Chapter 2 Blinded by Love

The days after that dinner with Ryan blurred together in a dizzying swirl of excitement and hope.

Liana found herself caught in a rush of emotions she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years-hope, warmth, and a tentative kind of joy. For the first time in a long time, she dared to imagine a future where love wasn't a painful risk but a possibility.

Ryan was everywhere-at her office, on her phone, in her thoughts. He sent her good morning texts laced with sweet emojis, surprised her with coffee runs, and showed up at meetings with that mischievous grin that made her heart flutter. Liana's friends noticed the change-the way her eyes lit up, the way she smiled more easily.

"She's falling," her best friend Maya said one afternoon over lunch. "You can see it in her."

Liana smiled but felt cautious. She wanted to believe in Ryan, but a small voice inside whispered warnings she tried to ignore.

Love, she reminded herself, was about compromise. It wasn't supposed to be perfect-no relationship was. And Ryan, for all his charm and ambition, wasn't perfect either.

At first, the flaws were small, almost insignificant. Ryan was late a few times, brushing it off with a laugh. He canceled plans when work got hectic, promising to make it up later. Liana told herself it was normal, that careers like his demanded sacrifices.

But as weeks passed, the red flags started piling up. Ryan's calls became more frequent but also more guarded. He'd step away to answer, whispering hurried words that made Liana's stomach twist. When she asked who he was talking to, he'd smile and say, "Just a business deal." Yet the unease lingered.

One evening, Liana planned a quiet night in, looking forward to dinner with Ryan. She cooked her favorite pasta, set the table for two, and dressed carefully. The clock ticked past the time he promised to be there.

Her phone buzzed with a message: "Running late. Something came up."

An hour later, another: "Sorry, had to work through a meeting. Can we do it tomorrow?"

Liana forced a smile, pushing disappointment down. She told herself she understood. Ryan's world was demanding, and she wanted to be supportive. But that night, as she ate dinner alone, the cracks in her perfect picture began to deepen.

At work, the strain showed. Ryan's distracted mood seeped into their interactions. He was impatient during meetings, curt in texts, and sometimes seemed distant even when they were together. Liana tried to confront him gently.

"Is everything okay?" she asked one afternoon, watching him scroll through his phone.

He looked up, eyes tired but soft. "Yeah, just a lot on my plate."

"You can talk to me," she said.

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I know. Thanks." She wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe that their connection was real and strong enough to withstand anything.

But love, she was learning, wasn't always enough. One Saturday, Liana surprised Ryan with tickets to a concert he'd mentioned wanting to see. She arrived early, anticipation buzzing through her veins.

When Ryan finally called to say he wouldn't make it, citing a last-minute business trip, the disappointment hit harder than she expected.

"I was looking forward to it," she said quietly.

"I know. I'm sorry, Liana. I hate letting you down."

She forced a smile. "It's okay. We can do something next weekend."

But the next weekend came and went, then the one after.

Liana's heart began to ache with an unfamiliar mix of longing and doubt. She told herself not to overthink, and to give Ryan the benefit of the doubt. After all, he was ambitious, and success came with sacrifices. Yet the more she tried to rationalize, the more her instincts screamed.

One evening, after a late-night work event, Liana spotted Ryan at the far end of the room-talking closely with a woman she didn't recognize. They laughed, their heads bending toward each other in a way that felt too intimate.

Her breath caught.

She watched as Ryan's hand brushed the woman's arm, light but deliberate.

Later, when Ryan found her, he looked surprised to see her there.

"Hey," he said, a little too quickly.

"Who was that?" Liana asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Just a colleague," he replied smoothly.

"Work stuff." But the unease inside her tightened like a fist.

That night, Liana lay awake, replaying the moment over and over. Her heart wanted to trust him, but her mind whispered the truth she was afraid to say aloud.

She was falling-for Ryan, yes-but also for an illusion.

The next day, Liana tried to brush off the doubts, throwing herself into work. She told herself that Ryan's world was complicated, and that trust was about patience.

But the questions piled up:

Why did he dodge her when she asked about the woman?

Why were there times he was unreachable, without explanation?

Why did she feel like she was chasing a man who wasn't fully hers?

One afternoon, during a rare lunch break together, Liana decided to confront the growing shadow in her heart.

"Ryan," she said, "I need to know. Are you being honest with me?"

He looked at her, eyes guarded. For a moment, Liana thought he might confess something.

But then he shook his head. "I'm serious about us, Liana. You have to trust me."

"Trust is earned," she whispered.

He reached for her hand, squeezing it.

"I'm trying. Please don't doubt me." Liana wanted to believe him so badly she almost convinced herself. Almost.

Weeks turned into months, and the pattern continued. Ryan was sweet and loving one day, distant and secretive the next. Liana made excuses for him and blamed herself for being too insecure, and too sensitive. Her friends warned her. Maya was blunt. "Liana, you're ignoring the signs. This isn't love-it's control." But Liana clung to hope, to the memory of that first night when Ryan talked about building a future together. And then came the night that broke everything. It was supposed to be a celebration-Ryan's promotion, their six-month anniversary, a toast to new beginnings. Instead, Liana found herself alone in their favorite restaurant, waiting for him to arrive. Her phone buzzed with a text: "I'm sorry, can't make it." Heart pounding, she left the restaurant and headed toward Ryan's apartment, hoping for an explanation. When she reached his door, it was ajar. Inside, the unmistakable sound of laughter echoed through the hall. Her breath caught as she stepped inside. In the dim light, she saw Ryan-not alone, but with a woman she didn't know. They turned toward her, surprised. The woman's smile was unapologetic. Ryan's expression was a mixture of guilt and something else-shame, maybe. Liana's world shattered. At that moment, all the warnings, the unanswered questions, the late nights, and broken promises crashed down around her. She had been blinded by love-by the dreamer who promised forever but delivered betrayal. Back in her apartment, Liana sat curled on the couch, tears streaming down her face. The woman's laughter replayed in her mind like a cruel echo. How had she missed the signs? How had she let herself hope so foolishly? Love, Liana realized, wasn't just about heartbeats and promises. Sometimes, it was about facing the harshest truths-and finding the strength to walk away. The chapter closes with Liana staring out her window at the city lights, her phone silent beside her. For the first time, she wonders if she can ever trust love again.