. That’s why I rushed to get you flowers and cake to make it up to you. I took the earliest flight I could.”\nA wave of fury surged through me, and I smashed the cake right in his face.\nWhen that wasn’t enough, I threw the entire beautiful bouquet of roses at him.\n“Tyler, do you really think I’m some kind of idiot you can just string along?!”\nMy own shriek was deafening. Even I was shocked by the crazed, wild way I was acting.\nThe ring was still on his finger. How could he not be over Luna?\nTyler’s good temper was terrifying.\nHe was still smiling. “Baby, are you having trouble with your lab work?”\n“Don’t worry, I’ve already sorted everything out at my university. Now I can focus on helping you get ready for graduation. I'm here, so don't stress.”\n“We’ll go on a trip right after we graduate. C’mon, cheer up.”\n“And didn’t you want to get your best friend a going-away present for her study abroad program? I'll make the money, and you can buy her something nice and expensive.”\nHe carefully started cleaning up the mess, not forgetting to warn me, “Watch out for the thorns.”\nBut I was numb to it. I walked right up to him and slapped him across the face.\n“Tyler, you are absolutely shameless!”\nBut the crushing grief had hollowed me out, and the next second, I collapsed.\nBefore everything went black, I saw the panic on Tyler’s face as he lunged to catch my falling body."},{"chapter_key":"QBjnwh1diA","title":"Chapter 4","serial_number":4,"start_chapter":0,"content_path":"https://video-v6.mydramawave.com/novel/26515/4/en_d6199208-887f-4905-9ee8-0b91fe192ca1.txt","word_count":941,"unlock":false,"has_set_free_remind":false,"is_free":false,"text":"When Tyler heard the doctor say I'd passed out from a nasty stomach flu, a flicker of guilt and pain crossed his eyes.\nHe squeezed my hand tightly. \"Grace, it's all my fault. I'm the reason you didn't even want to tell me you were sick.\"\n\"But don't worry, I'm going to stay right here with you. I'll email your professor and get you an extension.\"\nHe was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and I'd been completely blind to the rotten hypocrisy under his mask.\nI couldn't even summon the energy to be angry as he bustled around, sponging me down, buying food, and handling the hospital bills.\nHe’d taken such good care of me ever since high school.\nHe always brought me fruit that was already peeled and sliced, and he never skipped on the grand gestures when it came to gifts.\nAfter we finished our SATs, he showed up with a bouquet he’d arranged himself and asked me out.\nMy heart fluttered as I dove headfirst into my sweet first romance.\nBut Luna couldn't stand him.\n\"Babe, I just don't think Tyler is good enough for you.\"\nThey were like oil and water, and I was always stuck in the middle trying to play peacemaker.\nWhen we got into different colleges, I cried my eyes out.\nLuna was by my side the whole time, and she even offered to keep an eye on Tyler for me.\n\"Babe, I'll be your eyes and ears. If Tyler so much as breathes in another girl's direction, you'll be the first to know.\"\nI leaned smugly against her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Tyler. \"See that? Don't even think about cheating on me. I've got Luna monitoring your every move!\"\nHe promised, \"Don't worry. She'll never have anything to report.\"\nBack then, I thought I had the most considerate boyfriend and the most trustworthy best friend in the world.\nLittle did I know, they were taking advantage of the fact that I'm not on social media, flaunting their romance all over campus and becoming the school's favorite power couple.\nTyler went to get some hot water, and the phone he’d left on the table started ringing.\nThe caller ID said \"Mom.\" Remembering how Mrs. Cooper always held my hands and brought me homemade meals, I answered it.\nBut her words made me freeze on the spot.\n\"Son, when are you bringing Luna over for dinner? Your father and I both miss her.\"\n\"Don't bring Grace this time. Every time she's here, I have to wait on her and force a smile. She acts like such a little princess. I just like that Luna girl so much better.\"\n\"Tell Luna I miss her, and that I have a bracelet for her next time she visits. It's one I'd never give to Grace.\"\nIt felt like an iron fist was squeezing my heart.\nI couldn't believe that the woman who always smiled so warmly to my face was secretly treating Luna like her future daughter-in-law.\nMy voice was hoarse. \"Mrs. Cooper, if you really can't stand me, why are you always so sweet to my parents, acting like we're already family?\"\nShe recognized my voice and immediately hung up.\nI laughed bitterly.\nOn some strange impulse, I reached into Tyler's jacket and pulled out another phone.\nI typed in Luna's birthday, and it unlocked.\nIn the photo gallery, I found thousands of intimate pictures of them together.\nHis wallpaper was Luna. His lock screen was Luna. He even had a folder for his apps named after her.\nNo wonder. No wonder Tyler was always so confident, practically begging me to check his phone.\nHe had a whole separate phone to hide his affair with Luna.\nJust then, a message popped up from Luna, whose chat was pinned to the top.\n\"Babe, I'm heading over to see Grace now. She doesn't suspect anything, does she?\"\n\"I can't wait to see you. Besides, with that princess attitude of hers, she'll probably blame me for not caring if I don't show up.\"\nThe words were like poison pouring down my throat.\nI typed back: \"Come over.\"\n\"On my way! Wait for me, my love!\"\nI put the phone back where I'd found it. A strange calm washed over me as I waited for the performance to begin.\nTyler came back and started cutting up some fruit, just as Luna burst into the room and threw her arms around me.\nHer eyes were red with worry. \"Grace! Oh my god, how could you have fainted? I'm so sorry, I came as soon as I heard.\"\nI let out a small laugh. \"It was all Tyler's fault. Luna, why don't you slap him for me?\"\nThe moment the words left my mouth, both of their expressions froze.\nShe instinctively looked at Tyler.\nTyler was quick on the uptake. He leaned in, presenting his cheek. \"Go ahead, Luna. Slap me. It'll help Grace feel better.\"\nA flicker of pain crossed Luna's eyes.\nThen, she slapped Tyler across the cheek.\nShe must have been heartbroken to do it. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and the hand she lowered was trembling.\nShe smiled at me. \"Feel better now, Grace? And Tyler, honestly, why do you have to go and make our Grace upset?\"\nTyler, still smiling, held a piece of watermelon to my lips. \"My fault. I totally understand if Grace isn't ready to forgive me yet.\"\nI spat the watermelon right in his face.\nThen I turned to a stunned Luna. \"So, Luna,\" I said, \"how come you're not wearing the engagement ring Tyler gave you yesterday?\""}]}} 200003
The day of his graduation, I went to surprise my boyfriend of four years with a proposal.
On the athletic field, in the cheers of a thousand people, I saw him on one knee—proposing to my best friend.
The “best friend” who had been my trusted spy for years.