To buy Ethan his dream VIP World Cup tickets, I worked myself to the bone, pulling endless overtime for three months straight to secure my project bonus. But when I finally grabbed those tickets and ran home to surprise him, he was standing in the living room holding a cat. “Ava, you need to pet-sit Cleo for the next few days. Chloe and I are flying out for the World Cup.” I clenched the tickets hidden in my coat pocket. My chest tightened as I stared at him. “Ethan, you already went with her to the last two World Cups. Why her again?” Ethan’s face hardened. “This is Chloe’s birthday wish this year. Come on, Ava, be reasonable. I promise I’ll take you next time.” I didn’t say another word. I turned around, tore the VIP tickets in half, and tossed them right into the trash. He had no idea. There was never going to be a next time. We were supposed to get our marriage license at City Hall right after he got back from the World Cup. But looking at him now, a breakup seemed a hell of a lot better than a future divorce. I didn’t even look up at him. My voice was ice cold. “Did you forget? My birthday wish this year was also to go to the World Cup with you.” “You’re my fiancée, Ava. I’m with you every single day. But Chloe is different—she’s going through a hard time, and I barely get to see her.” His tone grew sharper, annoyed that I was pushing back. My heart felt like a flatline. I looked him dead in the eye. “Out of the three of us, I’m always the outsider, aren’t I?” Ethan’s jaw clenched. “Are you seriously getting jealous again? Stop acting like this!” “Chloe and I grew up together. I’ve told you a thousand times, we are just friends! It’s completely platonic!” “Plus, we are literally getting married next month! Do you really not trust me at all?” “Ava, you are making me so exhausted.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. Every single time we argued about Chloe, he put on this exact same “exhausted” show. I kept my face expressionless. “I’m exhausted too.” I added, “If you’re so used to having Chloe by your side, then go with her. I don’t care anymore.” Ethan froze for a second. Seeing that I wasn’t screaming or crying, he assumed I was backing down like I always did. He let out a sigh of relief. “Don’t overthink it, babe. I’ll bring you back a nice souvenir.” The cat in his arms jumped down and ran over to my suitcase. Ethan cleared his throat. “Chloe’s family is out of town, and my parents can’t stand cat hair. She couldn’t find anyone else to watch Cleo last minute. Just watch her for a bit, okay? Thanks, babe.” She gets my man, and I get her cat. Fucking hilarious. Suddenly, Ethan’s phone buzzed. I didn’t need to look to know it was Chloe. Before heading into the study to take the call, he threw a casual order over his shoulder.
“The cat’s been meowing. She’s probably hungry.” “Chloe says Cleo only eats steamed sea bass. Make sure you prep some for her.” After twelve years together, he spoke to me like I was his hired maid. Without waiting for my reply, he walked into the study and shut the door. I ignored the cat, dragged my packed suitcase to the corner, and set it down. My company had given me three days to transition my work before my transfer. In three days, I would be leaving this city. I would also be leaving Ethan, the man I had loved for twelve years. As I walked past the study, I heard Ethan on a FaceTime call with Chloe. Chloe’s high-pitched giggles leaked through the door. Ethan’s voice was filled with smug confidence: “Ava and I have been together for twelve years. She’s not going to make a scene. Just pack your bags and enjoy the game with me.” I froze in the hallway. My blood ran cold. From age eighteen to thirty, my entire youth belonged to him. I was the “perfect, understanding fiancée” his friends always praised. Even when we fought over Chloe, I never let anyone else know. I saved his pride every single time. And that pride became the exact weapon he used to step all over me. A cold smirk crept onto my face. Ethan, I am never playing by your rules again. While packing the rest of my personal things, I realized one of my lavender-infused sleep pillows was missing. I’ve always had terrible anxiety and insomnia due to work stress. My grandmother had traveled all the way to Vermont on a long Greyhound bus just to get me two custom, organic sleep pillows from an old artisan shop. On her way back, she was killed in a tragic car accident. Those pillows were the last, most precious things she ever gave me. Ethan was putting on his coat, getting ready to head out. I stopped him. “Have you seen my other sleep pillow? The lavender one from my grandmother.” Ethan thought for a second. “Check the guest room. Chloe stayed there last week. If it’s not there, it might be at her apartment.” We had lived in this apartment for seven years. At first we rented, then we bought it. I had wanted a cozy one-bedroom, but Ethan insisted on a two-bedroom, claiming “friends might need to crash.” But in seven years, he had never let a single male friend sleep over, even when they were dead drunk. He would always book them a hotel. The guest room was used exclusively by Chloe. And every single time she stayed over, she was “too drunk to drive.” I had told Ethan a million times to call her an Uber or get her a hotel. But he always said, “It’s not safe for a drunk girl to sleep alone in a hotel.” He knew it drove me crazy. He knew I hated it. Yet, he let her sleep under our roof night after night. Usually, he’d just bring her home first and tell me later. Later, because I kept fighting him on it, he even installed a security camera in the living room. His excuse? “See? The camera proves we are clean! We have nothing to hide!” Our apartment didn’t just have a dedicated bedroom for Chloe. Her personal belongings were scattered everywhere—her lipsticks on our counter, her socks in our laundry, her jewelry, and sometimes even her underwear. In the past, I would have thrown a massive fit. But today, I just calmly walked into the guest room. The pillow wasn’t there. Without saying a word, I grabbed my car keys and drove straight to Chloe’s apartment. When Chloe opened the door, she looked shocked. “Ava! What are you doing here? This is literally the first time you’ve ever visited my place!” She smiled, inviting me in. “I’m here for my sleep pillow.” Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second. She turned toward the kitchen. “Let me get you some water.” I knew she was grabbing her phone to text Ethan and play the victim. “Don’t bother. I’m leaving as soon as I get my pillow.” She walked back, rubbing her temples as if she couldn’t remember where it was.
“Why don’t you check the second bedroom on the right? Ethan slept there the other night.” My heart did a painful flip. I had no idea Ethan had been sleeping over at her place. As I walked down her hallway, I noticed her balcony. Hanging on the drying rack, right next to Chloe’s lace underwear, were Ethan’s boxer shorts. Chloe noticed my gaze. She casually shrugged. “Oh, that. Ethan got totally wasted last night. He threw up all over himself and me. I had to wash his clothes.” It sounded like an explanation, but her eyes were dripping with pure provocation. In the past, she wasn’t this obvious. She used to cry and swear that they were “just like siblings.” But lately, she had dropped the act. Now, she was looking at me with a smirk that said, What are you gonna do about it? She was waiting for me to lose my mind, to scream at her, to make a scene so Ethan could come rescue his “sweet, innocent” best friend. But I just nodded calmly. “I see.” I looked away and noticed a bag of Ethan’s favorite coffee beans on her kitchen counter. Just like we had Chloe’s organic protein shakes in our kitchen. I was shockingly calm. Chloe’s smile faded into disappointment. She was annoyed that I wasn’t exploding. I followed her into the bedroom. The moment I stepped in, my eyes landed on the wall above her bed. It was covered in a heart-shaped collage of photos of her and Ethan. Some were casual polaroids, others were professional, high-end studio portraits. Right in the center was a large, framed photo. Chloe was wearing a white satin slip dress with a matching tulle veil, holding Ethan’s hand as they ran through a park. He was in a sleek suit. It wasn’t a wedding photo, but it sure as hell looked like one. Ethan’s smile in every single photo was radiant. He looked happier than he ever did with me. Chloe stood next to me, staring at the wall. “Ethan and I have so many beautiful memories together. Since we were kids.” I felt nothing. When your heart is completely dead, pain ceases to exist. “They are indeed beautiful,” I said quietly. She turned to me, a malicious glint in her eyes. “Ava, do you want to join us next time?” I let out a soft, mocking laugh. She was trying to remind me that no matter how long I was with Ethan, I was just a temporary placeholder in their lifelong romance. I looked her in the eyes. “A game is fun with two people, Chloe. Three just makes it crowded.” I didn’t want to waste another second. “Where is my pillow?” Chloe’s expression soured. She marched over to her closet, pulling things out with dramatic sighing. “Honestly, Ethan is so careless! He always leaves his things in random places. I really need to give him a piece of my mind.” I stood there, watching her little show. She pulled out a pile of Ethan’s clothes from her closet, including his t-shirts and hoodies. “Don’t get get the wrong idea, Ava,” Chloe giggled. “Ethan only crashes here maybe seven nights a month. Guys just need their space sometimes, you know? Especially when you’re traveling for work. He’s just lazy—he likes coming here because I spoil him and do everything for him.” Every single word was a slap in my face.
“I don’t care what you two do,” I said. “Just give me my pillow.” Chloe bit her lip, clearly frustrated by my lack of reaction. She violently whipped open her bedsheets. There, sitting on her bed, was her pink silk bedding. And right next to her pillow was an open box of ultra-thin condoms. She paused, waiting for me to break down. I just checked my watch. “I have a flight to catch. Hurry up.” “Fine. Let’s check the walk-in closet,” she snapped. I followed her. An open suitcase was sitting on the floor. Inside were Chloe’s summer clothes, and resting right on top was a brand-new, unopened box of the exact same ultra-thin condoms. Chloe smirked. “I’m packing for tomorrow. Ethan and I are so excited for the game.” When I didn’t say anything, she added, “The World Cup only happens once every four years, Ava. Everyone wants a seat, but the seats are limited. If you weren’t invited to the game, no matter how hard you squeeze, you’ll never fit in.” My patience finally ran out. My voice went cold as ice. “I am only here for my pillow. As for Ethan? You can keep him. I’m throwing him in the trash.” Chloe gasped, quickly trying to look innocent. “Ava, what are you talking about? Don’t say things like that! I was just talking about soccer!” “My. Pillow,” I demanded, stepping closer. She rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. I remember now. Follow me.” She led me to a third room, which had been converted into a luxury room for her cat, Cleo. The moment I walked in, I saw it. My white-and-mint-green custom sleep pillow was sitting inside the cat litter box, completely soaked in cat urine and covered in feces. The putrid smell hit my nose instantly. My blood boiled. That was my grandmother’s last gift. Chloe put on her best baby voice. “Oh my gosh, Ava, I’m so, so sorry! Cleo is just so playful! It’s just a pillow, though. I’ll buy you a better one on Amazon. Ethan really shouldn’t have left it where the cat could reach it.” SLAP! I swung my hand and slapped Chloe across the face so hard she stumbled backward. “You did that on purpose!” I screamed. “Ava!” A sharp roar came from the doorway. Ethan rushed in, immediately grabbing Chloe and checking the red mark on her cheek. Chloe burst into tears, clinging to his chest. “Ethan, don’t yell at Ava… It’s my fault…” Ethan glared at me, his eyes furious. “It’s just a damn pillow, Ava! Are you insane?!” My eyes were red with rage. I stepped up and slapped Ethan across the face too. “Yes, I am!” Ethan’s face twisted in shock. He stared at me, holding his cheek. “Ava, what the hell is wrong with you?!” “What’s wrong is that I wasted twelve years of my life loving a piece of trash like you! We are done, Ethan!” I turned on my heel and walked out. He screamed after me down the hallway, “Stop throwing a tantrum, Ava!” The next day, after finalizing everything at my office, I dragged my suitcase toward the airport terminal. My phone buzzed. It was a text from Chloe: “I ordered ten new pillows for you on Amazon. They should arrive in a couple of days. Also, Ethan and I are boarding our flight. Cleo is very sensitive, so I made a Google Doc with her feeding schedule and care instructions. Just follow it.” Then came a text from Ethan: “I’ll be back on the 9th. We’ll go straight to City Hall to get our marriage license.”
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