The morning after the betrayal, Ethan woke up to a storm. Not a literal storm-no thunder or rain-but a storm in every sense that mattered. His phone was blowing up. Notifications, alerts, social media tags, messages from fans, bandmates, and even reporters. His hands shook as he unlocked it, not wanting to see, but needing to.
The first thing he saw was the headline:
"Aria Knox Caught Cheating with Blake Ryder-Ethan Vale Betrayed on Stage!"
Then the pictures. A thousand pictures. Blurry, close-up, undeniable. His girlfriend. His Aria. Laughing. Kissing Blake. Smiling like it meant nothing.
Ethan dropped his phone on the bed.
He didn't scream. He didn't cry-at least, not yet. He just stared at the ceiling, breathing shallowly.
How did the world see this before he did?
He thought he had loved her. Trusted her. Thought she was different from the other girls he'd known. Thought she cared.
And now...she was public property.
Even worse, the comments poured in. The internet loved drama. Every fan had something to say:
"Blake Ryder finally got what he wanted, lol!"
"Ethan Vale deserves better, that Aria girl is trash!"
"I can't believe our golden boy is heartbroken...he looked so happy together!"
Ethan didn't read them all. He didn't want to. But the words got through anyway, digging into his chest. Even the supportive ones felt wrong-they reminded him of what he had lost.
The band group chat exploded too. Messages from his members flooded in:
"Ethan, are you okay?"
"Ignore them, man. She's not worth it."
"We got your back, always."
He didn't reply. He couldn't. Every word felt fake. They didn't know what it was like to see her smile on someone else. To hear the laughter that used to be only for him now belong to Blake. To feel the betrayal so raw it made his chest ache with each heartbeat.
At rehearsal later that day, Ethan went through the motions. Guitar in hand, microphone in place, lights on him, fans watching the live stream-it all felt unreal. He sang, hit every note, but the music didn't touch him. The joy, the connection, the energy-it was gone.
His bandmates noticed.
"Ethan...you okay?" one of them asked, voice hesitant.
He didn't answer. He just stared at the floor, lips pressed tight.
"You're acting...different," another said. "Like you hate everything."
He did hate everything. He hated the world, the fans, the media, and most of all...he hated women. He hated the way they could smile, flirt, and lie so easily. He hated the way Aria had made him believe in love, only to destroy it publicly. He hated the way trust could be so fragile, broken in a heartbeat.
During a break, he slipped away. He needed space, a place where no one could see the mess he felt inside. The arena's empty corridors echoed with his footsteps. Cameras followed him on stage every day, fans adored him, but no one had ever really seen him like this.
He pressed himself against the cold wall, fists clenched, jaw tight.
"She didn't care," he muttered to himself. "She never cared. It was all...fake."
The anger bubbled up, hot and relentless. He wanted to scream at her. He wanted to rip Blake apart. He wanted to vanish from the world and take his heart with him, leaving everyone else to deal with the mess they caused.
By the end of the day, the headlines had multiplied. Social media accounts analyzed the situation like it was their own entertainment. Clips from the previous night's concert were dissected. Fans and haters alike commented, retweeted, and shared their opinions.
Even worse, reporters began showing up near his house, at rehearsals, and at band interviews, asking the same questions over and over:
"Ethan, how does it feel to be betrayed by Aria Knox?"
"Do you have any comment on Blake Ryder and your relationship?"
"Do you think this affects your music or your band?"
Ethan didn't answer. Not a word. He just glared at the cameras like they were insects crawling across his perfect world. His silence, cold and sharp, became the story. Headlines quickly shifted:
"Ethan Vale's Silence Speaks Volumes-Golden Boy Turns Cold After Betrayal"
"Fans Shocked by Ethan Vale's Cold Demeanor"
Inside, he didn't even recognize himself anymore.
By the time evening came, Ethan's anger had transformed into a deeper, darker emotion. It wasn't just heartbreak anymore. It was distrust. It was hatred.
And worst of all-it was general.
He hated the world that allowed her betrayal to be public entertainment. He hated women, all of them, for the way they smiled, flirted, and sometimes lied. He hated love itself. He hated that he had ever believed in it.
He wanted no attachments, no distractions, no chances of being hurt again.
His bandmates tried again to cheer him up. "Come on, man, let's grab some food. You need to eat."
"No," he muttered. "I don't need anything. Leave me alone."
Even the crew stopped bothering him eventually. It was easier to let him brood than to get yelled at. His aura was toxic now. Sharp. Cold. Untouchable.
At home, he paced his room. The trophies, the awards, the posters-they all felt meaningless. Even the music that used to bring him joy felt hollow. How could he sing love songs when his heart had been shredded in front of the world? How could he perform with a smile when everything he believed in had been stolen?
He picked up his phone again. Aria's name flashed on the screen, a message he hadn't dared to open.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. Blake...he just..."
He deleted it immediately. The words didn't matter. They never would.
Then he did something he hadn't done before-he looked at pictures of Aria and Blake online. His stomach churned, anger flaring hotter than before. How could she flaunt it? How could she laugh after everything they had? How could she make it seem like nothing mattered?
The golden boy was no longer golden. He was cracked. Broken. Dangerous.
And as he stared at the images, one thought repeated itself in his head:
No one will ever hurt me like this again.
He didn't know how he would do it. He didn't know what it would take. But one thing was certain: he would never trust another girl again. Not for anything. Not for anyone.
By the time night fell, Ethan Vale had already begun building walls. Walls around his heart, his trust, his very soul. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now burned cold, dangerous, untouchable.
Tomorrow, the world would still love him. They would still cheer for him. They would still scream his name at concerts.
But they would never see what he felt inside.
No one would.
Not until he chose to let them.
And for now...he didn't choose anyone.