On the screen, the message was stark: [Elsa has left the group chat].

Gertrude's voice trembled. She quickly switched to her private chat with Elsa and sent a sticker.

Almost immediately, a system message appeared: [Your message could not be sent because you have been blocked by this user].

Only then did Gertrude accept that this was real. She couldn't believe Elsa would delete her over a man.

She looked at Caitlin. "Catie, did she block you too?"

Caitlin simply nodded. "Yes."

So this was it. Their friendship had been that fragile all along.

Gertrude's voice choked. "Eight years. We've known each other for almost eight years, and Elsa just deleted us without a word..."

Her hands were shaking. When she first arrived at Capital University, everyone in the dorm had ostracized her. Only Caitlin and Elsa hadn't cared about her background. They not only included her, but they also stood up for her when she was treated unfairly. It was because of their companionship that Gertrude had overcome her insecurities.

She'd treasured that friendship for years, even planning a little surprise for Elsa's wedding. She'd never imagined it would all end like this.

Tears streamed down her face. No one knew how much pain Gertrude was in right now.

"Don't cry, Gertrude," Caitlin said, pulling her into a hug. "Everyone has their own path. Since this is Elsa's choice, we should respect it. With friendships, sometimes it's enough to have had them. We can say with a clear conscience that we did everything we could. We just can't walk with her on the rest of her journey."

Caitlin was never one to be indecisive. Time reveals a person's true character. Friendships, by their very nature, must withstand the test of time.

Gertrude sobbed uncontrollably. "I just don't get it. Why? Why would she do this to us over a man?"

Was a man she'd known for only four or five months more important than friends of nearly eight years? 2lf good man, it might be one thing, but he was clearly not worth this sacrifice.

Xander were a genuine years

Gertrude couldn't fathom how their friendship could end over a man. It was unbelievable. It was such a cheap, careless ending.

That night, Caitlin stayed with Gertrude, and they drank a lot. Afterward, Caitlin had her driver take Gertrude home and sat in the back with her to make sure she was okay.

When they arrived at Gertrude's house, her husband, Louie, was shocked to see her so drunk. "Mrs. Sylvester, what happened? Why did Gertrude drink so much?"

He knew his wife never drank.

Caitlin, feeling a bit dizzy herself, was unsteady on her feet. "It's a long story. You should ask her when she wakes up."

With that, Caitlin got back into the car. "I should get going."

"Of course, Mrs. Sylvester. Please get home safely," Louie said, nodding as he helped Gertrude inside.

Meanwhile, Elsa returned to the apartment she shared with Xander. He was busy decorating their new home. The moment she walked in, she threw her arms around him, here eyes redxander, do you love me?

Surprised by her sudden return, Xander quickly turned off his phone screen. He smiled. "Of course I love you, my darling. You're my everything. Who else would I love?"

Desperate for comfort, Elsa didn't

see the flash of scorn in Xander's eyes. Love? If this idiot hadn't been lucky enough to be friends with someone like Caitlin, he wouldn't be wasting his time pretending like this.