š She waited five years for him to choose herā¦ but he chose someone else.
Lena finally walks away and cancels the wedding. But when Adrian realizes what he lost, sheās already moved on and driving her own road. šļøā¤ļøāš„
#AiShortDrama #Betrayal #Dramaseries #Romancedrama
Lena finally walks away and cancels the wedding. But when Adrian realizes what he lost, sheās already moved on and driving her own road. šļøā¤ļøāš„
#AiShortDrama #Betrayal #Dramaseries #Romancedrama
Category
š
FunTranscript
00:00My friend was a big-shot rally driver.
00:02He'd won the championship three years on a run.
00:05Every year.
00:06The champion got to choose someone for a ride in his passenger seat.
00:10For the past three years, that spot had gone to his co-driver, Sienna.
00:14This year, with our wedding coming up, I finally asked Adrian to save it for me.
00:19He promised he would.
00:20But on race day, I found out he'd never planned to keep that promise.
00:24I went backstage to wish him luck and heard one of his teammates laughing.
00:28You're seriously going to throw the race?
00:30Rigging the draw for Sistiana three years in a row was one thing.
00:33But there's no draw this year.
00:35You can just pick Lena.
00:37You still won't give your own fiancƩ the seat?
00:39Your dream laughing.
00:41If I lose, I don't have to pick anyone.
00:43Everybody wins.
00:44You really don't want Lena in that car.
00:47Why would I?
00:48She doesn't know shit about racing.
00:49She doesn't belong in my passenger seat.
00:52Aren't you worried she'll find out and leave you?
00:54Lena?
00:55He actually laughed.
00:57She spent five years chasing me.
00:59The wedding's almost here.
01:00She's not going anywhere.
01:01And even if she did, who else would want her after me?
01:03So the last three years hadn't been bad luck.
01:06He'd made sure that seat was never mine.
01:08Fine.
01:09He could keep his damn passenger seat.
01:11I was done waiting for it.
01:13I walked away before anyone saw me.
01:16An hour later, Adrian tried to lose.
01:19I could tell.
01:19He braked too early twice.
01:22Lost time on a section he normally dominated.
01:24And made mistakes I'd never seen him make in competition.
01:27It still wasn't enough.
01:29And he's done it again.
01:31Adrian Cole takes his fourth rally championship title.
01:35Adrian climbed out of the car, looking almost irritated by his own victory.
01:39Then came the champion's ride.
01:40His gaze swept across the audience.
01:42For one second, it stopped on me.
01:44Even after everything I'd heard, and some humiliating part of me still hoped.
01:49Adrian looked away.
01:50Then he held out his hand to Sienna.
01:52Her eyes widened as if she hadn't expected it.
01:54My co-driver.
01:55My pleasure.
01:56My phone buzzed.
01:57Adrian.
01:58Let Sienna have this one.
02:00After the wedding, once we're public, you can ride with me whenever you want.
02:03I'd spent five years waiting for later.
02:05Adrian drove Sienna to the end of the exhibition course.
02:08A spot fans had jokingly nicknamed Lover's Turn because drivers often brought partners there after races.
02:15Reporters surrounded them.
02:16Adrian, did you know where you were stopping?
02:18Sienna, are you two together?
02:20Sienna smiled and saying nothing.
02:22Adrian didn't deny it.
02:23The crowd screamed.
02:25Phones lifted everywhere.
02:26Within minutes, clips of them were spreading online.
02:29Three years of shipping them and it's finally real!
02:31I stared at the screen, and whatever love I had left for Adrian finally disappeared.
02:36Then I opened the reservation for the wedding venue Adrian and I had booked nearly a year ago.
02:40A message appeared.
02:42System cancellation requests are processed in order.
02:45Submit request.
02:47Pressed cancel.
02:49I had almost reached the edge of the rally grounds when Adrian caught up with me.
02:53Lina!
02:57Where are you going?
02:58He touched the top of my head like nothing had happened.
03:01Everyone's waiting.
03:01The victory bin is starting.
03:03I'm not going.
03:04His expression tightened.
03:06You're upset because I didn't choose you?
03:08I looked at him.
03:10I already explained.
03:12Once we're married in public, you can sit beside me whenever you want.
03:15There it was again.
03:17Right now I've got the press, the team, sponsors, a hundred things to deal with.
03:21Everyone else understands that.
03:22Why can't you?
03:23Adrian took my wrist and led me back before I could argue.
03:26By the time we entered the private dining room, Sienna sat between several members of the team.
03:33Two seats were empty.
03:34Adrian walked straight to the one beside her.
03:37I took the other.
03:40Lina, where were you?
03:42Adrian was looking everywhere for you.
03:44Nowhere.
03:44Just walking.
03:45Lina!
03:46Are you angry with me?
03:50I'm sorry.
03:51I shouldn't have accepted the champion's ride.
03:54If it bothers you this much, I'll stay away from Adrian outside races.
03:58Adrian put a hand on her shoulder.
04:00Then he looked at me.
04:02Lina, be reasonable.
04:04He hadn't said a word.
04:07Sienna is my co-driver.
04:09We race together.
04:10Me inviting her isn't some betrayal.
04:12Don't turn this into something bigger than it is.
04:14A platter of lobster was placed in front of us.
04:16Adrian pulled one toward himself and began cracking the shell.
04:20He placed the meat neatly onto Sienna's plate.
04:22When he noticed me watching, he actually explained.
04:26She hates dealing with the shells.
04:27Years ago, the first time Adrian had dinner with my family,
04:31he'd insisted on doing the exact same thing for me.
04:33He'd cut his finger on the shell and laughed while my father handed him a bandage.
04:38I'll take care of her.
04:39I just haven't won enough yet to give her everything she deserves.
04:42He had won plenty since then.
04:43Apparently, someone else had become the person who deserved it.
04:47A bite went down wrong and I started coughing.
04:51Adrian frowned.
04:56Slow down.
04:56He patted my back, then automatically reached for a glass and placed it in front of me.
05:01Drink.
05:01I stared at the pale, yellow liquid.
05:04Lemonade.
05:04Sienna's favorite.
05:06I didn't touch it.
05:07Adrian frowned.
05:08What?
05:09I'm allergic to lemon.
05:13After dinner, someone suggested moving to the private game lounge next door.
05:17Normally, I would have gone home.
05:19Tonight, I stayed.
05:21I still hadn't told Adrian we were over.
05:23Within 20 minutes, it became obvious Adrian was throwing the game for her.
05:28He discarded exactly what she needed, ignored easy chances to win, and laughed every time
05:35she celebrated.
05:36You're terrible tonight, Cole.
05:39Maybe I just want her to win.
05:40My stomach started aching.
05:42I pressed a hand against my abdomen.
05:45Adrian noticed immediately.
05:50Stomach ache again?
05:51His palm covered mine automatically, rubbing slow circles through my dress.
05:55You know you shouldn't eat that much when your stomach's acting up.
05:57But that was the confusing thing about Adrian.
05:59He could remember I had stomach problems.
06:03He could notice when I was tired.
06:05He could search an entire rally ground because I disappeared.
06:08And somehow, none of that stopped him from hurting me.
06:11I shifted away.
06:13The game continued.
06:15By the end of the game, Adrian was the only one who hadn't won.
06:20One of the drivers laughed.
06:22Alright, champion.
06:23Take your punishment.
06:25Adrian pulled a dare card.
06:27Kiss the person on your right.
06:29If you refuse, the person on your right takes a shot.
06:32Yeah!
06:34Sienna was sitting on Adrian's right.
06:36Everyone looked at me.
06:37They were waiting for the jealous fiance.
06:40It's a game.
06:41Do whatever you want.
06:42Adrian's expression changed.
06:45No, forget it.
06:46Adrian's already under enough pressure.
06:48I don't want Lena getting upset with him later.
06:49I'll drink.
06:50It's fine if I get a rash.
06:52You're not drinking.
06:55But...
06:55It's one kiss.
06:57He stood.
06:57Then, in front of me and half his team,
07:00Adrian Cole cupped Sienna's chin and kissed her.
07:03Not a quick brush of the lips.
07:04Not something embarrassed or accidental.
07:06A real kiss.
07:13The cheering in the room drowned out my words.
07:16Adrian, we're done.
07:17When the kiss finally ended,
07:19he turned to me as if nothing had happened.
07:21What did you say?
07:22Looking at him,
07:23I suddenly found the whole thing exhausting.
07:26Nothing.
07:26I said I'm tired.
07:27I'm going home.
07:29Right.
07:29You always go to bed early.
07:30Go ahead.
07:31We'll stay a little longer.
07:32He didn't think much of it.
07:36When I got home,
07:37I started packing.
07:39Clothes.
07:40Shoes.
07:41Cosmetics.
07:43Everything that actually belonged to me
07:45went into my suitcase.
07:49The matching mugs.
07:51Slippers.
07:52Most of them had been mine alone
07:54for a long time anyway.
07:59Half an hour later,
08:00I was done.
08:03I picked up my phone
08:04and saw a new post from his co-driver.
08:07There were four photos of trophies.
08:09Every championship trophy he had ever won.
08:11Her caption read,
08:12Can't drive a rally car?
08:13Doesn't matter.
08:14He'll win the trophies for me.
08:17Comments were flooded with congratulations.
08:20Everyone seemed convinced
08:21they were finally together.
08:23I closed the post
08:24and opened the page for our wedding venue.
08:27I had booked it a year ago.
08:28I chose the place.
08:30But he had once stayed up night after night,
08:32helping me finalize every detail.
08:34He told me I was his princess.
08:36And a princess deserved a perfect wedding.
08:38I pressed confirm cancellation.
08:42A second later,
08:43the front door slammed open.
08:46Before I could say a word,
08:48he slapped me across the face.
08:50What the hell is wrong with you?
08:52Why would you report her
08:53for using a banned stimulant
08:54before the race?
08:55Do you have any idea
08:56what an accusation like that
08:57could do to a rally co-driver's career?
08:58Don't blame her.
08:59This is my fault.
09:00I'm sorry.
09:01I shouldn't have become your co-driver.
09:02I shouldn't have raced beside you.
09:04I shouldn't have accepted
09:05the passenger seat invitation.
09:08Please, just stop reporting me.
09:10I can survive a suspension.
09:11I can survive people attacking me.
09:13But if this affects him too,
09:15I'll never forgive myself.
09:17She started crying harder
09:18and stepped toward me.
09:19But Adrian immediately pulled her back,
09:21wrapping a protective arm
09:22around her shoulders.
09:23I didn't report her.
09:24Stop lying.
09:25It's already trending.
09:26I opened my phone.
09:27The rally championship organizers
09:29had released a statement
09:30saying she would undergo
09:31another drug test.
09:32Underneath it,
09:33strangers were already
09:34tearing me apart.
09:35They called me jealous.
09:37A woman trying to destroy
09:38the racing world's favorite couple.
09:39Post a video.
09:41Tell everyone you made the accusation
09:42because you were jealous,
09:43then apologize to her and the public.
09:45I stared at him.
09:46He wanted me to confess
09:47to something I hadn't done.
09:49If you don't,
09:51don't blame me for forgetting
09:52the five years we've been together.
09:54Then he shoved me aside.
09:55I stumbled backward.
09:56My elbow slamming
09:57to the edge of the table.
09:58Pain shot through my arm.
10:00Five years.
10:01Apparently,
10:01that was all they were worth.
10:03Before he could say anything else,
10:04her phone rang.
10:05It was the rally championship testing team.
10:07They wanted her to come in
10:08immediately for another sample.
10:11Instinctively moved closer to him.
10:13He reassured her
10:14that he would go with her.
10:16Then his phone buzzed.
10:17He glanced at the screen.
10:19His entire body went still.
10:21System,
10:22your wedding venue reservation
10:23has been successfully canceled.
10:25He stared at the message
10:26for several seconds.
10:27Is that some kind of prank?
10:29He finally looked up at me,
10:30and the shock in his eyes
10:32quickly turned into contempt.
10:34You think this is going to scare me?
10:38If the wedding were really canceled,
10:40you'd be the one begging me to marry you.
10:42I felt nothing.
10:44No anger.
10:45No disappointment.
10:46I just wanted to leave.
10:48I expect your apology video online tonight.
10:51Then the two of them left together.
10:54Half an hour later,
10:56I dragged my suitcase out of the apartment
10:58and headed for the airport.
11:01I bought the first available flight
11:03out of the city.
11:08As the plane accelerated down the runway
11:10and lifted into the night sky,
11:11I looked out the window.
11:12For five years,
11:13I had wanted one place beside him.
11:16Now I finally understood.
11:17I didn't need his passenger seat.
11:20I needed a life that was mine.
11:23Meanwhile,
11:24he accompanied his co-driver
11:26to the testing center.
11:27Before the sample was taken,
11:29she hesitated.
11:31Can't you make her clear everything up now?
11:33Then maybe I won't need another test.
11:36She lowered her voice.
11:37It's already been hours.
11:39What if that affects the result?
11:41He shook his head.
11:43Not yet.
11:44If she posts now,
11:45I can't protect her from the backlash.
11:46I'll make her do it when I get home.
11:49I'll announce our relationship at the same time.
11:52Once people know she's my fiancƩ,
11:54they should back off.
11:55Her expression changed.
11:57There you are.
11:59We've been waiting for you.
12:00She followed the staff member in for testing.
12:02When it was over,
12:03she looked pale and distracted.
12:05He assumed she was simply exhausted
12:07and drove her home.
12:08At nine that night,
12:09he returned to our apartment.
12:10Every light was off.
12:12The uneasiness he had been trying to ignore
12:14grew stronger.
12:14Stop pretending you're asleep.
12:17You still need to deal with what you did.
12:20He switched on the lights.
12:22The entire room was empty.
12:24He searched the entire apartment.
12:27Then he noticed the pile in the corner.
12:29The matching things we had once bought together
12:32were still there.
12:33But everything that belonged only to me
12:36was gone.
12:37He froze.
12:39His eyes slowly moved back
12:41to the cancellation message on his phone.
12:43For the first time,
12:44he realized I hadn't been trying to scare him.
12:47I had really left.
12:49After my flight landed,
12:50I sent him two words.
12:53We're over.
12:54Then I removed the SIM card from my phone
12:56and threw it away.
12:57I never saw the calls that followed.
13:00He called again and again
13:02until his phone died.
13:03That night,
13:04he sat alone in the apartment
13:06surrounded by everything we had once shared,
13:09refusing to believe I was actually gone.
13:11I bought a new number
13:13and started over.
13:14With the money I had saved over the years,
13:17I rented a small studio
13:19in a busy commercial district.
13:21I used what remained
13:22to hire a private investigator.
13:25I still didn't know
13:26who had reported his co-driver
13:27or why the blame
13:29had been pushed onto me.
13:31But I intended to find out.
13:35A month later,
13:37my studio was ready.
13:38I turned it into a fashion design business.
13:42Fashion design had been my major in college
13:44and before I started building my life
13:46around Adrian's career,
13:48I used to take private commissions.
13:50I had even designed a custom racing suit
13:53for him once.
13:54He never wore it.
13:55He told me privately designed suits
13:58couldn't be used in professional competition.
14:00So eventually,
14:01I stopped asking.
14:03Now,
14:03returning to design
14:05felt surprisingly natural.
14:07Within days of opening,
14:08orders began coming in
14:09faster than expected.
14:11For the first time in years,
14:13my days revolved around my own work
14:15instead of his races.
14:17One afternoon,
14:18my assistant approached me
14:20with an amused smile.
14:21One of our regular customers
14:23wants to discuss another suit order
14:24with you over dinner.
14:25He specifically asked for you.
14:28Stop gossiping
14:29and finish sorting today's orders.
14:31For the first time in a long time,
14:33I felt like myself again,
14:34back in the city I had left behind.
14:36He looked nothing like
14:38the rally championship star
14:39everyone knew.
14:40Making another call,
14:42Did you find her?
14:45Before the person
14:46on the other end could answer,
14:47the apartment door opened.
14:49His former co-driver
14:51walked in with red-rimmed eyes.
14:53A few days earlier,
14:54her test results
14:55had come back positive.
14:57Now,
14:58when he looked at her,
14:59there was no tenderness left.
15:02You actually came here?
15:04She swallowed.
15:06The organizers know about the drugs.
15:08They're going to punish me.
15:10You have to help me.
15:14You knew exactly
15:15what the rules were.
15:16His voice rose.
15:18Someone saw what you did
15:19and reported you.
15:21Fine.
15:22But then you let
15:23everyone believe
15:24she was responsible.
15:27If you hadn't framed her,
15:28she wouldn't have left me.
15:31She grabbed his sleeve.
15:33I was exhausted
15:34before the race.
15:36I only took the stimulant
15:37because I was scared
15:38I'd lose focus
15:38and cost you the championship.
15:40Tears filled her eyes.
15:41And I never said
15:42she reported me.
15:44People assumed it.
15:45I just didn't correct them.
15:47Please.
15:49If you speak to the organizers,
15:50maybe they won't make
15:51this public.
15:52He pulled his arm away.
15:57You think I'm going
15:57to protect you?
15:59But you kissed me.
16:02That was a stupid game.
16:05I never loved you.
16:07Before she could answer,
16:08the voice from his phone
16:09cut through the room.
16:10We found her.
16:10He went completely still.
16:12She opened a fashion studio.
16:14The moment he heard
16:15where I was,
16:16his expression changed.
16:18He immediately had
16:19his former co-driver
16:20escorted out
16:21and called the rally
16:22championship organizers.
16:24Whatever punishment
16:25she deserves,
16:26give it to her.
16:27I won't interfere.
16:29Then he looked at himself
16:30in the mirror.
16:31Weeks of drinking
16:32and sleepless nights
16:33had left him
16:34looking exhausted.
16:35He called a stylist.
16:37Fix my hair.
16:38Find me a suit.
16:39After a pause,
16:40he added quietly,
16:41something she'd like.
16:44Once he was cleaned up,
16:45he drove to the racing club
16:47and had his rally car detailed.
16:48Then he placed a huge bouquet
16:50of roses on the passenger seat.
16:52The seat I had once
16:54begged to sit in.
16:55He got behind the wheel.
16:57Wait for me.
16:59Across the city,
17:00I was having dinner
17:01with one of my studio's
17:02biggest clients.
17:03I set down my fork
17:04and confirmed the terms.
17:0630% up front.
17:07The remaining balance
17:08is due when the suit
17:09is finished.
17:09You know I'm not going
17:10to disappear without
17:11paying.
17:12He had become
17:13a regular client
17:14since my studio opened.
17:16By then,
17:16I had started to suspect
17:18he had another reason
17:19for placing so many orders.
17:24If you'd consider
17:25going out with me,
17:25I'd happily pay
17:26a much bigger deposit.
17:28Can we keep this meeting
17:29about the suit?
17:30He laughed.
17:31What made the situation
17:33even stranger
17:34was that we had
17:35known each other
17:35in high school.
17:36He had asked me out
17:37back then too.
17:38Apparently,
17:39some people were
17:40unusually persistent.
17:41When dinner ended,
17:43I was about to call a car
17:44when his sports car
17:45pulled up beside me.
17:48Get in.
17:48I'll drive you back.
17:50I accepted the ride.
17:55When we reached my studio,
17:56I turned toward him.
17:59Do you want to come upstairs for?
18:00Sure.
18:01I'll park first.
18:04The car disappeared
18:05into the nearby garage.
18:07Lena.
18:07I had just turned
18:08toward the studio entrance
18:09when someone called my name.
18:11When I turned around,
18:12I saw the man
18:12I had left behind.
18:13He stood beside his rally car
18:15holding a bouquet of roses.
18:17The passenger window
18:18was down.
18:19For years,
18:19I had wanted that seat
18:21more than I could explain.
18:22Now,
18:22I looked at it
18:23and felt nothing.
18:24What are you doing here?
18:25His eyes were bloodshot
18:26despite the effort
18:27he had clearly made
18:28to look presentable.
18:29I finally found you.
18:30His voice was hoarse.
18:32Come home with me.
18:33I said nothing.
18:34I know the truth now.
18:36Sienna tested positive.
18:38Someone else reported her
18:39and she let everyone blame you.
18:40I gave everything
18:41I found to the organizers.
18:44My investigator
18:45already found the evidence.
18:46He stared at me.
18:47So what exactly
18:48do you think this changes?
18:49A moment later,
18:50an arm settled casually
18:51across my shoulders.
18:53Who's this?
18:54His eyes locked
18:55on the arm
18:56around my shoulders.
18:58Who is he?
19:00Before I could answer,
19:01my client raised an eyebrow.
19:03Isn't it obvious?
19:04I shot him a warning look.
19:06He immediately
19:06lifted both hands.
19:07All right, all right.
19:09We're not together.
19:10I'm just trying
19:10to win her over.
19:11The man in front of us
19:12visibly relaxed.
19:14I know I was wrong.
19:15Give me one chance
19:16to make it up to you.
19:17I had the car cleaned
19:18and serviced.
19:18You always wanted
19:19to sit beside me,
19:19didn't you?
19:20From now on,
19:21that seat will only be yours.
19:23And every time I win,
19:24you'll be the person I invite.
19:25I looked at the roses.
19:27Once,
19:27those words would have
19:28made me happier
19:29than anything.
19:30Now,
19:30they only reminded me
19:31how long I had begged
19:32for something
19:32he could have given me
19:33at any time.
19:34I don't understand you.
19:36You spent years
19:36choosing her over me.
19:38You wouldn't even acknowledge
19:39our relationship publicly.
19:42I looked directly
19:43into his eyes.
19:44Then I finally left.
19:45You got exactly
19:46what you wanted.
19:47So why are you here?
19:48I didn't want you to leave.
19:49But you made sure
19:50I knew I came second.
19:51No!
19:51I never loved her.
19:54That doesn't matter.
19:56He went silent.
19:58I took the bouquet from him.
19:59For one brief second,
20:01hope appeared in his eyes.
20:02Then I dropped it
20:03into the trash can
20:04beside us.
20:04We were already over
20:06when you chose her
20:06for the passenger seat
20:07after promising me
20:08you wouldn't.
20:09When you remembered
20:10what she liked to eat
20:11but forgot I was
20:12allergic to lemon.
20:13When you kissed her
20:14in front of me.
20:16And when you slapped me
20:17because you believed her
20:18without even asking
20:18whether I was telling the truth.
20:20I don't want your
20:21passenger seat anymore.
20:22The words came easily.
20:25You reached toward me.
20:26I kept our relationship
20:27private because I wanted
20:28to protect you.
20:29I swear I never...
20:30It doesn't matter
20:30why you did it.
20:31I stepped back
20:32before he could touch me.
20:33You did it.
20:36For years,
20:37I had listened
20:38to his explanations.
20:39The races came first
20:40because his career mattered.
20:42Sienna needed him
20:43because she was
20:44his co-driver.
20:45Our relationship
20:46had to stay hidden
20:47because he wanted
20:49to protect me.
20:51And I had accepted
20:52every excuse
20:53because I loved him.
20:55But love didn't change
20:56what had happened.
20:58He had promised me
20:59the passenger seat.
21:00Then chosen her.
21:03He had kissed her
21:04in front of me.
21:06And when she accused me
21:07of trying to destroy
21:08her career,
21:09he hadn't even asked
21:10for my side of the story.
21:11He had slapped me first.
21:13Adrian opened his mouth again,
21:15but Ethan moved between us.
21:16She said it's over.
21:19For once,
21:21Adrian had nothing to say.
21:22I looked at him
21:23one last time.
21:24The roses were in the trash.
21:26His rally car
21:27was waiting beside the road.
21:28And the passenger seat
21:30I had wanted for five years
21:31was finally empty.
21:33I turned and walked
21:34into my studio
21:35without looking back.
21:36Adrian didn't give up.
21:37After training,
21:39he started driving
21:39to my studio
21:40and waiting outside
21:41in the same rally car.
21:42Sometimes he brought flowers.
21:44Sometimes he just sat
21:45behind the wheel.
21:46Rain or shine.
21:48Whenever I left work,
21:49he was there.
21:50I never stopped.
21:51The passenger seat
21:52remained empty.
21:53Weeks passed like that.
21:54Eventually,
21:55even my assistant
21:56stopped asking
21:56whether I wanted her
21:57to send him away.
21:58I simply walked past him
22:00as if the car weren't there.
22:01Then,
22:02the rally championship
22:02announced the official results
22:04of the investigation.
22:05Sienna had tested positive
22:06for a banned substance.
22:10Received a five-year suspension.
22:13No serious racing club
22:14wanted to hire a co-driver
22:16with that record.
22:17And the career
22:18she had tried so hard
22:19to protect
22:20collapsed
22:20because of her own choices.
22:22I released the evidence
22:23my investigator
22:24had collected too.
22:25The messages,
22:26the timeline,
22:27and the investigation
22:28made one thing clear.
22:29I had never reported her.
22:31She had known people
22:32were blaming me
22:32and had deliberately
22:33let them continue.
22:34The same people
22:35who had called me jealous
22:36began deleting their comments.
22:38My name was cleared.
22:39I could have watched
22:40the backlash turn against her.
22:42I didn't.
22:42Sienna had the consequences
22:44of her own choices.
22:45Adrian could keep
22:46waiting outside.
22:47Neither of them
22:48had anything to do
22:49with my life anymore.
22:50My studio grew faster
22:52than I had expected.
22:54Within a year,
22:55my small team
22:56could barely keep up
22:57with the orders.
22:58The studio I had rented
22:59after leaving Adrian
23:00was no longer enough.
23:02We hired more assistants.
23:05Two years later,
23:06I started opening
23:07additional studios
23:08across the country
23:09by the third year.
23:10My designs were being
23:11commissioned internationally.
23:12It was strange
23:13to think about
23:14how long I had ignored
23:15this part of myself.
23:19Adrian.
23:20I had loved designing.
23:22Then his training schedules
23:24became my schedules.
23:26His championships
23:27became the dates
23:28I remembered.
23:29His victories
23:30became the milestones
23:31around which I measured
23:32our life.
23:33Even the racing suit
23:34I had designed for him
23:35had ended up forgotten
23:36because he never wore it.
23:40Now people came to me
23:41because they wanted
23:42something I had created.
23:45My name stood on the door.
23:47My designs carried
23:48my reputation.
23:49Every success
23:50belonged to me.
23:52By the fourth year,
23:54I had become
23:55an internationally
23:56recognized designer.
23:57I even received offers
23:59to work exclusively
24:00for major
24:00entertainment companies.
24:03I turned them down.
24:05I liked being my own boss.
24:07For years,
24:08I had built my life
24:09around someone else's career.
24:11Now I had one of my own.
24:13I had spent five years
24:14asking Adrian
24:15to make room for me.
24:16Building my own life
24:17turned out to be much easier.
24:21Nathan stayed too.
24:24Unlike Adrian,
24:25he never asked me
24:26to build my life
24:27around his.
24:28When I was busy,
24:30he waited.
24:31When I traveled for work,
24:33he never complained
24:34that my career
24:35was taking me away
24:36from him.
24:37When my business
24:38expanded overseas,
24:40he expanded his own
24:41work there too.
24:43He never asked me
24:44to become smaller
24:45so he could feel bigger.
24:47And no matter
24:48how many times
24:49I told him
24:49he didn't have
24:50to follow me around,
24:51he stayed.
24:53He had pursued me
24:54since we met again.
24:56But the choice
24:57had always remained mine.
24:59That mattered
25:00more than I expected.
25:02Eventually,
25:03I chose him.
25:05Years later,
25:06I walked into
25:07our wedding venue
25:08without wondering
25:09whether the man
25:10waiting for me
25:10would someday
25:11choose someone else.
25:13There was no
25:13secret relationship.
25:15No other woman
25:16standing in the place
25:18that was supposed
25:18to be mine.
25:20No promise
25:21that I only needed
25:22to wait a little longer.
25:23I already knew
25:25where I stood.
25:26As I looked
25:27across the guests,
25:28I caught sight
25:30of a familiar figure
25:31standing quietly
25:32at the back
25:33of the venue.
25:34Adrian,
25:35for a moment,
25:36our eyes met.
25:37Once,
25:38seeing him
25:38would have made
25:39my entire world stop.
25:41Now,
25:41he was only someone
25:42from a life
25:43I had already
25:43left behind.
25:44I looked away.
25:47Ethan slipped
25:48the ring onto my finger.
25:49I smiled.
25:51I didn't look
25:52toward the back
25:52of the room again.
25:53I didn't need
25:54to know why
25:55Adrian had come.
25:56I didn't need
25:57another apology.
25:59And I didn't need
26:00to see whether
26:00he regretted losing me.
26:02Once,
26:02I had thought
26:03love meant waiting
26:04for someone
26:04to finally give me
26:06a place beside him.
26:07For five years,
26:09I had watched
26:10Adrian win.
26:11I had celebrated
26:13his championships,
26:14adjusted my life
26:15around his career,
26:16and convinced myself
26:18that being patient
26:20was the same thing
26:21as being loved.
26:22I had wanted
26:22his passenger seat
26:24because I thought
26:25it meant he had
26:25finally chosen me.
26:27But when he eventually
26:28came back
26:29and offered it to me,
26:30I no longer wanted it.
26:32By then,
26:34I had learned
26:35the difference
26:35between being given
26:36a place in someone
26:37else's life
26:38and building
26:39a life of my own.
26:40I knew better now.
26:42I didn't need
26:43anyone's passenger seat.
26:45I had my own road.
26:47Ethan took my hand.
26:48I turned toward him.
26:51Behind me
26:51were the years
26:52I had spent waiting.
26:53Ahead of me
26:54was a life
26:54I had chosen for myself.
26:56And this time,
26:57I was the one
26:58choosing where it led.