The Call That Ended Our Seven Years

Seven years into our secret relationship, award-winning actress Seraphine Winslow draws a truth-or-dare card during a special episode of a variety show. With a helpless smile, she confesses to the audience, "Actually, I've been in a seven-year relationship. He's incredibly handsome… And he's right here with us today." The internet explodes. The host immediately seizes the moment, urging the reigning Best Actress to call her partner on stage. My heart pounds so hard I can barely breathe. Seraphine has never told me this is part of the program. For seven years, I've stood by her side as her manager and watched her climb from an unknown rookie to the most celebrated actress in the industry. She picks up her phone and makes the call. The studio falls silent. Then, a ringtone pierces through the stillness and echoes through the audience. Everyone turns toward the sound, but I'm too stunned to move. My phone isn't the one that's ringing. Seraphine rises from her seat, walks into the audience, and takes a young man's hand. Leading Will Norman onto the stage, she turns to him with a gentle smile. "Don't be nervous, darling." A bitter smile hangs on my lips. Without another glance at the stage, I open the message Dad sent earlier. "Dad, I'd like to meet the woman from the blind date you told me about." Chapter 1 Levi's POV I lowered my head and replied to Dad's message. For a brief moment, my fingertips went numb. The screams from the stage were loud enough to bring the roof down. "Oh, my gosh! She actually announced it live!" "And he's been in the audience this whole time!" "Seven years, ladies and gentlemen! This is the epitome of romance!" The spotlight swept across the crowd. The young man was tall and striking, dressed in a crisp white suit. As Seraphine Winslow took his hand and led him onto the stage, the tips of his ears turned red. He was handsome… and an utter stranger to me. The host grinned and teased, "Oh, Seraphine. You've hidden him away too well! Seven years? Come on, introduce him to the crowd!" Still holding his hand, Seraphine looked at him with such tenderness that it was almost hurtful to watch. "His name is Will Norman. He's not in the entertainment industry, so he'd rather stay out of the spotlight." The audience erupted into cheers once again. I remained behind the production monitors. A walkie-talkie hung from my shoulder. In my hand was the insulated tumbler she had passed to me before going on stage. The chamomile tea was still warm. Of course. I had just made it for her this morning. From the days Seraphine lived in a tiny apartment barely bigger than a storage room, struggling to pay rent, to landing supporting roles, then leading roles, then winning Best Actress and becoming one of the biggest stars in the industry… It had been seven long years. I had touched every costume she had worn, every interview she had given, and every contract she had signed. We kissed in underground parking garages. We had hidden inside the car after wrap parties, holding each other. During the seven years I loved her most, I was kept hidden like a secret. Now, beneath the blazing lights, she was holding another man's hand and telling the world that he was her boyfriend. Assistant Kai Miller squeezed through the crowd. His voice was shaky. "Mr. Campton… What the hell is going on?" I didn't answer. I wanted to know the same thing. The host had no intention of letting such a viral moment slip away. "You've been together for seven years. Has the ring been prepared? Wait, are you proposing tonight?" Seraphine smiled and took a velvet box from her handbag. My vision blurred for a second. The box opened to reveal a bespoke white gold band with a single diamond, dazzling under the studio lights. The audience screamed. The host covered his mouth in disbelief. "Oh, my gosh, Seraphine! You sure know how to make a moment!" She looked into Will's eyes. Her gaze was as soft as freshly fallen snow. "He's been with me for many years. I owe him a proper place by my side." Something in my chest was carved out. A proper place by her side… Then, what was I? Seven years of our relationship had been hidden underground, never allowed to see daylight. Onstage, Seraphine got down on one knee and proposed to Will. His eyes reddened as he nodded hard. "I will." Confetti rained from the ceiling while the studio erupted in cheers and congratulations. My phone vibrated. It was Dad replying. "Really? I'll contact her, then. Are you sure you want to meet her?" Chapter 2 I stared at Dad's message. A few seconds later, I replied, "Yeah. The sooner, the better." When I looked up again, Seraphine was holding Will in her arms. She murmured something as she comforted him, as if he were a priceless treasure finally brought into the light. Suddenly, I recalled that rainy day seven years ago. Seraphine had stood downstairs in the pouring rain, soaked to the skin. Her eyes had sparkled as she grabbed my hand. "Trust me, Levi. I won't keep you waiting for long." She hadn't forgotten her words. She simply hadn't meant them from the start. The moment filming wrapped, backstage descended into chaos. The production staff was practically glowing with excitement, running around with their phones in hand as they watched the trending rankings climb. "We're number one!" "Seraphine Winslow's fiance is trending!" "The live proposal is blowing up!" The director caught me by my arm, grinning from ear to ear. "Levi, she really kept this under wraps, didn't she? We've got to move fast on the publicity while the buzz is still hot! "Get the announcement ready, flesh out the relationship timeline, and give the fans the whole story. They'll eat it up!" I forced a smile. "Got it." The moment I stepped into the backstage lounge, Seraphine spotted me through the crowd. She whispered something to the person beside her before making a beeline toward me. "Levi." I met her eyes. "Yes?" She seemed caught off guard by the coldness in my voice. After a brief pause, she said, "Come to my dressing room. We need to talk." I nodded. "Sure." The door clicked shut behind us, shutting out the noise. Seraphine stood by the door in silence, as though mulling over how to start. "What did you want to say?" I asked. She cleared her throat. "The announcement today… wasn't a last-minute decision." "I know. The ring was prepared. He was wearing a custom-tailored white suit. None of that happens overnight." Her expression stiffened. I stared at her. "Is there anything else, Ms. Winslow? The announcement's blowing up online. I need to get in touch with a few marketing accounts ASAP." Seraphine frowned. "Don't do that." I let out a humorless laugh. The silence between us was suffocating. After a long moment, she said, "Will and I… have been engaged since we were young." I froze. "What?" "Our families arranged it. The engagement was decided years ago." The absurdity of it almost made me laugh. "So, he was always the one you planned to marry. What was I, then?" I looked at Seraphine. My chest was slowly being hollowed out. The answer lingered on the tip of my tongue. I knew I was just a secret meant for oblivion, someone who never needed an explanation. I was expected to be understanding, never to ask for a place by her side, and to quietly take care of every detail of her life while unconditionally supporting her career. My voice came out hoarse this time. "What was I, Seraphine?" She met my eyes, but all I saw was that familiar look of helplessness. It was the same expression she wore every time she thought I was acting petulant. "Levi, you've always been smart. I don't need to spell it out for you, do I?" A laugh escaped me. So, just because I was smart, I was supposed to know when to stop, when to shut up, and when to exit a relationship. A knock sounded on the door. Kai spoke softly from outside. "Ms. Winslow, Mr. Norman says he's tired. He's asking when you're leaving." "Right away," she answered before turning to me. "I'll make this up to you, Levi." There it was. "And how do you plan to do that?" She seemed to relax, as if we had finally reached common ground. "A house, a car, better resources, company shares—you name it. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you." I nodded. "How generous of you." Seraphine frowned. "Levi, you've been with me for years. You know I won't let you walk away with nothing." I stepped forward and looked into her eyes. My voice was as solemn as I could make it. "Do you honestly think this is what I'm after? After all these years?" She didn't answer. Sometimes, silence hurt more than any reply. I picked up the documents on the table and turned to leave. My hand had just reached the doorknob when her calm voice drifted over. "The brand meeting is at 9:00 am tomorrow. The magazine shoot is in the afternoon. Stay on top of the schedule, okay?" I shut my eyes. "Don't worry, Ms. Winslow. I won't let your work be affected." Chapter 3 By the time I returned to the company, it was almost 11:00 pm. The entire floor was still brightly lit. The PR department was running at full speed, and the large display screen showed Seraphine's engagement announcement metrics climbing in real time. "The reveal was absolutely worth it. Her devoted-lover image is locked in." "A seven-year relationship? The public eats that stuff up." "Mr. Norman's handsome, too. The comments are all praising how perfect they look together." Someone spotted me and waved me over. "Levi, perfect timing. You know their relationship timeline better than anyone. Put it together for us. We want to post it tonight." Every pair of eyes in the office turned toward me. I almost laughed. They were asking me, the man who had spent seven years as Seraphine's secret lover, to write the love story between her and another man, a story so moving that everyone would believe it. I walked to my desk, sat down, and switched on my computer. No one had a more complete archive of Seraphine's career than I did. I had backed up every interview, appearance, and private itinerary with painstaking care. I stared at the neatly organized folders on my screen. My hand hovered over the mouse, but I couldn't bring myself to click anything. The first time Seraphine ran a fever of 104 degrees, I was the one who wrote it down. The day an old injury flared up while she was filming an action scene, I wrote that down, too. Every time her stomach acted up, every reminder that she couldn't skip meals or drink anything cold, I was the one who kept track of it. Now, I had to replace the leading man in every one of those memories with a random dude called Will. The PR director urged me on. "Quick, Levi. We need to post the relationship timeline now." I came back to my senses and opened a new document. My face was blank. I typed out everything—how they met, fell in love, publicized their relationship, and got engaged. Ironically, it felt like I was writing my own obituary. At 1:00 am, the official account finally posted the announcement. "Seven years down, forever to go." Attached were nine carefully curated photos. I stared at the caption for a long time. My stomach lurched. I shot to my feet and rushed into the restroom, gripping the edge of the sink as wave after wave of dry heaves wracked my body. The man in the mirror looked deathly pale. His eyes were bloodshot, and he barely looked like himself anymore. Meanwhile, my phone wouldn't stop vibrating. My friends and family were all asking what had happened. I didn't reply to a single one. Just as I was about to lock the screen, Seraphine called. I declined it the first two times, but by the third call, I answered. The line was quiet. A few seconds later, she asked, "Did you see the announcement we posted?" I leaned against the sink, my voice flat. "Of course." "Some of the comments are misleading. Keep an eye on them. And another thing—Will isn't used to being in the spotlight, so don't let anyone dig into his private life." When she finished, the last trace of my foolish hope disappeared. She hadn't called to explain or express how sorry she was. She had called to make sure I protected her fiance. A low chuckle escaped me. Her voice turned colder. "What are you laughing at?" "Nothing. I just think you're remarkably dedicated, Ms. Winslow. You just announced your engagement, but you still haven't forgotten to keep up your perfect image." Her tone sharpened. "Do you have to talk like that?" "What else am I supposed to say? 'I'm so happy for you, and I wish you two a lifetime of happiness?'" She sounded like she was holding back her temper. "Lee, I told you I'll make it up to you." There it was again. I couldn't bother to listen anymore. "If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up." "Wait. There's a business dinner tomorrow. I need you to put together the presentation materials and lead it." For a moment, I thought I had misheard her. "What did you just say?" "The investors still haven't committed to the new film. We can't cancel that dinner. You know the process better than anyone, and you know all my habits." I gripped my phone and fell silent. She really believed I wasn't going anywhere. "Seraphine," I said quietly. "Mm-hm?" "Starting tomorrow, I won't be handling your schedule anymore." There was a two-second silence before a scoff came. "What kind of tantrum are you throwing this time?" "I'm not throwing a tantrum." "Don't be such a child, Levi." "Hey. You announced your engagement, had me clean up the aftermath, and now, you expect me to keep escorting you to business dinners. What makes you think I'd still stay?" I could hear her breathing grow heavier. "Don't forget you're still under contract with the company." "I'm well aware." "Then, stop acting so recklessly." I looked at my reflection in the mirror. For the first time that day, I felt completely calm. "I'll take care of the contract." With that, I hung up. I scrolled to a number I hadn't called in a long time and called it. Chapter 4 The call connected almost right away. A woman's cool voice came through. "Mr. Campton?" I gripped my phone and got straight to the point. "Ms. Ford, I'd like to resign and terminate my contract." There was a brief pause on the other end. Then, without needing further explanation, Natalie Ford understood and began walking me through the process. After hanging up, I returned to my desk and started organizing my resignation documents. Seven years at the same company meant there was an absurd amount of work to hand over—artist profiles, brand partnerships, film and TV projects, private schedules, and crisis management plans. I sorted through everything one file at a time, organizing every detail exactly as I always had. I even made a separate page listing Seraphine's dietary restrictions and medication allergies. When dawn broke, I had compiled everything and emailed it to the company. The subject line read, "Handover Documents". I removed my employee badge and placed it at the very back of my drawer. It was finally time to bid farewell to these seven years. The resignation process couldn't be completed immediately, so I took the following day off first. I spent the morning heading home. When Dad saw me, he was startled. "Levi, why do you look so pale?" I casually told him I hadn't slept well. He stared at me for a long while, but didn't call me out on it. Instead, he tentatively asked, "About the blind date we talked about yesterday… Are you still meeting her this afternoon?" I nodded. "Of course." Dad was taken aback. His eyes turned slightly red. "Good. I'll make you breakfast." I sat at the dining table, watching Dad's busy figure moving around in the kitchen, and a warmth slowly spread through my chest. For years, I had given all my patience to Seraphine. When it came to my own family, however, I had always been distant and dismissive. Now, after falling flat on my face, I came to a painful realization that the person who cared about me the most was Dad. At 3:00 pm, I arrived at the cafe on time. My blind date was Stormi Gallagher. She was a doctor, with delicate features, a gentle presence, and an impressive eloquence. She didn't immediately ask about my past. Instead, she talked with me about work, life, and the cities we adored. Honestly, the date went better than I expected. It didn't feel forced, at least. Toward the end of our conversation, she looked at me and smiled. "Mr. Campton, if you came today because you're trying to move on from a relationship, that's okay. We can take our time." I was caught off guard. I surmised that Dad must've let something slip. I was quiet for a few seconds before nodding. "Thank you." Stormi handed me her business card. Her voice was warm. "If you ever need anything, feel free to reach out. Even if this doesn't lead to anything, we can still be friends." I accepted the card. For the first time in a long while, I felt something inside me loosen. … Third-Person POV Meanwhile, back at the company, the atmosphere in the conference room was suffocating. The brand representatives had already been waiting for 20 minutes. Seraphine sat at the head of the table. Her expression was ice cold. She had always been punctual and hated people disrupting her schedule, yet today, she hadn't even received the presentation materials before the meeting. The company director, Philip Stark, had no choice but to speak. "Perhaps Levi might be stuck in traffic." Seraphine's brows drew together as she picked up her phone and checked it. There were no messages, and not even an excuse for being absent. Last night, after hanging up on Levi, she hadn't taken his mention of quitting seriously. This wasn't the first time he had thrown a fit, either. Every time he got upset before, he would always calm down by the next day and appear in front of her on schedule, handling everything with utmost professionalism. Hence, this morning, she simply assumed he would do the same as he had over the past seven years and show up, emotions buried. However, now, it was already 9:07 am. There was still no sign of Levi. At 9:20 am, the materials still hadn't arrived. By 9:30 am, the brand representatives were starting to look unhappy. At last, Kai rushed into the conference room with the documents. The moment Seraphine saw his hurried entrance, her expression turned gloomy. "Where is Levi?" Philip immediately chimed in. "Doesn't he know how important today's meeting is? Where did he go? Why are you the one here?" Pin-drop silence descended in the conference room. No one dared to answer. Kai was still catching his breath. After a moment, he finally managed to speak. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Winslow, but Levi took a marriage leave. I just took over his work, so I'm still not familiar with everything." Seraphine snarled, "What did you just say?"