Amber Kyle Sophia NovelBeneath a Broken Vow

Just before graduation, I found out my boyfriend of four years, Kyle Richardson, had been secretly sending money to a poor student named Sophia Garcia.
All the money he'd been scrimping and saving every month were quietly funneled to Sophia.
I confronted him with the evidence on my phone, he stayed silent all night. As dawn broke, his only reply was a cold, "Yeah, I feel sorry for her. What's wrong with that?"
Four years of love shattered instantly by that one word "sorry."
I wasn't ready to let go. I wiped my tears, plastered on a smile, and stood beside him in the graduation photo line.
But just as the photographer was about to start, Kyle's roommate, Zach Miller, came rushing up. "Kyle! Sophia heard you're getting engaged to Amber after graduation! She's in her dorm freaking out, talking about hurting herself!"
Kyle's diploma clattered to the ground. He took off like a shot.
I clutched my own diploma, screaming after him, my voice raw, "Kyle Richardson, you walk out that gate and we are DONE!"
He hesitated for just a second, then vanished into the crowd.
I stood there, utterly alone.
The air buzzed with the laughter and excited chatter of my classmates.
Kyle's parents rushed over, their faces thunderous. His mom grabbed my wrist. "Amber, honey, we'll drag that ungrateful boy back right now! How dare he!"
I shook my head. "It's okay, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson. Let him go."
My father's face was flushed with anger, my mother's eyes welling with tears. "This is outrageous! It's not just graduation, it's your engagement celebration!"
Silently, I stepped down and took my mom's arm. "Mom, Dad, let me take you home."
Amidst the chaos, Zach shuffled over, wringing his hands. "Amber, I'm so sorry. Sophia was in a bad way, I had to..."
I just looked at him but said nothing.
He'd lived with Kyle for four years. Of course he knew Sophia. To him, she'd always be the fragile girl who needed looking after.
But if she was really that fragile, would she pull this stunt on someone else's big day?
I picked up my diploma and walked away from what should have been a joyful celebration.
My phone buzzed like crazy in my pocket. I didn't answer.
I knew Kyle too well. He'd explain, apologize, say Sophia was in crisis and he had to go.
After four years together, watching the distant crowd, I understood. Some debts had long since crossed the line.
I knew he'd taken Sophia to the campus clinic.
Grabbing my keys, I headed there alone.
Sure enough, Kyle was by her bedside in the hospital room.
Sophia lay quietly, her arm thickly bandaged, face pale, tears clinging to her lashes.
Kyle held her hand tightly, worry etched all over his face.
He looked up as I approached, guilt written all over his face. "Amber. You came. God, I'm so sorry about today..."
"How is she?" I cut him off, looking at Sophia.
"The doctor says she'll be okay physically. Just... emotionally hurt and needs rest." He answered honestly.
I nodded. "Good." Then I turned to leave.
He grabbed my wrist. "Amber, please don't be mad. This is my fault. I couldn't just abandon her. She's just a kid, Amber. Her family... she's had it so rough. She's pitiful."
I shook his hand off. "Kyle, I'm not mad. I'm just... emotionally exhausted. Our graduation, our engagement... none of it mattered more than a sophomore you've known for two years."
"That's not true!" His voice was desperate. "You're everything to me! But she could have died if I hadn't gotten there!"
"The doctor said she wasn't dying, didn't he?" My voice was flat.
His lips trembled. He had nothing to say.
Just then, Sophia's eyes fluttered open. She saw me and started crying.
"Amber... I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I didn't mean to... I just... couldn't help myself."
Her voice shook, her body trembled slightly.
"Seeing your graduation... it just reminded me of everything I don't have... I lost control. I ruined your day..." She sobbed like a scolded child.
Kyle sat back down beside her, his voice soft and soothing. "Shhh, it's okay now. It's over. Don't think like that. Just rest."
When he looked back at me, there was a flicker of reproach in his eyes. Like I was the one who should cut her some slack.