Chapter 4: Trending: Heartbreak in Gold

One day, I was crouched down making a snowman when Dana came running over in her big parka, waving her phone. Her cheeks were red from the cold, breath puffing in the air. She shoved her phone into my hands, eyes wide with excitement. “You need to see this.”

The top trending topic was “A Perfect Match Among the Elite.” The headline was bold, impossible to ignore. My stomach twisted as I tapped the link, bracing myself for what I’d see.

She tapped it open. The first thing I saw was a photo of a woman holding a man’s arm. The background was pure luxury—probably some gala. Madeline looked radiant in a gold dress, her figure flawless, hair swept up, eyes gentle. Lucas stood beside her in a black suit, tall and lean, a faint smile on his lips. They looked like a magazine cover—glamorous, untouchable.

I smiled and said, “They really do look good together.” My voice was steady, almost cheerful. But inside, something cracked. I watched the snowflakes fall, melting on my gloves, and wondered if I’d ever feel warm again.