Chapter 23
Aria had just blown her hair dry when urgent knocking rattled her bedroom door.
She opened it to find Martha standing there, her expression unusually grave,
“So… there’s something you should see.” Martha held out her phone, the screen displaying Twitter’s weading page. Multiple hashtags featured Alessandro’s name, but one stood out prominently: #FindArie.
The feed was flooded with Aria’s photos–candids she’d never seen before, pictures from events, even shots that looked taken without her knowledge. Thankfully, no one had connected her to Melbourne
Aria’s face went blank.
She accepted the phone, scrolling through the trending topics with growing disbelief.
Martha watched her roommate carefully, not pushing for an explanation.
Finally, Aria sighed, deciding simple honesty was best.
“Well, this is awkward. Alessandro is my ex. I left Italy after we broke up.”
The room went silent. Martha’s eyes widened as the pieces clicked together.
“Hold up–this is the guy who just pulled that insane wedding stunt? The one all over TikTok?” She gestured anthe
phone. “That was about *you*?”
Aria rubbed her temples, her demeanor surprisingly calm for someone whose face was trending globally.
“Yep. But don’t worry–I’m safe here. His family can’t leave Italy due to some legal restrictions. This is ammayung butt not dangerous.”
Martha didn’t look convinced.
“You should be careful anyway. The guy publicly humiliated his fiancée just to send you a message that’s mi normal behavior. Once people at your company see this, they’ll recognize you. Maybe stay under the zum fore a
while?”
Seeing Martha’s genuine concern, Aria’s expression softened.
“Really, it’s fine. He can’t reach me here.”
Still skeptical, Martha disappeared briefly and returned with a wide–brimmed hat and sunglass
“Take these. Just until it blows over.”
Aria accepted them with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s just dramatic ex behavior. Next week, it’ll be someone else’s drama lighting up social media”
08:36
I Love You So Much But I Just Don’t like
Chapter 23
“The guy rented out a cathedral for a fake wedding Aria, Martha Frantared. “I seen enough true crime podcasts to know this isn’t typical breakup stuff. I’m legitimately worried he might track you down?
Touched by her roommate’s protective instinct after just a few months of friendship, Aria ueezed ker hand gratefully.
“I appreciate your concern, but I know him. He’s hurt me deeply, but this is just his ego talking, He can’t stand losing at anything, even relationships. It’s pathetic, but not dangerous”
Though she spoke casually, Martha remembered Aria’s telling silence during their recent ex boyfriend discussion. This relationship had clearly left its mark.
“Just… be careful, okay? You’ve built something good here. Don’t let him drag you back into whatever mess you escaped.”
“And remember,” Martha added with determined intensity, “my dad was military–I know self–defense. Plus y study group has got your back if anything weird happens.”
Seeing the fierce protectiveness in Martha’s eyes, Aria felt something warm bloom in her chest–the comfort of genuine friendship without complicated history.
She laughed softly. “Thanks, Martha. I mean it.”
As Martha finally left her room, Aria closed the door and leaned against it. The panic she might have felt months ago was notably absent.
She glanced at her desk, covered with notes for her presentation at next week’s conference. On the wall hung a calendar marked with coffee dates, hiking plans, and her upcoming interview for a promotion.
Let Alessandro have his social media meltdown. She had moved on.
This was her life now–and it was a good one.
