Jason woke up earlier than usual the next day, his mind still replaying the last few days over and over. As much as he wanted to focus solely on his music, he couldn't ignore the weight of the decisions looming over him. The song he had written felt like a cathartic release, but the industry—the life he once knew—was calling him back. He could feel its pull, the way it tried to drag him in.
But for the first time in years, he was starting to see a way out.
He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at his small dining table, staring out the window at the cityscape beyond. It was still early, the streets not yet bustling with the usual noise of the day. The quiet gave him time to think—about his next steps, about what he really wanted.
Going independent was a risk, but it was a risk worth taking. He couldn't let himself be defined by what Lily or the industry had taken from him. He needed to carve his own path. And that meant making some hard decisions—starting with the meeting to sign away the rights to the songs he had written for Lily.
The thought of it made his stomach churn.
Jason had always been passionate about music, but he never imagined how far it would take him. When he first met Lily, they were both nobodies in the industry—just two kids with big dreams and the belief that their music could change the world.
"I'll never forget where I came from," Lily had promised him one night after they had finished recording her first hit song. "No matter what happens, Jason, we're in this together."
Jason had believed her. They had built something special, not just in their professional lives but in their personal relationship as well. It wasn't just about music anymore—it was about building a future. Or so he had thought.
But somewhere along the way, fame had twisted things. The pressure to conform to industry standards, to chase the next big hit, had changed everything. The girl who used to write songs about her life, her feelings, had become obsessed with what the label wanted. And Jason, the one who had stood by her side through it all, had slowly become an afterthought.
He didn't blame Lily entirely. The industry had a way of warping people, of turning dreams into corporate commodities. But it still hurt to know that the promises they had made were now broken.
Jason was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of his phone vibrating on the table. It was a reminder for his meeting later that afternoon—the meeting where he would officially sign away the rights to the songs he had written with Lily.
He stared at the screen for a long time, his fingers hovering over the dismiss button. Part of him wanted to skip the meeting altogether, to hold onto the rights and fight the legal battle that would inevitably follow. But another part of him, the part that was exhausted from the constant struggle, just wanted to move on.
As much as he hated the idea of giving up the rights to his songs, he knew that clinging to the past wasn't going to help him move forward. He needed to let go. He needed to free himself from the baggage of his relationship with Lily if he ever wanted to create something new.
With a deep breath, Jason stood up and grabbed his jacket. It was time to put the past behind him.
The conference room was cold and sterile, its walls lined with modern art that Jason couldn't care less about. Across from him sat Lily's lawyer, a man with slicked-back hair and a smug expression. He was flanked by two other suits, both of whom seemed to exist solely to intimidate.
And then there was Lily.
She looked different. Not physically—she was still as stunning as ever, her long, dark hair perfectly styled, her designer clothes fitting her like a glove. But there was something in her eyes, something that Jason hadn't seen before. She looked... distant. Almost as if she were detached from the entire situation.
She barely glanced at Jason as he walked in, her attention focused on her phone instead. The coldness in her demeanor was a stark contrast to the Lily he had once known, the one who had sung her heart out in tiny bars and dreamed of changing the world with her voice.
"Jason," the lawyer began, breaking the silence. "We appreciate you coming in today. As you know, we've prepared all the necessary documents for the rights transfer. If you'll just sign here, we can get this all wrapped up."
Jason glanced down at the stack of papers in front of him. His name was everywhere, attached to songs that had once meant everything to him. Now they were just business transactions, just assets to be sold off.
He picked up the pen but hesitated.
"Jason," Lily's voice was soft, barely above a whisper, but it cut through the tension in the room like a knife. She finally looked up from her phone, meeting his gaze for the first time. "I didn't want it to come to this, but... it's what's best for both of us."
Her words were carefully chosen, rehearsed even. Jason could tell she had been coached by her team, told exactly what to say to make this process as smooth as possible. But underneath the polished exterior, he saw a flicker of something else—regret, maybe? Or was it guilt?
Jason didn't respond. He couldn't trust his voice right now. Instead, he looked down at the papers again and signed his name. With each stroke of the pen, it felt like a piece of his soul was being chipped away, but he forced himself to keep going.
When he finished, he pushed the papers across the table without a word.
The lawyer gave him a curt nod, gathering the documents with the precision of someone who had done this a thousand times before. "Thank you, Mr. Chen. We'll be in touch with your legal team to finalize the details."
Jason stood up to leave, but just as he reached the door, Lily called out to him again.
"Jason... wait."
He stopped but didn't turn around.
"I know this isn't how we wanted things to end," Lily said, her voice softer now, more vulnerable. "But I hope... I hope you can find a way to move on. I hope you can find happiness."
Jason swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to say something, to tell her that she didn't have the right to ask for his forgiveness, not after everything she had put him through. But instead, he simply nodded and walked out of the room.
Jason walked out into the crisp afternoon air, the sun shining brightly despite the heaviness in his chest. He had done it. He had officially let go of the songs that had once been the center of his world.
But as he stood there, taking in the moment, he realized something. It wasn't as painful as he had expected. Yes, it hurt to let go of those songs, but there was also a sense of relief, a weight lifted off his shoulders.
For the first time in a long time, Jason felt free.
He pulled out his phone and texted Max: It's done.
Max's reply came almost immediately: Good. Now let's get to work on something new.
Jason smiled to himself, tucking his phone back into his pocket. The future was uncertain, but for the first time in months, it didn't terrify him.
He had spent too long looking back, holding onto a past that no longer existed. Now, it was time to move forward, to create something new—not for the industry, not for Lily, but for himself.
And this time, he wasn't going to let anyone take it away from him.
Back in his studio later that evening, Jason sat down at his desk and opened a blank document on his computer. The cursor blinked on the screen, waiting for him to begin. The silence that had once suffocated him now felt like a clean slate, full of possibilities.
Jason picked up his guitar and began to play. The melody was soft at first, but as he continued, it grew stronger, more confident. This wasn't just another song—it was the start of something new, something that belonged entirely to him.
As he played, the weight of the past began to fade, replaced by the excitement of what lay ahead.
This was his moment. His music. His future.
And he wasn't going to waste it.