One Day My Boyfriend Said He Didn’t Know Me Chapter 04
The weekend came quickly.
The main hall of the City Art Center was lined with competition entries.
The most prominent spot belonged to emerging photographer Sophie Lane’s piece, “Truth.”
The cover was a face split down the middle.
The left half radiant. The right half lost.
The competition hadn’t even started, and a crowd was already gathered around her work.
“The emotion is overwhelming.”
“It’s like a documentary crossed with a psychological thriller.”
“This newcomer is seriously talented.”
Meanwhile, tucked away in a corner, sat a piece almost no one had noticed.
Black cover.
The title was just one word.
“Humanity.”
I stood in front of it for a long time, until the host announced the start of the competition.
Sophie stood under the lights, poised and composed, introducing her work.
The host asked curiously, “Such an outstanding piece—why does it end so abruptly? Is the lack of an ending meant to be an artistic choice?”
Sophie shook her head.
Her gaze cut through the crowd and landed on me.
“I’ve always believed that what makes photography truly precious isn’t technical mastery or clever composition. It’s the ability to capture what’s real.”
The moment she finished, Ryan appeared in front of me and dropped to one knee.
He held out a ring and looked up at me.
“Emma, remember that game?”
“Who Can Tell the Most Outrageous Lie.”
“That day, you said you wanted to win. So your best friend and I spent two weeks helping you pull off the most outrageous lie of all.”
“Now the game is over.”
“And I want to tell you—”
“Emma Miller, I love you. Will you marry me?”
Thunderous applause erupted.
Camera flashes popped from every direction, countless lenses aimed straight at me.
People recognized me as the girl from “Truth” and gasped.
“Oh my God, the piece just connected to real life.”
“Bringing the ending to the live event—this is genius.”
“If Sophie doesn’t win, there’s definitely rigging going on.”
The praise grew louder and louder.
Sophie’s smile grew wider and wider.
Ryan was still on his knee, his eyes full of tenderness.
He watched me, certain I would be stunned, moved, tearful—that I’d reach out my hand.
The camera zoomed in, focusing on the ring.
On the big screen, my hand rose slowly into the frame.
Inching closer and closer to that ring.
Everyone held their breath.