Chapter 1
Maddie once believed that 21–year–old Rico. Hughes wasn‘ t capable of love. She told herself that when he was older–perhaps 31 -things would change. She could wait. But. when she heard him publicly admit to a relationship with someone else, the harsh truth struck her: Rico didn’t want her,
now or ever.
Crushing the dependency that had bound her to him for 18 years, Maddie made the painful decision to walk away. But as she turned to leave, his voice, trembling with regret, stopped her.
“Maddie, I was wrong. Please… come back.”
***
The day Rico’s movie wrapped up was supposed to be a moment of celebration. Maddie woke early, carefully arranging a bouquet of flowers and a small, thoughtful
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gift. With her heart pounding, she pushed open the doors of the banquet hall where the cast and crew gathered.
Her steps faltered.
Standing next to Rico, Jane Anderson–a rising actress–clung to his arm as they faced the cameras. Reporters swarmed, their questions sharp and probing.
“This is your second project together. Has your relationship grown closer?” one
asked.
Rico’s signature charming smile appeared. “It certainly has.”
The reporter grinned, catching the subtext.
“So, for your fans eagerly shipping this pairing, is it safe to say you‘ re a real couple, not just an on–screen match?”
Without hesitation, Rico turned to Jane, his gaze tender and cupped her face. He kissed her deeply. The banquet hall erupted in cheers and applause, whistles echoing through the room like a celebration for a
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victorious romance.
Maddie stood frozen in the doorway, the bouquet slipping from her trembling hands. Her breath hitched as Rico, still holding Janeclose, teased the reporters.
“What do you think? Real or fake?”
The cameras flashed, capturing Rico s soft touch as he wiped away Jane‘ s smudged lipstick. Maddie, struggling to steady herself, was startled by the sudden buzz of her phone.
Her mother’s name flashed on the screen. Maddie stepped out into the chilly night air before answering.
“Mom,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
“I just saw the entertainment news,” her mother said cautiously. “Rico already has a girlfriend. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped staying at his place? Why don’t you come home?”
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Maddie’s throat tightened. For the first time in years, she said the word she had avoided for so long. “Mom…” She choked on the word, then exhaled shakily. “I‘ 11 come home.
On the other end of the line, her mother s voice cracked with relief. “Oh, Maddie… you‘ re finally coming back. Thank God. I’ll have your brother come pick you up immediately!”
“No,” Maddie said softly, her hand clutching her phone. “I still need a week to sort things out.”
Her mother’s tone shifted to gentle understanding. “Alright. Use this time to say goodbye properly, especially to Rico. He’s been like a brother to you for so long, taking care of you after the orphanage. If you leave without talking to him, it’ll be hard for both of you.”
“I understand,” Maddie replied, her
voice faint.
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When the call ended, Maddie stared at her phone. A new notification flashed:
[Rico Hughes and Jane Anderson Confirmed as a Real Couple!]
The accompanying photo showed Rico and Jane locked in that now–infamous kiss. Maddie’s knees buckled as she collapsed onto the sidewalk, tears streaming uncontrollably.
Maddie couldn’t erase the memories. There was a time when Rico cared deeply for her. He had been her protector. He was three years older and had fiercely defended her from bullies at the orphanage. At sixteen, his brash, rebellious nature caught the eye of a film director scouting locations. The director offered Rico a way out a chance to leave the orphanage and make something of himself.
On the day he left, Maddie clung to him, sobbing into his chest.
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“Rico, don’t leave me,” she cried.
He gently held her and promised,
“Maddie, wait for me. I’ll come back for you.
True to his word, Rico returned on his eighteenth birthday, two years later. He took her in and enrolled her in an ordinary high school, determined to give her a normal life. Maddie‘ s world revolved
around him and for years, she had believed it always would.
But as she stared at the photo on her
phone, the painful truth set in: she wasn‘ t part of Rico’s future anymore.
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