Mom called about her birthday, asking me to come home for dinner. I wanted to catch a ride with my sister, but she said she wasn’t going until tomorrow. I thought she’d gotten the date wrong, but my daughter cut straight to the truth: Every time there’s a family dinner, Grandma makes you come back early because she needs you to shop, prep food, and clean the house. Look at Aunt’s family—they show up the day of, get out of the car, and go straight to eating. I was stunned, because what my daughter said made way too much sense. 1 I was scrolling through my sister’s social media when I saw she’d taken her family on a trip. I looked at the photos and hit like, then accidentally noticed something in one picture—the necklace my sister was wearing looked familiar. I opened the photo and zoomed in to check the details. Finally confirmed it was the necklace I’d bought for my mom last week. Last week, my aunt had a birthday and invited a bunch of relatives over. My cousin gave Aunt a gold necklace as a birthday gift. Aunt was thrilled, showing it off nonstop, taking photos and videos. In all the cheerful atmosphere, I noticed Mom hadn’t laughed too loudly. She just kept staring at Aunt. More specifically, staring at the necklace around Aunt’s neck. I understood that look in Mom’s eyes. It was envy. My first thought was that Mom had never owned a gold necklace in her life. When she married Dad, he was poor and couldn’t afford the traditional jewelry set. He only bought her a gold ring. Mom said the ring was inconvenient for doing housework, so she rarely wore it. I understood Mom’s expression. I knew she wanted a gold necklace too. Work had been going well lately—I’d gotten $30,000 from a project bonus. My husband’s salary was stable and completely covered our household expenses. So normally I kept my salary and bonuses for myself. It was just a gold necklace. Right after dinner, I went to the jewelry store and bought one for fifteen hundred dollars. With the clerk’s help, I picked a style that older people would love. I happily gave it to Mom. “Mom, Aunt only gets one because it’s her birthday. You get one even without a birthday, because you like it, and I’ll definitely buy it for you.” Mom’s face lit up with a smile. She praised me for being filial, then put it on. I thought Mom was satisfied and happy. But I never expected that in just one week, the necklace would end up around my sister’s neck. My heart sank with an indescribable feeling. A coworker had told me before that Mom favored my sister. I hadn’t taken it to heart. Because I figured we were all family—mother and daughters, sisters—why keep score? But Mom had just handed off my gift to my sister like that. It really bothered me. So for several days, I didn’t say anything in the family group chat. Another week passed. That Saturday, Mom showed up at my door. She was carrying bags and bags, breathing heavily. “Scarlett, come help me out. Bringing all this stuff wore me out.” I rushed over to help, curious. “Mom, what is all this?” Mom changed her shoes and opened the bags to show me. “Look, your favorite pickled radish, and the oyster pancakes I made for you, plus fried fish.” Seeing all this food, I was touched. “Mom, why go to all this trouble? You must have gotten up super early.” Mom smiled. “It’s no trouble at all.” She sat on the sofa and chatted with me for a bit before saying, “Scarlett, about last time—Mom was wrong.” I didn’t respond. Mom continued, “Mom was really happy you bought that gold necklace, and I loved it. But Mom’s old now—what use do I have for that thing? Your sister’s not doing as well as you. She’s got bad judgment, married a useless man who’s all talk and no action, no steady job or income. They’re still renting.” “You’ve got good judgment. You found someone like Chen—bought a house and car, gave you the full jewelry set at your wedding, gave you and my granddaughter a stable life. You’re better than your sister in every way. You’re more fortunate than her, so Mom’s heart wants to favor your sister a little more.” “She didn’t even get gold jewelry at her wedding. Mom couldn’t stand seeing her suffer, so I gave her the necklace.” “Mom knows you’re upset, but Mom wants to tell you—you and your sister are equally important to me.” Hearing Mom’s words, my resolve started to waver. I’d thought Mom only loved my sister and not me, which was why she’d handled my gift that way. Turns out Mom had her reasons. I sighed. “Fine, Mom. Let’s just move past it.” Mom’s expression finally relaxed. She nodded. Around noon, I went out to buy groceries, planning to have Mom stay for lunch. When I got back, I heard voices in my daughter’s room. My daughter Sunny had interest classes on Saturday mornings. I got closer and heard Mom’s voice. “Sunny, how did your mother raise you to be so stingy?” “I see your closet is full of these dolls. What’s wrong with giving a few to your cousin Hao? He’ll thank you.” Sunny’s voice came through. “What do I need his thanks for? Is he some important person? I don’t want his thanks.” Mom’s voice carried some anger. “Sunny, that’s not right. Good children know how to share!” Sunny’s tone was firm. “Sharing is voluntary. Forced sharing is moral blackmail!” My daughter was only in third grade, but she was outgoing and clear-headed—something I’d always been proud of. Seeing my daughter wouldn’t give in, Mom reached out to grab the dolls. I pushed the door open. “Mom, what are you doing?” Mom looked embarrassed for a moment, then said, “Scarlett, you need to discipline Sunny. She has so many identical dolls—what’s wrong with sharing a few with Hao?” I shook my head. “No.” Mom’s expression changed. “Scarlett, your sister’s family isn’t like yours. Your nephew doesn’t have as many toys as Sunny…” I cut Mom off. “Mom, you taking my things to give to my sister—I let that go because they were gifts for you, so you had the right to decide who gets them. But everything in this room belongs to Sunny. I have no right to decide to give them away for her, and you shouldn’t pressure the child either.” Sunny happily grabbed my hand. “Mom’s the best.” She looked at Mom. “Grandma’s mean.” Mom’s face turned ugly. She turned and started gathering her things. When she got to the door, she lingered, clearly wanting me to ask her to stay for lunch. But I was genuinely upset and didn’t extend the invitation. After Mom left, I sat on the sofa feeling miserable. Sunny came out and sat beside me. “Mom, you were so cool just now, you know that?” I looked at her. “What do you mean?” Sunny smiled. “Mom used to always listen to Grandma. Whatever Grandma told you to do, you’d do it even if you didn’t want to. Every time we went to Grandma’s house, Dad and I felt so stifled. But Dad told me Mom had it hard too, and to just bear with it.” “Mom, you finally realized you can push back. You’re amazing.” Hearing Sunny’s words made my heart ache. “Sunny, you think Grandma favors Aunt too, don’t you?” Sunny shook her head. “Not favors—her whole heart is with Aunt.” At those words, I felt like my brain had crashed. Sunny pointed at the stuff on the table. “Mom, your tastes changed a long time ago. You used to like pickled radish probably because there wasn’t anything else to eat—you needed something to go with rice, so you ate pickled radish. But Grandma still only brings you pickled radish after all this time. She doesn’t pay attention to you at all.” “And the oyster pancakes and fried fish—Mom, look at this.” Sunny pulled out her phone to show me. It was my sister’s social media post. Thanks to Mom for bringing fried yellow croaker and oyster pancakes so early this morning. Kids with a mother’s love are so blessed. I opened the image. The yellow croaker was huge—a whole big bag of them fried. The oyster pancakes were plump and full. The oyster pancakes Mom brought me looked like broken scraps—all chives and batter, barely any oyster meat visible. I picked up my phone and scrolled. “How come I didn’t see this?” Sunny smiled. “Aunt blocked you. Good thing she doesn’t know this account is mine—probably forgot to label it.” Hearing this, my heart filled with bitterness. Sunny hugged my arm to comfort me. “Mom, accepting that your parents don’t love you is really hard. But Mom, you still have me and Dad. We’re your crew, absolutely loyal to you!” I hugged my daughter, moved to tears. From that day on, I didn’t contact Mom or my sister. When Mom complained in the group chat that the washing machine wasn’t working well, I pretended not to see it. When she complained the fridge seemed broken, I ignored that too. I even stopped paying the water and electric bills for her. I wanted Mom to understand—I was kind, I was filial, but I wasn’t a fool. Time flew by. Two months passed. Mom suddenly called me, saying next Wednesday was her birthday and asking me to come home for dinner. She told me she’d bought lots of food I loved, asked me not to be mad anymore about asking Sunny for toys last time, and to bring my husband and Sunny so we could all have a good time together. I agreed. I didn’t actually want to go, but it was Mom’s birthday and lots of relatives would be there. If I didn’t show up, I’d probably get interrogated by everyone. My car happened to have driving restrictions that day, so I messaged my sister asking what time she was leaving so she could pick me up. But my sister sounded surprised. “Sis, Mom’s birthday is the day after tomorrow. How could you forget our own mother’s birthday?” I froze and glanced at the calendar. She was right! The birthday was the day after tomorrow. Why had Mom told me to come tomorrow? Sunny was watching TV nearby. Seeing my confused expression, she couldn’t help but speak up. “Mom, think about it. Lots of times before, Grandma called you back early, didn’t she? Wasn’t it always to have you and Dad clean, shop for groceries and fruit?” “Aunt’s different. Aunt always arrives right on time and goes straight to eating.” “Mom, don’t you get it?” I froze, then thought back over all the past incidents. Suddenly I understood everything. I messaged my sister: Oh yeah, I got it mixed up. My memory! I’ll come the day after tomorrow too. I deliberately turned off my phone, planning to turn it back on the next day. That way Mom couldn’t keep calling me today. I also told my husband and daughter to turn off their phones too. We’d turn them back on the day after tomorrow. In between, I had no idea how many times Mom tried to call me. On Mom’s actual birthday, I timed it perfectly and set out with my husband and daughter right at mealtime. On the way, my husband asked with some concern, “It’s Mom’s birthday today. Are you really going back empty-handed?” I smiled. “Empty-handed? Didn’t I buy Mom a cake?” I pointed to the birthday cake I was carrying. An $8 clearance cake. My husband glanced at it, seemed about to say something, but held back. Because in the past, I’d really cared about Mom’s birthdays. I’d ordered every birthday cake. Two-tier, three-tier—I’d ordered them all. Because Mom’s birthdays meant inviting a bunch of relatives, and I didn’t want Mom to lose face in front of them. So the cakes would be very fancy. But this year, when I went to the cake shop to choose, all I could see was the huge yellow croaker and plump oyster pancakes from my sister’s social media. Even if my sister’s family situation wasn’t as good as mine, was that my fault? Why give away what I bought for her to my sister? Why treat us so differently, even with a few fish? I lost my enthusiasm for picking a cake and just grabbed a clearance one. My house was about a forty-minute drive from Mom’s. When we arrived, several cars were already parked outside. Looked like the relatives had arrived. My husband, daughter, and I got out and went into the yard. My aunt saw me first and quickly greeted me. “Scarlett, you’re here?” I called out, “Aunt.” Mom heard my voice and hurried out from inside. “Scarlett, why couldn’t I reach your phone? Chen’s too, and Sunny’s—none of you answered.” Seeing Mom’s reproachful look, I said, “We went out to handle something and didn’t bring our phones.” Mom clearly didn’t believe this flimsy excuse, but with so many relatives around, she couldn’t scold me. She just pulled me along. “Now that you’re here, come help. I’ve been working myself to death for half the day.” I turned to look at my sister, who was eating fruit and playing on her phone, and said angrily, “Ruby, what are you doing? Mom’s exhausted in the kitchen and you’re just sitting here on your phone?” My sister looked stunned. Mom quickly stepped forward. “Why are you calling her out? She doesn’t know how to do anything.” 2 I said nothing, just looked at Mom. Didn’t move, didn’t speak. Mom seemed to sense something was off with me and said helplessly, “Fine, if you don’t want to help, don’t. Why drag your sister into it?” I turned and left, heading to the front yard. Soon after, Mom came looking for me again. “Scarlett, didn’t Mom tell you to come back yesterday?” I smiled. “I almost got the date wrong. I asked my sister, and she said she was coming today, so I came today too.” “Mom, why did you tell me and my sister different times to come home? Is there some special reason?” Mom looked embarrassed. “Look at you, always overthinking. What special reason could there be? Maybe I just said it wrong.” “But Scarlett, look at all these people eating. I can’t manage it all. You’ve always been the most filial. Come help me.” I could see Mom just wanted to boss me around and couldn’t bear to let my sister lift a finger. So I stood up directly and said loudly, “Mom, you’re right—it’s too tiring for you to do everything alone. How about this—everyone get up and help, so we can eat sooner, right?” With me saying that, everyone felt too awkward to keep sitting and got up to help. With all the relatives standing, my sister naturally couldn’t keep sitting and playing on her phone. She had to pull her husband up too. I went to the kitchen to help sort vegetables. Looking out the window, I saw my husband cleaning fish. My brother-in-law was standing nearby watching. Looking like he didn’t want to lift a finger. It made me angry. I opened the window and yelled at my brother-in-law, “Brother-in-law, the kitchen’s out of coal. Go outside and carry in a bag.” I spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. Mom heard and quickly stood up to intervene. “Your brother-in-law doesn’t have the strength to carry coal. Chen, stop cleaning fish and go carry it.” My husband, obedient as always, stood up to go. I suddenly shouted, “Don’t you dare!”

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My childhood best friend’s roommate was about to ask me out. My best friend, Liam, pulled him aside. “Dude, are you serious? You really want to ask her out?” His roommate, Noah, just nodded, confused. “I know she’s into you, but you’re about to get with Chloe, the campus queen. I figure if I try hard enough, I might have a shot.” Liam’s face went from red to white and back again. Finally, he burst out, “You’re such a dumbass! How could you like that tomboy? In high school, she took down three guys by herself. And you have no idea how much of a slob she was as a kid!” By the time I showed up, all that was left was a giant bouquet of roses stuffed in the trash can. Liam sauntered over, slinging an arm over my shoulder with a smug grin. “Don’t get too emotional. I know you’re still obsessed with me, so I did you a favor…” My face was a storm cloud. I lifted my hand and slapped him. Hard. 1 Liam clutched his cheek, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Ava, what the hell is wrong with you?” He stumbled back a few steps, his face flushing with anger. I guess it made sense. Liam had always been the golden boy. Spoiled by his family, praised by his teachers. Now in college, with his natural talent and a face that was just unfairly handsome, he was practically worshiped by every girl on campus. This was probably the first time in his life he’d ever been hit. I didn’t regret it. I stuck my chin out, glaring at him. “What’s wrong with *you*? Who do you think you are, making my decisions for me?” My chest heaved with fury. Liam stared at me for a second, then his eyes drifted down to my outfit. A slow, cruel smile spread across his face. “Well, well. Looks like you took Noah’s big confession pretty seriously.” He looked me up and down, making two sharp “tsk, tsk” sounds. “Was it really worth it? Changing your whole style just for some guy you barely know?” He leaned in, his face just inches from mine. A warm, woodsy scent washed over me, and his breath hitched against my cheek. My own face flushed, and I completely forgot how to breathe. “You… you…” I stammered, unable to finish the sentence. “Then again,” Liam said, his smile turning wicked. “You knew he was my roommate. You knew I’d be here. You wore this for me, didn’t you?” “But—” his tone shifted, dripping with disdain, “—you’re better off in cargo pants. Your calves are thicker than mine. A dress just puts all your flaws on display. It looks so… wrong. Like…” He snapped his fingers. “Like a dude in a dress!” I was used to his brutally honest critiques. But this time was different. My roommates had hyped me up, given me the courage to finally try something new. And in a single night, he had doused my flickering confidence with a bucket of ice water. I was done putting up with it. I drove my knee up, hard, right between his legs. In the middle of the crowded path in front of the dorms, Liam was too proud to scream. His face turned purple as he choked back the pain. “Ava,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “You break the family jewels, and your dream of marrying me is officially over!” A wave of bitterness washed over me. I stretched my lips into a smile that was all teeth. “Get lost,” I spat. “We’re done.” 2 Liam was used to being the center of attention. Tall, handsome, he always had eyes on him. Even now, people were slowing down to stare. He straightened up, trying to maintain his dignity. His voice was hoarse. “You think we’re still kids? Threatening to end our friendship? How childish can you be?” He scoffed and turned to leave. “I’m not gonna fight with a girl. I’ll let it slide. Just don’t come crying to me when you have to carry your own luggage home for break.” “I’m serious,” I said, each word a block of ice. I pulled out my phone. Right there, in front of him, I blocked his number and unfriended him on every platform. 3 I spun on my heel and marched into the dorm. “Ava!” Liam’s voice, tight with fury, followed me. “Fine! You’re really ending our friendship over some random guy? Don’t come crawling back to me!” My steps faltered. I looked down at the clean, white dress I was wearing. And then the stupid tears started to fall. He was right, of course. I had dressed up because I knew he’d be there. I wanted to surprise him. More than that, I wanted him to see that someone else could actually like me. That I, Ava, was desirable. But when I’d excitedly come downstairs, the first thing I heard was Liam trashing me to his friend. “Don’t let the long hair fool you. She only recently started looking like a girl. Her hair used to be shorter than mine. She was more of a dude than I was.” “Noah, man, come on. You’re a decent guy. How could you be so blind as to fall for *her*?” My smile froze. I ducked back around the corner, out of sight. I heard Noah’s anxious reply. “No, man, I think Ava’s really cute. And she’s so real, you know? Not fake at all. Just looking at her makes me feel happy.” Then, Noah’s voice got quieter, more serious. “Liam… you don’t want me to ask her out… It’s not because you like her, is it?” “No way!” Liam’s handsome face twisted in disgust. “I don’t have a weird thing for my bro!” As if to prove his point, he pulled out his phone and started scrolling through his photo album. “Look, this is her at ten. All the other girls are in princess dresses, and she’s got snot running down her face. This is our middle school graduation. All the girls are so delicate and pretty. And then there’s Ava. She got obsessed with shot put and shaved her head. In high school, these three jocks? She took them all down with her bare hands…” I bit my lip, my hands twisting the fabric of my dress. I didn’t have the courage to jump out and argue. Because everything he was saying was true. When I finally pulled myself together, all I found was a huge bouquet of red roses in the trash can. And a new text on my phone. [Something came up. Sorry, Ava.] 4 Back in my dorm room, my roommates all leaned out of their bunk beds, their heads popping into view. They swarmed me, all talking at once. “So? Did you blow everyone away?” “Ava, say something! Did you land Noah or Liam?” When they saw my blank expression, Maya immediately clammed up, then quickly changed the subject. “The campus confessions page is going crazy. Chloe is planning to ask Liam out. They’ve been flirting for so long, I bet they’ll be official by tomorrow.” She gently took my arm, trying to sound casual. “It’s okay, Ava. Noah is really sweet, and he’s tall. I think you should give him a chance…” The room suddenly went quiet. My sniffles had turned into full-blown sobs. I wiped my eyes. “I’m sorry, Maya,” I choked out. “I got tears on your white dress. I’ll… I’ll wash it and give it back to you tomorrow…” The three of them exchanged a look. Then they started ranting. “Ugh, those guys are so blind! We’re too good for them anyway!” “That Liam, what’s so great about him? So he’s a little handsome. He’s arrogant and loud and totally doesn’t deserve you!” “Yeah! And that Noah guy is so skinny. You could knock him over with one punch, Ava…” I looked up at them. And started crying even harder. 5 Once I calmed down, I told them everything. And I told them, with absolute conviction, that I was done with Liam for good. They were all behind me. “It’s about time you saw the light.” “You’re usually so chill, but when it comes to Liam, you just lose all common sense.” “Come on! Let’s go for a run. Get those endorphins pumping and forget those idiots!” So that’s what I did. I threw myself into my life. The second I felt a thought about Liam creeping in, I’d head to the gym. Basketball, running, even shot put. A week later, I was in the dining hall when I saw them. Liam and Chloe. Liam’s long, elegant fingers were carefully peeling a shrimp for her. The usually loud, cocky guy was being so gentle and attentive. 6 I was with my roommates, sitting far across the room. I turned my back to them, determined to ignore them. Halfway through the meal, Maya kicked me under the table. “Ava,” she whispered, “I think… I think Liam is walking over here…” “No way,” I said without even thinking. He was too proud. He would never come to me. “Ava.” That familiar voice came from right above me. My chopsticks paused in mid-air. I stiffly raised my head and saw Liam standing there, looking awkward. “Chloe wanted to meet you.” I swallowed my food and finally looked at the beautiful girl standing beside him. Long, straight black hair, pale skin, a delicate, graceful build. She had two dimples when she smiled. “Hi, I’m Chloe,” she said, giving a little bow and extending her hand. “Liam’s told me so much about you. How you two grew up together, like two peas in a pod. Best bros, right?” Maybe it was just me, but the way she emphasized “best bros” felt… pointed. Passive-aggressive. I frowned but shook her hand politely. “Hi.” I didn’t look at Liam. I quickly turned my gaze back to my food. “Nice to meet you,” I said, my voice flat. “I’m done eating. I’m gonna go.” Suddenly, Chloe let out a sharp hiss of pain and snatched her hand back. Before I could even react, Liam shoved me. My lower back slammed into the sharp corner of the table. A jolt of pain made me break out in a cold sweat. He stood in front of Chloe, his voice ringing with self-righteous anger. “What did you do?” He grabbed Chloe’s hand, his eyes full of concern. “Does it hurt?” 7 I stared at the scene in complete disbelief. Chloe, with tears welling in her eyes, just shook her head bravely. “You’re insane,” I muttered. I turned to leave with my roommates. Liam blocked my path. “Our fight is our business. Why are you taking it out on Chloe?” His eyes were cold, completely devoid of any warmth. “If you’re jealous, take it out on me! You’re strong enough to bench press a guy. What’s the point of picking on a girl who’s half your size?” My roommate was about to lunge at them, the word “bitch” already on her lips, but I stopped her. “Never argue with an idiot,” I said, picking up my tray. I forced a smile. “Let’s go.” 8 I should have understood it a long time ago. Liam didn’t like me. He just didn’t. It didn’t matter what I did or who I became, he would never like me. In his eyes, I was just… there. The little tagalong who was always trailing behind him. I don’t know if he had actually forgotten or was just pretending not to remember. The reason I fought those three guys with everything I had was to defend him. To make them stop bullying him. And when I was a kid, my mom was always away on business trips. There was no one to braid my hair, no one to teach me how to be a girl. It was Liam who brought me to his house every day. Who puffed out his chest and said, “My mom is your mom.” But I had forgotten. People change. 9 “Are you okay?” Maya watched me nervously. “If you’re not over him, you could… I mean, they’re not officially a couple yet…” “I’m really over him.” I rubbed my bruised back and gave her a bitter smile. “It’s weird. I’ve liked him for years, and then, in that one second… it just disappeared.” My roommates stared at me, unconvinced. I held up my hand to the sky. “I swear, I am so over Liam!” I was so focused on reassuring them that my voice got louder than I intended. I didn’t notice Liam, standing right behind me, his eyes turning red at my words. 10 After that disaster, I didn’t see Liam at all. I did, however, see a lot of posts from Chloe. Pictures of her and Liam walking side-by-side, her looking up at him adoringly. They looked perfect together. I didn’t care. Until that weekend, when an anonymous post appeared on the campus confessions page: [This is Ava. Noah, I like you! Meet me on the track at 8 PM tonight!] No pictures. No videos. Not even a screenshot of a text. But the page exploded anyway. [Isn’t that Liam’s childhood friend? What’s going on with her and Noah?] [Is this some kind of game? She knows Liam and Chloe are about to be official, so she’s going after his roommate to make him jealous?] [OMG! This girl is a master manipulator! I’m heading to the track now to grab a front-row seat. I am not missing this drama!] My hand was shaking as I scrolled through the comments. I knew instantly who was behind it. I unblocked Liam and called him. He answered, his voice laced with lazy amusement. “Well, if it isn’t Ava. Didn’t we break up? It’s only been a few days. Couldn’t stay away, huh?” I held back my rage, my voice low and tight. “You posted that, didn’t you?” 11 “I did,” he admitted without a hint of hesitation. “What’s up? Calling to thank me?” His voice was as smooth and sexy as ever. But now, all I felt for him was disgust. “Liam, what is your problem? I’m leaving you alone. Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted?” He paused, then chuckled. “I don’t have a problem. You were mad at me because I ruined Noah’s big confession, right? I get it, it’s not every day someone asks you out. I figured, for old time’s sake, I’d give you a little push in the right direction.” Before I could reply, he said, “Oh, right. I forgot. Noah is coming out with us for drinks tonight. So he probably won’t be at the track. Maybe you should come find us instead?” Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Noah. In the two seconds I was distracted, Liam’s voice dripped with false sympathy. “Oh, wait. I forgot again. You scared Noah off. Even if he wasn’t busy, he wouldn’t show up to meet you. But hey, how about this? Call me your big, strong hero, and I’ll take the post down.” I didn’t say anything. I was staring at the new message on my screen. It was from Noah. [Hey, I’m really sorry about the other day. I thought Liam was finally realizing he liked you… I guess I figured, between the two of us, you’d obviously choose him, so… But I’ll see you at the track at 8 PM. I’m going to make sure everyone knows that *I’m* the one who likes *you*. That *I’m* the one chasing you.]

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I started dating a guy who was on a full-ride scholarship, the kind for students with serious financial need. A month after we made it official, he told me he’d unenrolled from the university’s financial aid program. I was stunned. “What about your living expenses next month?” My boyfriend, Ben, just grinned. “Well, there’s you, right? Your family’s loaded. Better to let someone who actually needs the spot have it.” Right. So I wasn’t here for a relationship. I was his new financial aid package. 1 “Babe, this omakase place has amazing reviews and the pictures look incredible. I’m taking you this weekend.” I stared at the link Ben sent me, a little confused. I thought things were tight for his family. As far as I knew, he was still on a work-study program and received grants to cover his costs. Why was he suggesting a sushi place that was easily $200 a person? Was he trying to impress me on our first “real” date? “Honestly, those fancy sushi places are more for the Instagram post than the food,” I texted back. “The taste is usually just okay. We don’t have to spend that much. We could just grab burgers or tacos somewhere.” “No way,” he replied instantly. “This is our first official date since I won you over. We can’t just do something ‘whatever.’ We’re going. The reviews are great, it can’t be bad.” Hearing that, I dropped it. I’d actually been to that place a few times, and the food was genuinely good. I only suggested something else because I was worried about the price gap between us. “Okay, then. Should I meet you there, or are you picking me up?” “I’ll come to your side of campus. Just call an Uber when it’s time and I’ll meet you by your dorm. I can’t have my girl walking all that way to find me.” I won’t lie, that made me feel a little warm inside. Ben and I had only gotten together last week. We weren’t even in the same college within the university. We met by chance during a university-wide business case competition. He was our team leader—focused, responsible, and a natural leader. Even though he didn’t come from money, he worked harder than anyone. He led our team all the way to first place. During that time, he asked me out. I actually said no at first. But after his relentless, charming pursuit, I—a girl who had never even been on a date before—finally caved. That’s how we got together. No flowers, no grand romantic gesture. We were just in the student union food court, and for the tenth time, he looked me dead in the eye and said, “Clara, I really like you. And whether you like me back or not, I’m not giving up.” I looked into his sincere, intense eyes and finally nodded. “Okay,” I said. “Let’s give it a try.” He broke into a huge grin and pulled me into a hug. And just like that, we were official. 2 Our dorms were on opposite ends of the campus. I was near the south gate, he was by the north. It’s a good fifteen-minute bike ride. The fact that he offered to come all the way to me… I thought, maybe this could really be nice. He seemed so thoughtful. The next day, I called an Uber Black right at our agreed-upon time. I watched the little car icon on my phone get closer and closer, but Ben was nowhere in sight. “How much longer?” I texted. “Almost there! Just got to the athletic fields!” “The fields? Ben, you need to hurry, the driver is almost here.” “I’m walking, not biking.” “What? We were supposed to meet at nine. It’s 9:05, and you’re still at the fields? On foot?” “Babe, just have the driver wait for a minute. I’ll walk faster, I can be there in ten.” “The driver charges extra for wait time, and it’s an Uber Black, it’s not cool to make them wait forever. Can you just grab one of those electric scooters? You can still make it.” “Ugh, those scooters are such a rip-off. It’s like, three dollars for a ten-minute ride!” I was getting annoyed but didn’t know what to say. Was I supposed to call him out over three dollars? Or ask why he couldn’t have just left his dorm fifteen minutes earlier? I closed my eyes and sighed. It was our first date. I didn’t want to start a fight. I opened Venmo and sent him $5. “Just grab a scooter and get here.” Ben accepted the payment instantly. “Thanks, sugar mama! Will work for food 😉 (winking cat emoji)” I frowned at the message. It left a weird taste in my mouth, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. Two minutes later, Ben on a scooter and my Uber arrived at the exact same time. I gave him a look. He was late, and I was still a little irritated. 3 Then, he pulled a bagel out of his jacket pocket. “Babe, you were up so early, I bet you haven’t eaten. Here, I got this for you.” Seeing him carefully present the still-warm bagel, my annoyance melted away. I took it and had a bite. “It’s good, right?” he said, beaming. “I got you an everything bagel with cream cheese. They’re like, three bucks each.” Okay. So he wouldn’t spend three dollars on a scooter to be on time, but he’d spend three dollars on a bagel for me. Seeing that he was at least thoughtful, I decided to let it go. “Babe, why’d you get an Uber Black?” he asked as we got in the car. “They’re so much more expensive than a regular one. You could’ve saved that money for something else later.” “They’re cleaner and more comfortable,” I said simply. “Wow. My first time in an Uber Black is because of you. What did I ever do to deserve a girlfriend like you?” I just smiled and didn’t answer. 4 We had some time before our reservation, so we decided to stop by a Whole Foods nearby. I grabbed a cart and started tossing in my usual snacks. I also got a huge container of pre-cut watermelon. Ben’s eyes went wide as he looked at my overflowing cart. “Babe, what’s your monthly allowance? You’re buying so much stuff.” I thought for a second. “My mom gives me two thousand, and my dad usually slips me another grand. And I have a separate card for clothes and stuff.” “Whoa, you really are a sugar mama,” he said. “My parents send me two hundred bucks a month, and I make another two hundred from my work-study job. You get like, ten times what I do.” Hearing that, I felt a pang of guilt. “Hey, maybe we should just get some spicy noodles instead? I know a great place that’s super cheap and really good.” But he just waved his hand dismissively. “What’s the fun in that? I’ve never had real omakase before. Our first official date has to be special.” Since he was so insistent, I gave in. I figured I could just help him out a bit more with his expenses once we were back at school. Plus, his birthday was coming up. I could get him a really nice gift. I noticed that after a full lap of the store, he hadn’t picked out anything for himself. “Aren’t you getting anything?” I asked. “Me? Oh, okay. Thanks, babe!” Thanks for what? I quickly found out. 5 Ben went into what I can only describe as “supermarket sweep” mode. Instant ramen, energy drinks, snacks, fruit—he was throwing things into the cart like they were free. “Okay, let’s go,” he finally said. “It’s almost time for our reservation. Let’s check out.” I nodded and followed him to the register. “Is this all together?” the cashier asked. I was about to say we should split it, but Ben spoke first. “Yep, all together! Can we get two large bags, please?” “That’ll be $386.50. Who’s paying?” I glanced at Ben, who was busy bagging the groceries. I sighed. “I’ll get it.” “Would you like delivery?” the cashier asked. “Yes, plea—” “No, no, we’re good!” Ben cut me off. “We can carry it.” He immediately hoisted the two massive bags. I tugged on his sleeve, confused. “Why not get it delivered?” “Delivery costs extra, dude! And they only bring it to the campus gate. It’s better if you just Venmo me the delivery fee and I’ll carry it straight to your dorm room for you.” I just stared at him. Fine. If he wanted to carry it, let him. We were taking an Uber back anyway, it wouldn’t be that bad. “Let’s just go eat,” I said. Because of the heavy bagel I’d had earlier, I wasn’t that hungry. And since he was the one who insisted on this place, I figured if I ordered less, the bill wouldn’t be as bad for him. So I just picked three small things. “Babe, is that all you’re getting? Is that enough?” “I’m not super hungry, it’s fine.” “Are you trying to lose weight? You’re already so skinny, you don’t need to. You have to eat more. I won’t mind if you gain a little weight.” I took a sip of water, not wanting to get into it. Then I watched as Ben started ordering. Toro, uni, wagyu beef, oysters… he was ordering like someone else was paying for it. I frowned and put a hand on his arm to stop him. “Don’t order so much. We won’t be able to finish it.” He just patted his chest. “Don’t worry, I have a huge appetite. Nothing will go to waste.” He kept ordering. I just shrugged. Whatever. As long as he was happy. 6 My dishes came out first. I had ordered a small appetizer, a sushi plate, and a dessert. I had just picked up my fork to try the appetizer when Ben leaned over and scooped half of it onto his plate. “Mmm… it’s okay. Not as good as I expected.” I silently pulled the remaining half of my appetizer and my dessert closer to me. We were still in the early stages of dating; I wasn’t ready to share saliva yet. Then he started on my sushi plate. He didn’t finish a single piece. He just took one bite out of each one. “I’m just testing them for you,” he said, chewing loudly. “They’re all different flavors.” He kept chewing. “Okay, this one’s good. I only took a little bite, you can have the rest. This one’s mediocre, don’t eat it, I’ll finish it for you.” I watched this horror show, my brows furrowed so deep you could lose a coin in them. “You know what,” I said, “you can just have it all. I’m not really in the mood for rice anymore. I’ll just order something else.” “See, this is what I’m talking about. You order food and then you don’t eat it. If I wasn’t here, it would all go to waste. A boyfriend’s job is basically to be a human garbage disposal. You can’t be this wasteful when I’m not around. Or, you could just pack up your leftovers for me.” He was still talking while eating my sushi. A single grain of rice flew out of his mouth and landed in my appetizer. I felt my stomach turn. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “Nothing. I just need to use the restroom.” 7 I stayed in the bathroom for a while, texting my best friend a play-by-play of the disaster date. I wasn’t even sure what I was complaining about, but the whole day just felt… off. When I came back, the table in front of Ben was a war zone of empty plates. I sat down and just watched him eat. “Why aren’t you eating?” he asked. “Not enough? Here, have some of mine, I ordered a ton.” I quickly shook my head. “No, you eat. I’m really not hungry.” He nodded and went back to chewing, still talking with his mouth full. “I thought food this expensive would be mind-blowing, but it’s just… whatever.” “You really need to eat more. You can’t just starve yourself to be skinny, you’ll ruin your health. It’s not worth it.” “Look at you. You ordered three things and you only had one bite of that appetizer. If I wasn’t here, it would all be wasted. That’s not a good habit, you know. My mom always told me food is precious and we can’t waste it. You should be grateful to have me.” “Haha, you’re right,” I said, trying to subtly lean away from him so he wouldn’t spray food on me. Finally, after another ten agonizing minutes, he was done. “Okay, let’s pay and head back to campus.” “Sounds good,” I said. “You go ahead and get the check, I’m just going to use the restroom.” He stood up. “Waiter, check please!” he called out, and then headed for the bathroom. The waiter came over. “Hello, your total is $450.78. How will you be paying?” Even with my complete lack of dating experience, I knew something was very wrong. Who goes on a date and then conveniently has to go to the bathroom the second the bill arrives? I had just spent over three hundred dollars at the grocery store, and this meal, of which I’d had exactly one bite, was even more. I thought about it and got angry. I had told him we could go somewhere cheaper. He was the one who insisted on coming here. And he had the nerve to pull this stunt after I paid for all his groceries. No way was I paying for this meal. A text from Ben popped up on my phone: “My stomach’s a mess, might be in here for a while. You can just wait for me at a coffee shop or something.” I didn’t reply. I turned to the waiter. “Actually, I’m still hungry. Could you move me to a different table? I’d like to order some more things, and then you can bring one check for everything.” “Of course,” the waiter said. I thought for a second. “You know what, on second thought, can I just get it to go?” I ordered a bunch of my favorite dishes. By the time the waiter brought out the takeout bags, the Uber I’d called for campus delivery was pulling up. “Can you take these bags of food and those two grocery bags to the south campus gate? A campus delivery driver will meet you there.” “You got it,” the driver said. With everything settled, I clapped my hands together and turned to leave. The waiter hurried over to stop me. “Ma’am, with the takeout order, the new total is $631.24. Uh…” I raised an eyebrow. “The gentleman I was with is paying. He’s in the restroom.” I then yelled toward the bathroom. “Ben, I’m thirsty, I’m gonna go grab a coffee!” A voice immediately called back from inside. “Go ahead, babe! I’ll be right out!” I looked at the waiter. He nodded. “Right this way, ma’am.” And I walked out.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “385224”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

In my past life, when my husband, Julian, got cancer, everyone hid it from me. To set me free, he started cheating, verbally abusing me, and giving me the silent treatment. I couldn’t take it anymore and finally agreed to a divorce. That’s when his friends, perched on their moral high ground, told me the truth about his “selfless” intentions and his terminal diagnosis. I fell apart and killed myself to be with him. But after I died, Julian was saved. A miracle. I watched, a disembodied soul, as he sobbed at my grave. And then I watched as his friends convinced him to move on, to rebuild his life, to marry the woman he’d cheated on me with. So when I found myself back at that party, and Julian jokingly said, “Let’s get a divorce,” I didn’t get angry. I just said, very calmly, “Okay.” 1 The moment I said it, a strange, heavy silence fell over the room. The lavish private suite was suddenly quiet, but I didn’t seem to notice. I just kept my head down, calmly eating the dessert in my bowl. Julian’s hand, which had been holding Isabelle’s, slowly released its grip. His handsome face, moments before joking about being in love with someone else and wanting a divorce, was now a rigid, ugly mask. He clearly hadn’t expected me to say that. Or rather, he knew how much I loved him. He thought that even a joke like that would make me panic, get angry, maybe even cause a scene. How could I possibly have said “Okay” so calmly? His friends, each with their own ulterior motives, exchanged uneasy glances. The little drama they had orchestrated, expecting to see me humiliated and crying, had just crumbled. The plot had taken a ninety-degree turn, leaving them all scrambling. But I didn’t feel any satisfaction. I calmly looked from one face to the next, my gaze finally landing on Isabelle’s striking, beautiful features. In my last life, I considered her my best friend. But I had forgotten one crucial detail. She and Julian had been inseparable since they were kids. The same fierce loyalty she showed me in public was matched by the deep, painful stab she delivered to my back when it mattered most. Isabelle looked a little uncomfortable under my stare. She glanced instinctively at Julian. He was glaring at me, his jaw tight, his face a thundercloud. Her own expression flickered with something dark for a second. Then, she pasted on a bright, cheerful smile and came over to grab my arm. “Hey, Lena, don’t be mad. It was just a stupid joke that Alex came up with. We were just messing with you.” I took a step back, avoiding her hand. My face was expressionless. I looked at Julian. “But I’m not joking,” I said. “Seriously, Julian. Let’s get a divorce.” 2 Isabelle stood frozen between us, looking back and forth from me to Julian, the very picture of someone caught in the middle. She was a great actress. If I hadn’t died once, if my wandering soul hadn’t witnessed her kicking over my tombstone with a look of pure disgust, I would never have known the twisted jealousy that festered beneath her cool, confident exterior. This was the first time I’d ever seen her look so helpless. And even though I wasn’t the one who caused it, everyone in the room turned on me because of her. Alex shoved his chair back and stormed over. “Lena, don’t take it too far!” he snapped. “We already said it was a joke. You’re just trying to make a scene. Can’t you take a joke?” How ironic. They were the ones who made the joke. I was the victim. And yet, somehow, I was the one who couldn’t take it. Alex had always had a sharp tongue, his words dripping with sarcasm. I used to think it was just his personality, that he was like that with everyone, so I tried to ignore it. Later, I realized he was only like that with me. As Julian’s wife, I had never truly been accepted by his friends. I ignored Alex’s barking and kept my eyes locked on Julian. Seeing that I wasn’t backing down, Julian finally realized I was serious. A cold, humorless laugh escaped his lips. He grabbed Isabelle’s arm and pulled her into his arms. He stared at me, his eyes burning with a vengeful fire. “Fine,” he said, his voice dripping with venom. “You said it. Don’t regret it. Pack your things. We’ll get the divorce papers tomorrow.” Then, in front of everyone, he lowered his head and kissed her. It was a rough, possessive kiss, fueled by anger. The sound of their lips, of their tongues tangling, filled the room. The soft lighting overhead created a dramatic scene: the woman’s pliant body bent backward, the man’s large, strong hand cupping the back of her delicate neck. It was like something out of a movie. I saw Isabelle make a weak show of pushing against his chest, then her hands crept up and wrapped around his neck. Someone gasped. Then came the excited clicks of phone cameras. I was standing closest to them. I saw every intimate, unspoken detail. My pale lips trembled. I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what. A soft, vulnerable part of me had been shattered. Something precious that I had hidden deep inside. The moment Julian kissed someone else, right in front of me, it broke. Quietly. Silently. I squeezed my eyes shut, my face a numb mask, and walked out of the room. 3 A light rain had started to fall outside. The world was a murky gray, the streetlights casting a hazy, yellow glow. The bare branches of the trees along the road clawed at the darkness, swaying menacingly in the cold wind. A couple stood next to me, whispering for a moment. Then the boy took off his jacket and draped it over the girl. They huddled together and ran into the rain, disappearing into a car parked down the street. I watched them, my mind feeling foggy. I felt like I had forgotten something important, but I couldn’t remember what. It wasn’t until I got home and started packing that I found it, at the very bottom of a storage box. An umbrella. The sight of it made the tears I’d been holding back finally break free. It was a clear, foldable umbrella. On the inside, I had drawn all my favorite cartoon characters with a black marker. One day after school, it started pouring. I was supposed to walk home with my friends, but then I saw my deskmate, Julian, standing under the eaves, staring at the gray sky, a look of lonely detachment on his face. He must have forgotten his umbrella. And there was no one at home to bring him one. My heart softened. After a moment of hesitation, I shoved my umbrella into his hands. “You can keep it! Consider it a thank you for helping me with my homework!” I said, trying to sound casual and carefree to hide the fluttering in my chest. I didn’t even dare to look at his reaction before I turned and ran to my friends, urging them to hurry up. My friends teased me about my beet-red face. I playfully pushed them, but my eyes kept drifting back through the rain. He was still there, a tall, slender figure in his blue and white school uniform, holding my umbrella tightly. The world was a downpour of gray, but all I could hear was the frantic pounding of my own heart. The next day, it was still raining. I don’t remember what I was feeling when I saw him again, but I remember every detail of him walking into the classroom from the back door. My clear, cartoon-covered umbrella wasn’t leaning against the wall in the hallway with all the other colorful ones. He was holding it in his long, pale hand, carefully wiping the raindrops from it with a soft handkerchief. Then he smoothed out the wrinkles, folded it neatly, and placed it carefully in his desk, next to his textbooks. Eighteen-year-old Julian looked up and met my gaze. He smiled, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons. He told me he would cherish it forever. We hadn’t said the words yet, but in the silent space between our two young, wildly beating hearts, we both knew what he meant. He would cherish *me* forever. The rain had stopped. I wiped my tears, calmed myself down. I picked up the umbrella, long forgotten by its owner. The clear plastic was yellowed and cloudy, the cartoon drawings faded and blurred. The metal frame was rusted and broken, and it smelled of decay. I sat on the edge of the bed, holding it, and stared out into the night. I didn’t sleep at all. Sometime later, the darkness began to fade. A single ray of light broke through the clouds, casting my silhouette in stark black and white. My limbs were cold and stiff as I stood up, took the old umbrella, and threw it in the trash. Then, I called Julian’s number. That summer rain from our youth was finally over. 4 The phone rang for a long time before someone finally picked up. But the voice that answered was a woman’s, lazy and sleepy. “…Hello? Who is this?” She yawned. In my dead silence, it sounded a little forced. After a moment, Isabelle’s voice came again, this time low and apologetic. “I grabbed the wrong phone. Hold on, I’ll wake Julian up…” “Don’t bother,” I cut her off. My voice was flat. “Just tell him I have all the paperwork ready. 3 PM at the courthouse.” I hung up before she could respond. I hadn’t eaten since last night, but my stomach was churning. I felt like I was going to be sick. *I love you. I’ll never leave you.* All empty words. He could sleep with someone else without a second thought. Some people, no matter the reason, are just born to cheat. I remembered in my last life, when I “accidentally” walked in on them. The pain was so sharp I almost fainted. I lost all control, screaming at them like a madwoman. Isabelle had a look of apology on her face, but she kept saying it was a misunderstanding, an accident, and that I shouldn’t blame Julian. And Julian… he didn’t say a word in his defense. He just let me scream and cry and throw his past promises in his face. He just stood there, silent, as if he was hiding some terrible secret. As if he was the one who was suffering, the one who was making a great sacrifice. In the end, everyone took his side. They said he had his reasons, that he didn’t mean to hurt me, that I shouldn’t be so hard on him. They were the ones who did it. But somehow, I was the one who was wrong. His cold silence made me look like a lunatic. I started to doubt myself. Was I overreacting? Was I just being paranoid, ruining their years of “pure friendship”? Was that what pushed him to finally act on his feelings for her? I was in a daze when I finally agreed to the divorce. But after he gave me the papers, his condition worsened. Alex and the others, unable to watch him suffer any longer, came and yelled at me, saying it was my fault, that I had pushed him over the edge. Did I know, they asked, that he had done all of this, this cruel, self-destructive performance, just to set me free? We had been high school sweethearts, married right after college. Julian’s parents were dead. I was all he had. He knew I would never leave him, no matter what. So he chose this extreme, painful way to force me away. I had just started to accept the reality that he had cheated on me, that he didn’t love me anymore. And then they told me he had hurt me because he loved me *too much*. They said he could have lived for another two years. But because I had made such a scene, his condition had suddenly deteriorated. It was all my fault. It was my word against all of theirs. In the end, I broke. After one last look at Julian, unconscious in the ICU, I ran to the roof of the hospital and jumped. Looking back now, it was so stupid. This time, I chose to let myself go, to let go of the past. But I waited at the courthouse for a long time. The office was closing for the day when Julian finally showed up. 5 “I wasn’t feeling well. I only just woke up half an hour ago,” he explained before I could say a word. He was out of breath, his trench coat open to reveal a slightly rumpled shirt collar. His hair was a mess, like he’d just rolled out of bed. He looked at the closed doors of the courthouse and let out a breath. I couldn’t tell if it was a sigh of frustration or relief. “We’ll have to reschedule,” he said, his tone cool. There was nothing else to do. I told him to contact me when he had time, then turned to leave without another word. But then he said, “When you called this morning, Isabelle answered. What did she say to you?” His probing tone annoyed me. The resentment that had been building up inside me suddenly erupted. I spun around and sneered, “You were in the same bed, weren’t you? What did she say? Don’t you know?” He paused. To my surprise, his expression softened, like a storm cloud clearing. It was as if he had just confirmed something. He seemed genuinely relieved. His voice was unusually gentle as he explained, “You misunderstood. I drank too much last night. She brought me home. I wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed to take care of me.” Putting aside how ridiculous that sounded, I didn’t understand why, given our current situation, he felt the need to explain anything to me. But then I understood. Right in front of me, Julian started to cough. His face went pale. He winced, his handsome brows furrowing in pain, and coughed again, a wracking, painful sound. I couldn’t tell if he was faking it or not. Either way, it had nothing to do with me. I turned to leave. I heard hurried footsteps behind me, and then Julian’s hand was on my arm. His face was pale and drawn, his jaw tight. “I told you I wasn’t feeling well,” he hissed. “Don’t you even care?” I knew he was sick. I knew it was serious. But so what? I tried to pull my arm away. “Let go,” I said, frowning. He just tightened his grip, his expression turning even darker. He was the one who wanted a divorce. And now that I had agreed, he was the one who was angry. He glared at me for a long moment, then violently shoved my arm away. He coughed again, his voice heavy with suppressed emotion. “…Fine. I’ll let you go.” He sounded like he was in pain, like his heart was breaking. I didn’t hesitate. I turned and walked away. But then, I heard a loud thud behind me. Julian had collapsed. I called an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. After a moment of hesitation, I called Isabelle. Once we were divorced, Julian would marry her anyway. It wasn’t my place, as the soon-to-be-ex-wife, to be there. Isabelle arrived quickly, without a word. Alex was with her. I stood up from the bench in the hallway, about to tell them Julian was in the ER, when Isabelle stormed up to me and slapped me. Hard. I was stunned. “You’re a fucking jinx!” she spat, her voice colder than I had ever heard it. “Are you happy now? Do you want him dead?” 6 I touched my numb cheek, my ear ringing. I raised my hand to slap her back. But Alex was faster. He shoved me hard, sending me sprawling to the floor. He stood in front of Isabelle, looking down at me. “You even think about touching her, I dare you!” he roared. I pushed myself up on the cold, sterile floor, shaking with anger. Just then, the light above the ER door went out, and a doctor came out. Isabelle immediately forgot about me and rushed over, Alex right behind her. But as he passed me, he paused. Then, his expensive, Italian leather shoe came down, hard, on the back of my hand. He was a tall, muscular guy, and he put his full weight on it. A scream of pain escaped my lips, tears streaming down my face. I looked up at him. In the harsh fluorescent light of the hallway, his face was a blurry, malicious grin. “Go on,” he mouthed, a silent, demonic challenge. “Call the cops.” In that instant, I was thrown back into the darkness of my past life, the moral bullying, the mental breakdown. A bucket of ice water was dumped over my head, chilling me to the bone. The thought of calling the police, which had been so real a moment ago, turned to ash. I suddenly remembered. Alex’s family was powerful. Calling the police would be like calling him directly to complain about what he’d done. What would I get besides a dose of his cruel laughter? Before, he might have held back, afraid of what Julian would think. But now, with our relationship in ruins, he wasn’t hiding his hatred for me anymore. I used to wonder why he disliked me so much. Now I knew. He was Isabelle’s dog. Isabelle loved Julian, so he followed Julian like a loyal puppy. Isabelle hated me, so he hated me with a passion. I sat on the floor for a long time, waiting for the pain to subside, for the feeling to return to my hand. Then I got up and left, not looking back, desperate to escape. I called a moving company, packed up all my things, and left the bustling city center. I went back to my old family home in the suburbs. I opened the door to the sound of a drowsy, old-fashioned opera playing on the TV. The house smelled of mildew and old memories. An old woman in a wheelchair, dozing on the balcony, lifted her heavy, wrinkled eyelids. She saw me walk in with all my bags. A smug, mocking smile spread across her face. “See? What did I tell you? Kicked to the curb, weren’t you?” 7 I acted as if I hadn’t heard her, silently unpacking my things. My mother straightened up in her wheelchair and put on her reading glasses. She didn’t ask any questions, didn’t seem to care at all. She just immediately started trying to set me up with the neighbor’s son. “I told you not to punch above your weight. Why would a rich man like him ever want you? You’ve got no chest, no ass. And now look at you. He used you for a few years and then threw you out like trash.” “I never liked the look of that Julian anyway. Good thing you didn’t have any kids. At least you can still get married again.” “I’ll call Mrs. Chen and see if her son is home. Stop unpacking. Go get dressed up and meet him.” She started fumbling with her old flip phone, trying to find the right buttons. I slammed a pile of clothes into my suitcase. “What, do you think I can’t live without a man?” I snapped. “If you like Mrs. Chen’s son so much, why don’t you marry him?” “All you ever talk about is setting me up. You’d think he was some kind of prize! Did he even get out of jail yet? You want me to go out with some bum who can’t hold down a job? Am I even your daughter?” My mother’s face darkened, her eyes glinting with a feral rage. “He’s not holding your divorce against you, you should be grateful! You keep being picky and you’ll end up alone! You think you can just be a burden on me for the rest of your life?” I felt a lump of anger rise in my throat, choking me. It was impossible to reason with her. She wouldn’t listen. Her old-fashioned, toxic ideas were embedded in her bones. Even her own daughter had to bend to them. I stopped unpacking and just shoved everything into my old room, slamming the door. “I won’t be a burden on you,” I yelled through the door. “I’ll be out of here in a few days.” I heard the sound of her wheelchair rolling across the floor, then a loud banging on my door. She was screaming at me, saying I had gotten too big for my britches, that I was rebelling. “Even if you move out, you’re still going on that date!” she shrieked. “Your divorce is embarrassing enough! Do you want to make it so I can’t even face my neighbors?” “And what’s so wrong with Kevin? Don’t listen to gossip. I’m your mother, I would never do anything to hurt you…” I found my earbuds and shoved them in my ears. Then I opened my phone and started looking for apartments. This house was just as suffocating as it had always been. I thought that if I could just find a place to hide, get the divorce finalized once Julian was out of the hospital, my life could finally be peaceful. But things rarely go as planned. After another day of being unable to eat, of running to the bathroom to throw up, I found myself staring at a pregnancy test. Two pink lines. I was completely lost.

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My husband, Ethan, had a “girl best friend.” They were so close they slept in the same bed, shared ice cream cones, the whole nine yards. I asked them to keep some distance. He just got annoyed. “If something was going to happen between us, it would have happened a long time ago. Can’t you just trust me?” Fine. So I went and got myself a “guy best friend.” 1 The night Ethan, once again, didn’t come home and stayed out with Hailey, I was surprisingly calm. He showed up around noon the next day, carrying takeout from my favorite brunch spot. He saw me and, for once, actually offered an explanation. “We haven’t all hung out in a while,” he said. “We had too much to drink, so we just crashed at a hotel. But we didn’t share a bed this time. I slept on the floor.” He made sure to emphasize that last part. The last time this happened, we’d had a massive fight. I accused him of having no boundaries for a married man and insisted on confronting Hailey. Hailey was a girl he’d grown up with, part of his tight-knit group of neighborhood friends. She was a “girl,” but she acted like one of the guys—loud, boisterous, and overly familiar with everyone. I’d seen her, more than once, plop down on one of the guy’s laps, laughing and joking, sharing drinks without a second thought. At first, Ethan had been patient, explaining their dynamic. But eventually, he got tired of it. “If something was going to happen, it would have happened a long time ago, and you wouldn’t be the one I married,” he’d snapped, before slamming the door and leaving. The funny thing was, his friends all tried to reassure me. “That’s just Hailey,” they’d say. “We’ve known her forever. She’s just like that. Ethan sees her as a little sister.” A little sister? She was twenty-five. The whole thing made my skin crawl. I told him if he couldn’t learn to keep his distance, I wanted a divorce. After that, Ethan did keep his distance from Hailey, for a while. But the result was that Hailey would take every opportunity to make passive-aggressive comments to me in public. “See, Amelia? I’m not sitting next to Ethan.” “Ethan, you should probably skip the after-party. We wouldn’t want to make Amelia mad.” “He’s not the old Ethan anymore, is he? Got a leash around his neck now. I wouldn’t dare get too close.” She always said these things when I was around, creating a tense, awkward atmosphere. Over time, I gained a reputation for being petty, jealous, and unreasonable. And that’s when my relationship with Ethan started to turn cold and distant. I snapped back to the present, looking at the takeout containers in his hands. It used to be my favorite food. Now, it just looked bland. Ethan noticed my coolness. He put the food on the table and wrapped his arms around me, his voice a soft, placating murmur. “Honey, you’ve been wanting to see that new movie, right? I’m free today. Let’s go. I heard it’s really good.” I had been looking forward to that movie for months. The day it came out, I’d asked Ethan to go with me. He’d said he was busy. A few days later, I saw Hailey’s post on social media. A picture of two movie tickets. She wasn’t in the photo, but the hand holding the tickets was unmistakable—long, elegant fingers, with Ethan’s wedding ring on the fourth one. I could smell the faint scent of Hailey’s floral perfume on him. I stiffened and pulled away. “No, thanks,” I said, my voice flat. I went back to packing my suitcase. “Amelia.” Ethan’s voice was sharp with anger. He saw what I was doing and grabbed my arm. “Are you going to pull this ‘running away from home’ crap again? I already told you, there’s nothing going on between me and Hailey.” “I know,” I said, calmly pulling my hand away. “You’re just friends.” He seemed taken aback by my response. His face was a mixture of frustration and awkwardness. He dropped his hand. “Then what’s this all about?” “I’m going on a business trip,” I explained. He looked even angrier. He stared at me for a long time, searching my face for any sign of a lie, of the usual hurt and anger. But there was nothing. My expression was completely neutral. Because I just didn’t care anymore. Who he saw movies with, who he spent the night with, who he went on dates with… Whatever. 2 Seeing that I wasn’t angry seemed to make Ethan even angrier. He was convinced I was just giving him the silent treatment, and in a misguided attempt to make things right, he pulled out his phone to buy movie tickets. I watched him frantically scroll through the app. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “That movie’s not in theaters anymore,” I said softly. His fingers froze on the screen. For a second, I saw a flash of different emotions cross his face—shock, regret, frustration. The silence in the room was heavy and suffocating. The food on the table was getting cold. I bent down, placed the last item in my suitcase, and zipped it shut. … After that day, Ethan’s attitude toward me did a complete 180. He was suddenly incredibly attentive. During my trip, he called me every morning and every night, asking when I’d be back. I told him. The day I flew home, I saw his car as I walked out of the airport. A sleek, black Bugatti, parked at the curb. He got out as soon as he saw me and walked over, taking my suitcase from me as if it was the most natural thing in the world. But when we got to the car, I saw Hailey in the passenger seat. She had her legs propped up on the dashboard, her arm hanging out the window. She saw me and gave me a sickeningly sweet smile. “Hey, Amelia! Just hitching a ride. I’ll give you your seat back in a minute…” She said it with a playful grin, but she didn’t move an inch. Ethan put my suitcase in the trunk and came back around. He saw me just standing there, and his voice was a little strained. “She was just in the area, so I’m giving her a lift. She gets carsick, so I let her have the front seat for this part of the ride.” During one of our previous fights, I had brought up the fact that Hailey always hogged the front seat whenever she was with us. Before I could say anything, Hailey leaned her head out the window, her eyes crinkling in a smile. “Thank god Ethan was nearby. I was in the middle of nowhere, couldn’t even get an Uber. You can check our group chat if you don’t believe me…” The group chat. Their little neighborhood clique. I wasn’t in it. “And of course,” Hailey continued, “if he’d left me stranded, I would have just told on him to my godparents!” She playfully punched Ethan in the chest, then seemed to remember I was there and pulled her hand back, winking at me. “Sorry, Amelia, it’s just a habit. I don’t mean anything by it…” Since my last blow-up with Ethan, Hailey had transitioned from being openly touchy-feely with him to being performatively touchy-feely, always with a little show of “holding back” for my benefit. As if it was my petty jealousy that was forcing her to keep her distance. But if she was really trying to keep her distance, why was she still spending the night with him, going on solo “dates”? And I could see the challenge glinting in her eyes. This little performance would have infuriated the old me. But now… I couldn’t be bothered. When Ethan told Hailey to get out of the car, I just waved my hand dismissively and opened the back door. “It’s fine. I’ve got a friend with me anyway. We can just sit in the back.” “A friend? Where?” Before Ethan could react, someone called my name. I turned and saw a tall, handsome guy with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, dressed in a flamboyant, colorful outfit, jogging toward us with a suitcase. “Amelia!” he whined, catching his breath. “That’s not cool. I just went to grab my bag, and when I turned around, you were gone.” He latched onto my arm, pouting. “I don’t know anyone here. You have to take care of me.” 3 Both Ethan and Hailey stared at the scene, stunned. Ethan recovered first. He pulled me away from the guy. “This is your ‘friend’?” he asked, his voice laced with displeasure, his brows furrowed so deep you could lose a coin in them. “That’s right,” the guy said, cheerfully extending his hand to Ethan. “I’m Amelia’s bestie, Leo.” He shook Ethan’s hand, then casually put his suitcase in the trunk and hopped into the back seat. “Come on, Amelia!” he called, waving me over. I started to get in, but Ethan stopped me. “Honey,” he said, his voice low and tight, “it’s not appropriate for you to be sitting so close to another man.” I could almost hear his teeth grinding. “We’re just besties,” I said, confused. I glanced at Hailey, still firmly planted in the passenger seat. Ethan was speechless. … Leo and I chatted the entire way home, which made the front of the car feel unusually quiet. It wasn’t that Hailey wasn’t talking. She was usually a chatterbox, always filling the car with stories from their childhood, the latest neighborhood gossip, a constant stream of inside jokes that I could never be a part of. But today, no matter what she tried to talk about, Ethan’s responses were short and clipped. The thirty-minute drive was over in fifteen. After dropping them both off, Ethan opened the passenger door for me. “You can sit up front now.” I just looked at him, then settled back into my seat. “I’m fine back here,” I said coolly. “I’m tired. Let’s just go home.” I closed my eyes. The sound of the car door slamming was much louder than usual. 4 Ethan was still fuming when we got home. I had just taken off my shoes when I saw him sitting in the living room, smoking. The red glow of the cigarette illuminated his face, casting it in shifting shadows. “What’s the deal with that guy?” he asked, taking a long drag and then stubbing the cigarette out in the ashtray. I looked at him, my voice calm. “He’s my bestie.” “A six-foot-tall guy is your ‘bestie’? Amelia, you were with him on this trip, weren’t you? For days, alone with him…” He was getting more and more worked up. He kicked my suitcase. That’s when I lost my temper. I unzipped the suitcase and glared at him. “My business partner was either going to be a man or a woman. He’s a great guy, easy to get along with. What’s wrong with being besties?” “Everything is wrong with it! He’s a guy! Guys can’t be ‘besties’!” “Oh really? So you can have a ‘girl best friend,’ but I can’t have a ‘guy bestie’?” My words left him sputtering. I had never seen so many different expressions on his face at once—shock, annoyance, frustration. Finally, he managed to grind out, “Hailey is different. We grew up together. If something was going to happen…” “And Leo and I are different too,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “Can’t you just trust me?” 5 Ethan was sulking. He gave me the silent treatment for days. A few days later, his parents invited us over for dinner. At the table, they could sense the tension between us. “Ethan,” his mom said, her tone gentle but firm, “Amelia moved all the way here for you. You have to treat her right.” Ethan and I had met in college. I was an only child, and the plan had always been for me to move back home after graduation. But for him, I had stayed. Hearing his mother’s words, Ethan’s expression softened. As we were leaving, he reached for my hand. “Amelia, I…” Before he could finish, an arm was thrown around his neck. “Ethan! It’s been too long. Let’s all hang out!” It was Hailey. Once again, shamelessly draped all over him. But this time, instead of smiling back at her, Ethan pried her arm off and glanced nervously at me. Hailey noticed, too. She clicked her tongue. “Oh, is Amelia here?” she said, her voice dripping with mock surprise. She took a dramatic step back, right into the arms of a group of their friends who had just arrived. “Ethan, you’re back and you didn’t even say anything in the group chat! If Hailey hadn’t seen you, you would have gotten away with it!” “Yeah, man, everyone’s here. Come out with us!” They all started trying to convince him. I could see he wanted to go. But unlike before, he didn’t just agree. He looked at me, asking for my permission. Everyone noticed. Even though we were married, his friends had always treated me like an outsider. Partly because I wasn’t from their world, and partly because of Hailey… When I was around, they couldn’t fully relax. “You want to go with them?” Ethan asked tentatively. The air grew thick with unspoken expectations. Hailey was practically pouting, shooting looks at her friends. Everyone was waiting for my answer. They didn’t want me to come, but they wanted me to let him go. So I gave them what they wanted. I pulled my hand from his, my voice calm and gentle. “I’ll just get a cab home, then.” No one said a word. The silence was deafening. Finally, Ethan spoke, a mixture of relief and guilt in his voice. “Okay. I’ll… I’ll be home early.” He gave me a reassuring look. I just smiled and walked out of the yard. As I walked away, I heard someone say, “Dude, what’s up with Amelia? She’s not jealous of Hailey anymore? She’s actually letting you hang out with us?” 6 It was 11 PM. Ethan wasn’t home. I hadn’t called. Because I was out with Leo. We were at the city’s hottest nightclub with a group of friends. The pounding music was a welcome distraction. We found a big booth and the drinks started flowing. After a few rounds, the person next to me pointed across the room. “Whoa, check out what’s happening over there.” Everyone turned to look, me included. And I saw them. Ethan and his little clique. Seven guys, one girl, their table littered with empty bottles. Ethan was in the middle, looking down at his phone. Then, Hailey snatched the phone out of his hand, swung her leg over his lap, and straddled him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held up a bottle of tequila. No one else seemed to think this was weird. In fact, they all stood up and started cheering. “I think they’re playing ‘Never Have I Ever.’ She has to feed him a shot, mouth-to-mouth.” “That girl is wild! A minute ago, they dared her to take off her bra, and she just whipped it out and hung it on some guy’s neck.” “I’ve seen one girl with seven guys before, but not like this.” Everyone was laughing. Except me. Because I watched as Ethan put his phone down. And as everyone cheered, he let Hailey, her mouth full of tequila, lean down and press her lips to his…

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Part 1 My boyfriend, Leo, had been pulling crazy hours at work lately. I missed him, but I was also proud of how hard he was working. I’d just finished packing up some of the chili I’d made, planning to surprise him at the office, when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Leo. “I have a girlfriend. Please delete my number. Thanks.” For a second, I almost laughed. That idiot. Points for loyalty, I guess, but… why was he sending this to me? I typed a single question mark and hit send. A moment later, I saw it. The dreaded red exclamation point. “Message Not Delivered.” He’d blocked me. My boyfriend has a girlfriend, and it isn’t me. So… who the hell am I? My temper, which has the fuse of a firecracker, went off. I immediately dialed his number, my thumb jabbing the screen. Before I could even launch into my tirade, a syrupy sweet female voice answered. “Hello?” There was actually another woman with him. For a split second, my brain short-circuited. I couldn’t believe it. Leo was the type of guy who practically wore a sign that said “TAKEN.” He kept a professional distance from everyone, even his male colleagues. And now some woman was answering his phone? “Where’s Leo? Put him on,” I said, my voice cold and tight. A condescending little laugh came from the other end. “Oh, you’re looking for Leo? He’s a little… busy right now.” “Put. Him. On. The. Phone,” I repeated, practically shouting into the receiver. “Listen, honey,” she cooed, “a little self-respect goes a long way. Chasing after a man with a girlfriend is just… desperate, you know?” Then she giggled and hung up. If I was angry before, now I was furious. I grabbed my keys, stormed out of my apartment, and peeled out of the parking garage, heading straight for his downtown office. If this jerk thought he could cheat on me, he had another thing coming. He was about to find out what “consequences” really meant. It was just after 9 p.m. The city lights reflected off the sleek glass of the Hayes Tech tower. The entire building was dark except for the top floor—his floor. The lobby was empty aside from Frank, the night security guard, who looked up in surprise. “Ms. Miller! Here to pick up Mr. Hayes?” I didn’t answer, just strode past him and into the elevator, jabbing the button for the penthouse level. The ride up was eerily silent, but as the doors slid open on the top floor, I could hear the low murmur of voices. I stormed toward his office, the words of my accusation already forming on my lips, and burst through the door. And stopped dead. The room was full. His entire executive team was gathered around the conference table, looking at blueprints and charts. A dozen pairs of eyes swiveled to stare at me, their conversation cut short. My throat went dry. But even in my shock, my eyes scanned the room and landed on her. Tucked away in a corner chair, almost out of sight, was a woman who looked completely out of place. She was wearing one of Leo’s blazers, and a smug, knowing smile played on her lips as she looked at me. “Chloe? What are you doing here?” Leo asked, surprised. He jumped up from his seat and started toward me. He must have seen the thundercloud on my face, because his expression shifted from surprise to alarm, and he quickened his pace. But he was too late. The woman from the corner shot out of her chair, moving to intercept him. She physically planted herself between us. “Excuse me,” she said, her voice dripping with fake politeness. “We’re in a private meeting. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.” She smiled and gestured toward the door, a clear dismissal. I gave her a look that could freeze fire and ignored her completely. My eyes went past her, locking onto Leo. “Do I need to leave, Leo?” “Of course not,” he said, sidestepping her with a move so agile he could’ve been a ninja. He reached for my hand, but I pulled it away. The hurt in his eyes was instant. “Chloe? What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice low and cautious. “Nothing. Finish your meeting,” I said, my tone flat. Leo glanced back at his team, then gently tried to guide me further into the office, toward the empty chair next to his. As we passed the woman, he didn’t even give her a second look. “Leo, who is this woman?” she interrupted, her voice sharp with indignation. “This is a confidential company meeting. It’s hardly appropriate for her to be here.” Leo finally stopped and frowned at her as if just noticing she existed. “Jessica? What are you still doing here?” Her smile faltered. “I… I was staying to help you with the meeting, Leo.” “Help me with what? My executive assistant isn’t even required to be here tonight. You’re her assistant. What are you doing in this room?” His tone was sharp, and it didn’t sound like an act. So, this woman had been sitting in his office for who knows how long, and he hadn’t even realized it? The other people in the room exchanged confused glances. “Leo, I…” Jessica’s eyes welled up, and her voice trembled. “This whole floor was empty except for your office. I was scared being out there alone, so… so I waited in here for you.” An assistant’s assistant. And she was calling him “Leo” and “waiting for him.” Yeah, something was definitely up. I crossed my arms and shot a pointed look at Leo. He seemed to feel the heat of my glare and stood up a little straighter. “Chloe, I swear, I have nothing to do with her. My dad made me give her a job here as a favor to an old neighbor.” Then he turned back to Jessica, his voice turning to ice. “Jessica, you said you had nothing to do after hours, so you offered to cover my assistant’s duties tonight. If you’re here to work, then go do your actual job. And stay out of places you don’t belong.” He waved a hand dismissively, gesturing for her to get out. Jessica looked stunned that he’d humiliate her in front of everyone. She stood frozen for a second before pointing a trembling finger at me. “Then what about her? She doesn’t belong here either! Why does she get to stay?” Leo gave her a dead-eyed stare. He didn’t bother explaining. He just said one word: “Out.” The color drained from Jessica’s face. She turned on her heel and fled the office. “I didn’t even notice she was in here during the meeting,” Leo explained quietly, pulling me into the seat beside him. I just nodded, telling him to get back to work. His team, to their credit, pretended like my dramatic entrance was a totally normal occurrence and resumed the meeting. An hour later, when everyone had finally packed up and left, I pulled out my phone and placed it on the desk in front of Leo, the screen showing our one-sided, blocked conversation. “Explain,” I said. My initial rage had cooled into a frosty calm, which was somehow worse. Leo’s eyes widened as he read the text. He put a hand on my shoulder, his expression deadly serious. “Chloe, just wait here. I will handle this.” He walked briskly out of the office. I was right behind him. I saw him spot Jessica by the elevators and stride over to her. He didn’t raise his voice. He just held out his hand. “Give me my phone back.” Part 2 Jessica flinched at his cold tone. She wobbled slightly, then slowly pulled his phone from her pocket, holding it out with both hands. Her eyes were wide and pitiful, trying for a wounded, doe-eyed look. Leo snatched the phone from her, immediately navigated to his blocked list, and his face turned a shade of thunderous purple I’d never seen before. I stepped closer to see what was wrong. Oh. My. God. It wasn’t just me. His blocked list was a who’s who of our social and professional circle—all female. I recognized the names of several CEOs and project managers from companies he partnered with. “What gives you the right to touch my phone?” he seethed, his voice dangerously low but loud enough to make the few remaining department heads poke their heads out of their offices. “I left it charging on my desk.” Jessica physically recoiled, her victim act going into overdrive. “Leo, I… I was just trying to help you.” “Help me? You were trying to help me go bankrupt,” he shot back, his hand shaking slightly as he scrolled through the list of blocked contacts. I knew how hard he’d fought to build his company from the ground up. Blocking the CEO of a major client wasn’t just rude; it could be catastrophic. Just as I was about to step in and try to calm him down, my own phone started buzzing. And it didn’t stop. One by one, texts came in from mutual friends and business acquaintances—the same women he’d just unblocked—asking me what the hell was going on and why Leo was suddenly blocking them. In the business world, even a polite “what’s going on?” is a serious accusation. I shot a venomous glare at Jessica, then turned back to Leo. “Fix this. Now,” I said through clenched teeth. I walked to the other side of the floor and started damage control, texting and calling people back. Thankfully, my family has a good reputation in the city, and people were willing to listen. Combined with Leo’s professional track record, his story of his phone being “compromised” was believable. It especially helped when I mentioned that the mystery person had blocked me, too. More than one person subtly warned me to watch my back with “that other woman” around Leo. By the time I had smoothed things over, my own anger had settled into a cold, hard knot. Even though Leo was on my side, this whole mess was a huge red flag that needed a serious explanation. I took a few deep breaths and walked back to the main area. This time, there were two police officers standing with Leo. Leo was talking to them, his face a mask of controlled fury, while Jessica stood nearby, trembling and looking at him in disbelief. “Leo, you… you called the cops on me?” she stammered. When he refused to even look at her, she turned to the officers, grabbing one by the arm. “Officers, we’re friends! It was just a prank! We have a great relationship, you can’t arrest me!” The cop gently removed her hand from his arm, his expression a mix of pity and exasperation. “Ma’am, it’s not a prank when you cause actual damages by misusing private property.” “We are not friends, and it wasn’t a joke. She’s a new employee,” Leo cut in, his voice like steel. “Frankly, officers, I’d like you to investigate this fully. I suspect she was deliberately trying to sabotage my company.” Hearing that, Jessica’s face went white as a sheet. She bit her lip, her eyes swimming with tears as she looked pleadingly at Leo. When he continued to ignore her and instead walked over to ask me how my calls went, she finally broke. “Leo, I just thought that you should be more careful!” she cried out. “You have a girlfriend now! You need to keep your distance from all these other women. I was just trying to help you!” The tears finally spilled over, a single, perfect droplet tracing a path down her cheek. It was a masterful performance—just enough to look tragic, not enough to look messy. Too bad for her, Leo wasn’t the audience. “What do my contacts have to do with you?” he snapped. “You started by blocking my girlfriend. You weren’t trying to help me keep my distance; you were trying to make me die alone. And this?” He pointed to a name on his phone. “This is Ms. Albright. She’s the same age as my mother. Does she also need you to ‘help’ me keep my distance?” He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low growl. “I am your boss. You do what I tell you to do, and nothing else. Do you not have the most basic professional decency?” He then turned to the police. “Officers, my phone contains sensitive trade secrets. For a brand-new employee to steal it and use it to cause this much damage… I want her investigated thoroughly.” I just stood there, stunned. I had come here ready for a fight over a cheating boyfriend, and instead, I’d found… a delusional, self-sabotaging stalker. Part 3 I never thought Leo would actually call the cops. It was extreme, but it also erased any doubt I had about him and Jessica. This woman was a threat, and he was treating her like one. My presence, standing firmly by Leo’s side, seemed to be the final straw for her. She wrenched away from the officer and lunged toward us, pointing a finger in my face. “What about her? Why does she get to be in the office? If you have a girlfriend and have to cut me off, why are you protecting her?” “Are you insane?” Leo shot back, his patience gone. “Can you not tell she’s my girlfriend? Did you miss the ‘My Chloe ❤️’ contact name? Stop playing games.” Jessica shrank back behind the officers, finally looking truly scared. The police tried to de-escalate, asking if a private settlement was possible. Leo was resolute. “Absolutely not. She sent that message to my girlfriend. That’s a declaration of war. I’m not letting it go.” Because Leo refused to back down, the officers took Jessica into custody. As they were leading her away, she made one last pathetic attempt. She clutched the blazer she was still wearing and looked at Leo with pleading eyes. “Leo, I’m cold. Can I please borrow this jacket?” Leo glanced at the jacket. “It’s not mine.” Just then, his head of design, who had been shamelessly watching the drama unfold from his doorway, popped out. “That’s mine! It’s from AllSaints! I must have left it on the chair next to Leo’s. You can give it back now, I’m cold too.” Jessica’s face contorted with rage. She ripped the jacket off and threw it at the designer, then shot one last, hate-filled glare in my direction before being escorted away. I almost had to laugh. A wannabe homewrecker tried to take me on and ended up getting herself arrested. What a night. Later, Leo explained everything. Jessica was the daughter of some old neighbors who had moved out of state a decade ago. They had recently moved back and reconnected with his parents. When they heard Jessica was looking for a job, his dad pressured Leo into giving her a position. He’d barely remembered who she was. And on her very first day, she pulled this stunt. Part 4 “So, she’s some kind of long-lost childhood sweetheart?” I asked, rolling my eyes. Leo made a gagging noise. “God, no. Don’t even say that. She was the absolute worst. Every time she got into trouble as a kid, she’d play innocent and find a way to blame me, then finish it off with a tearful ‘it’s all my fault.’” He shuddered dramatically. “Seriously, I never wanted to see her again. I only hired her because my dad wouldn’t let it go.” As it turned out, Jessica didn’t face any real charges. She cried to Leo’s dad, who then yelled at Leo until he agreed to drop it and settle things privately. She was out of the precinct by the next night. I figured after a move that drastic—and that stupid—she’d finally get the hint and disappear. I was wrong. A few days later, I got an Instagram follow request from her. The app said she was a “suggested contact from Leo’s phone,” which was a nice little twist of the knife. I accepted out of sheer morbid curiosity. She immediately sent me a photo. It was a picture taken at a fancy restaurant, across a large, round table filled with people. I recognized Leo’s parents, and Leo himself. He was sitting next to the person taking the photo, smiling as he placed a piece of food into their bowl. He looked relaxed, caring, intimate. The photo was followed by a message: “Chloe, you don’t really think Leo loves you, do you? He’s always been in love with me. Tonight, our families are meeting to officially discuss our wedding plans.” After what happened last time, I wasn’t falling for it. If I hadn’t gone to his office that night, and if he hadn’t called the cops, that first text would have become a seed of doubt between us. I wasn’t letting that happen again. I didn’t feel the same rage as before. I just calmly dialed Leo’s number. It rang for a while before he picked up, the background noise suddenly muffled as if he’d stepped outside. “Chloe! Hey, what’s up?” He sounded happy, cheerful even. “Where are you?” He paused. We trusted each other, so I rarely asked him questions like that. “I’m at The Hawthorne Grill with my parents.” “Is Jessica there?” “Yeah, our families are having dinner together,” he said, completely matter-of-fact. Not a hint of guilt in his voice. I was silent for a moment. “Check your Instagram DMs,” I said, then sent him a screenshot of the photo and her message. “Is she sick in the head?” he exploded. “She wasn’t even sitting next to me! My niece was sitting next to me!” He sounded furious. A second later, he hung up, telling me to wait. A moment later, my phone buzzed with a screenshot he’d sent me. It was from his niece’s Instagram story—the same photo, but uncropped, clearly showing the little girl sitting next to him, beaming as he gave her a shrimp. “Chloe, you should come over here,” he texted. “We need to end this once and for all. This woman is a psycho.” “Are you sure? It’s a family dinner. I don’t want to intrude.” “Intrude? My parents love you! And if we don’t shut this down face-to-face, she’ll keep pulling this crap and try to ruin us.” He was panicking now. “Yes. You have to come. I’m sending a car for you right now.” Part 5 He was right. This needed to be settled. I changed into a sharp but elegant dress and headed out. The Hawthorne Grill wasn’t far, and twenty minutes later I was there. Leo was waiting for me at the entrance, still looking furious. I walked up and put a calming hand on his arm. He looked at me, his expression softening into pure relief mixed with desperation. “I’m so glad you called me,” he said. “What if you had been like one of those women in those crazy Reddit stories you made me read, and you just believed her and disappeared?” I had to suppress a smile. That was my fault. When we first started dating, I was worried he was too nice to spot a manipulator, so I’d made him read a ton of posts from the “Am I The Asshole?” subreddit. It seemed the main takeaway he got wasn’t how to spot a master manipulator, but a deep-seated fear that if he ever upset me, I’d just ghost him. He pulled me into a hug, then led me toward their private dining room. When we walked in, the room was buzzing with cheerful conversation. The moment Leo’s parents saw me, their faces lit up. His mom immediately called a waiter over to add another chair. “Chloe, honey! Come, sit right here next to me,” she said, patting the new seat she’d placed between herself and Leo. Across the table, I could see Leo’s little niece sitting exactly where he said she’d be. And next to her… was Jessica. When she saw me, her jaw dropped, and her face turned pale. “Leo, who is this?” a woman next to Jessica—who I assumed was her mother—asked, her voice dripping with disdain. “Why are you bringing outsiders to a private family gathering?” Leo’s mother’s smile tightened instantly. She patted my hand reassuringly before beaming at Jessica’s mom. “Oh, she’s no outsider,” she said sweetly. “This is my future daughter-in-law, Chloe Miller.” “Oh, so this is Leo’s little girlfriend,” the woman sneered, forcing a laugh. “You’ve certainly got him on a tight leash, dear. He can’t even have dinner with his parents without you showing up to check on him.” In one sentence, she painted me as some kind of controlling, psycho girlfriend. Normally, I’d show respect to an elder, but some people don’t deserve it. Leo had given me a clear green light on the way in: “If they give you any trouble, you let them have it. Don’t you dare hold back.” So I smiled, a bright, dazzling smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I even gave Jessica a playful little brow-raise. “Oh, you must have me mistaken, ma’am,” I said, my voice as sweet as sugar. “It was your daughter who insisted I come. She sent me a lovely message saying you were all here tonight to discuss her and Leo’s wedding plans. I couldn’t let my boyfriend get taken advantage of, could I? I just had to come see for myself.” The table fell silent. Leo’s parents turned to look at Jessica, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion. “What wedding plans?” his father asked, his voice dangerously low.

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I was basically working as a professional girlfriend for two brothers at the same time. For the older one, Julian, it was all about seduction. I’m talking lace bodysuits, a fluffy little bunny tail—the whole nine yards. For the younger one, Caleb, it was the complete opposite. He wanted the good-girl act. For him, it was crisp white blouses and stockings, the picture of innocence. I was good at my job, really good. So good that I kept the two worlds completely separate. No one had a clue. Until one day, I got sloppy. A paparazzi photographer got a lucky shot. The next morning, this headline was all over the gossip blogs: “NYC’s Thorne Brothers Sharing a Girlfriend?” And when a furious Caleb came storming over, I was sitting right on his older brother’s lap, playing the part of a kitten who wanted cream. * 1 All the other girls in my line of work felt sorry for me. They knew me as Caleb Thorne’s girl, the one he kept in a gilded cage but never touched. “Sadie’s such a knockout,” they’d whisper over brunch. “Why is she with a guy as cold as Caleb Thorne?” “I heard he’s saving himself for his one great unrequited love. That’s why he never sleeps with Sadie.” “Poor girl. So young and basically living like a nun. How does she stand it?” Listening to them, I’d grab a napkin and dab at my dry eyes, playing along. It was true, Caleb never laid a finger on me. He paid me ten grand a month just to have dinner with him, go for drives along the coast, and make small talk. Honestly, it was the easiest money I’d ever made. But because I had so much free time, I did something a little…unethical for our profession. I picked up a second client. I kept it a secret, of course. I couldn’t let the other girls know I was breaking the rules. Right now, my friend Maya was hugging me, full of sympathy. “Sadie, this can’t be healthy for you. You should find a new guy. What about the older Thorne brother, Julian? He’s worth billions, single, and ridiculously hot. You should go for him.” “No way,” another girl, Chloe, chimed in. “I heard Julian Thorne already has a girl. She’s super mysterious, though. No one’s ever seen her. You don’t want to get caught in that mess.” I took a long sip of my iced tea, saying nothing. My phone buzzed. It was a text from Julian. “Come to the penthouse tonight. Be waiting for me.” I quickly typed back, “Okay.” Yeah, about that mysterious girl Julian was keeping… that was me, too. * 2 Julian was nothing like his brother. He was pure, unrestrained energy, a force of nature who loved to push every boundary. When I got to his penthouse, I slipped off my black trench coat, revealing the little fox costume I had on underneath. I’d even made a pair of fuzzy ears on a headband to complete the look. Julian’s eyes darkened, his breath catching in his throat. He slowly undid the buttons on his shirt, then pulled off his leather belt with one fluid motion and beckoned to me with his finger. “Come here,” he rasped. I obeyed, settling onto his lap and wrapping my arms around his neck. “I made the ears myself,” I purred. “Do you like them?” His hand, hot against the fabric of my tiny skirt, tightened. “I love them,” he said, his voice thick. I took my chance, nuzzling against his neck. “I saw a new limited-edition handbag yesterday…” “Hmm, buy it,” Julian murmured, his focus elsewhere. His fingers traced lazy circles on my waist, sending shivers down my spine. As we kissed, he tugged sharply at my fluffy tail, pulling it off. He lifted my chin, his lips brushing against my ear. “Is my little fox a bad girl?” “What?” I asked, blinking up at him, feigning confusion. A slow grin spread across his face as his hand moved to the zipper on my skirt. “I think I need to investigate.” In the heated haze of the moment, with Julian holding me tight, I decided to push my luck. “I want to buy a condo downtown,” I whispered. “I’ll have my assistant send you the listings tomorrow,” he said, his eyes flashing with mock annoyance as he tightened his grip, making me gasp. “You little gold-digger. Stop thinking about money and focus on me.” Honestly, I didn’t want to be like this. Julian was good to me. He showered me with gifts, with affection, with a passion that felt real. I was dangerously close to falling for him. But then I found out the truth about my world. It turns out, I’m living in a book. A trashy, steamy romance novel. The Thorne brothers are the male leads, and their long-lost love is the heroine. I’m just the stand-in, the disposable placeholder they use while she’s away. The book said that when she comes back, the brothers will fight over her, tear the city apart for her. And because she’ll hate me, they’ll turn on me. They’ll lock me away, torment me, and eventually have me committed to a mental hospital where I lose my mind. In the end, the three of them live happily ever after. And me? I die alone on a cold winter night. Knowing all that snapped me right out of any romantic fantasy. My new goal was simple: make as much money as I could, as fast as I could. The heroine wasn’t due back for another year. If I hustled, working both jobs, I could save enough to disappear. Back in the penthouse, the mood was heating up again when my phone started buzzing relentlessly. It was like a fire alarm in the middle of a dream. Julian pulled back, annoyed. “Handle it.” I was about to silence it when I saw a string of frantic texts from Maya. “Sadie, you snake! How could you not tell me?” “We’re all out here struggling and you’re pulling double duty? Earning twice as much?” “And I felt SORRY for you! You’re living better than any of us!” I slowly typed a single “?” She replied instantly. “Don’t play dumb. I know you’re Julian Thorne’s girl too.” Julian was right there, shirtless and waiting. I didn’t have time to ask her how she found out. I just begged her, “Please, keep it a secret. I’ll explain everything later.” “Too late, Sadie. Everyone knows.” A cold dread washed over me. My heart started pounding in my throat. The next second, she sent me a link to a gossip blog. The headline was blaring: “NYC’s Thorne Brothers Sharing a Girlfriend?” * 3 My hand was shaking as I clicked the link. There were two photos. The first was me and Caleb at a quiet restaurant. He was feeding me a bite of his food, gently wiping my mouth with a napkin, his eyes full of a soft, protective look. The second photo was way more explicit. It was me and Julian, kissing on a rooftop balcony, me dressed as a Playboy bunny. Damn the paparazzi. They’d finally caught me, and my whole world was about to implode. Maya was still texting me. “Do they know? The brothers?” “No,” I typed back, my blood running cold. Maya: “Are you insane?! You need to run. Get out of there NOW.” Maya: “Julian might not have seen it yet, but my guy just told me Caleb already knows.” Just then, a message from Caleb popped up on my screen. It was only four words. “We need to talk.” I flinched like I’d been slapped. Caleb looked gentle, but his anger was terrifying. Over on the bed, Julian was getting impatient. He reached out, pulling me back into his arms. “Are you done? Because it’s my turn now.” He took my hand and guided it down his chest, over his rock-hard abs, and lower. “Sadie,” he whispered, his voice a low growl. “Help me take these off.” But with my life on the line, who had time for foreplay? I pulled my hand back. “Julian, not tonight.” “I just got a call,” I lied, my mind racing. “My sister is sick, she has a high fever. I have to go take care of her.” I scrambled away from him, grabbing my trench coat. “Next time. I promise, we’ll do this next time.” Julian stared at me for a long moment, the fire in his eyes slowly dying out. He sighed, then grabbed his car keys. “I’ll drive you.” “No, you don’t have to—” I started to say, but just then, the doorbell buzzed. Through the intercom, a voice, cold and devoid of any emotion, echoed through the room. “Julian? You home?” It was Caleb. * 4 The second I heard Caleb’s voice, I dove behind the couch like a cornered animal. Julian opened the door. Caleb’s tone was sharp, cutting straight to the point. “Brother. Do you know a woman named Sadie?” “I do,” Julian said, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe with a smug grin. “You can call her your future sister-in-law. Why, you know her too?” A cold, sarcastic smile touched Caleb’s lips. “I do. And you can call her your future sister-in-law.” The silence that followed was so thick I could feel it pressing down on me. My heart was hammering against my ribs. “What the hell are you talking about?” Julian demanded. “You haven’t seen the news?” Caleb said, pulling out his phone and tapping the screen a few times before holding it up for Julian to see. “To put it simply, your girl and my girl… are the same person.” The world stopped. I didn’t hear what they said after that. I was already sneaking toward the service exit at the back of the penthouse. I had to get away from these two psycho brothers. Once I was out, I ran. I just ran, my mind already calculating my next move. The handbag and the condo were gone, obviously, but over the past year, I’d managed to save up a few hundred thousand dollars. It was enough for me and my sisters to live on for a few years. It was a shame, though. I was so close to my goal. As the penthouse grew smaller in the distance and no one seemed to be chasing me, I started to relax. I kicked a stray pebble on the sidewalk out of frustration. “Two rich idiots,” I muttered. “Can’t even keep their own business private, and now I’m the one paying for it.” Just as the words left my mouth, a cold hand closed around the back of my neck, fingers hooking onto my necklace. Caleb was standing in front of me. He advanced, forcing me backward until my back hit a lamppost. His voice was dangerously soft, laced with a chilling amusement. “Tell me, Sadie. Was it fun? Having one brother who’s so easy to fool, and another who’s so easy to please? Playing us both like that?” I tried to bolt in the other direction. But Julian was there, blocking my path. He was wearing just a white dress shirt, a fresh red scratch mark—one I’d made earlier—visible on his neck. He was slowly, deliberately, rolling up his sleeves. His expression was unreadable. “Sadie,” he said, his voice low and steady. “I suggest you start explaining. Right now.” I was trapped. Leaning against the lamppost for support, my palms sweating, I forced myself to look calm. “I was working two jobs. Is that a crime?” I shot back. “When you hired me, neither of you said I couldn’t freelance.” Caleb almost laughed, a humorless, terrifying sound. He reached for my wrist. “Do I really need to spell out the basics of professional ethics for you?” But he never touched me. Julian stepped between us, his jaw tight. He shot me a look so cold it froze me to the spot. I couldn’t meet his eyes, staring instead at our long shadows stretching out under the streetlight. Caleb was about to say something else when his phone rang. In the dead silence of the street, the voice on the other end was perfectly clear. “Caleb, it’s me. I’m back. I just landed at JFK.” “I tried calling Julian, but he didn’t pick up. Can you let him know for me?” Well, what do you know. The leading lady was back a year ahead of schedule. Caleb was so engrossed in the call that I saw my chance. I ducked under his arm and ran. He was too busy talking to catch me. As for the other one, I risked a quick glance over my shoulder. Julian was still standing in the same spot. His head was slightly tilted, his hand slowly tracing the scratch on his neck. The lamplight cast a shadow over his face, making his expression impossible to read. He wasn’t going to chase me. Not anymore. His real love was back. Who had time for a substitute? I figured as long as I stayed away from her—Clara—I could probably avoid the tragic ending from the book. It was almost 10 PM when I got back to the children’s home. The younger girls were already asleep. I handed an envelope stuffed with cash to the director, Mama Elena. This was a private home for abandoned girls. Some were sick, some came from families who couldn’t afford them, and some were there simply because they weren’t boys. This home was the only family I’d ever known. Mama Elena was my mother. She was everyone’s mother. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that required emergency surgery. The cost was astronomical. I gave her every penny I had, but it wasn’t enough. That’s when Caleb Thorne found me. * 5 He’d just stared at my face for a long time, a polite, unreadable smile on his lips. “Sadie,” he’d said. “You look a lot like a girl I care about.” “I have a business proposition for you. Are you interested?” The deal was simple: I’d be his companion for dinners and social events. In return, he’d pay me ten thousand dollars a month, with a one-year minimum contract. I had no reason to say no. His assistant gave me a dossier on the real girl, Clara. It had everything: her favorite foods, her allergies, her fashion sense, her pet peeves. I was told to memorize it. Be the perfect copy. But I messed up on our very first dinner. He’d ordered a feast. I helped myself to the shrimp scampi four times. With each serving, the look on Caleb’s face grew darker. Finally, he lifted my chin with his fingers, pointing at the shrimp. “Sadie,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “Your performance is off tonight.” “No matter how much she loves a dish, she would never take more than three helpings.” His voice was light, but his words were heavy. “A poor performance means a pay cut, you know.” He docked me five hundred dollars, just like that. My heart ached. Later, when Mama Elena’s body started rejecting the transplant and she needed expensive anti-rejection drugs, I begged Caleb for an advance. He just smiled that placid, terrifying smile. “Sadie, it’s a bad habit to ask for more than you’re given. *She* would never do that.” He wouldn’t give me the money, and I was desperate. So when Julian Thorne offered me a hundred thousand a month, I said yes without a second thought. With Julian, there were no rules. He never mentioned Clara. And I pretended I didn’t know who she was. Now, holding the thick envelope, Mama Elena tried to give it back. “Sadie, you’ve given this home so much over the years. You paid for my entire surgery. I can’t take any more from you.” I gently pushed it back into her hands. “There are so many other girls to take care of. Please, just keep it. And don’t worry about me, I have my own savings set aside.” I gave her a tight hug. “Besides, Mama Elena… I have to go.” “I’m moving to Los Angeles. I don’t think I’ll be back for a few years.” In New York, the Thorne brothers could ruin me with a single phone call. I needed to be far, far away. I booked a flight for three days later. In that time, neither of the brothers contacted me. But Maya did, full of gossip. “Man, there’s a real difference between us stand-ins and the real thing, huh?” she said over the phone. “Did you see the fireworks over the Hudson last night? It went on for over an hour. Cost millions. I heard Julian Thorne set it up to celebrate Clara’s return.” I suddenly remembered a conversation I’d had with Julian. I was lying exhausted in his arms, and he was toying with a lock of my hair. “Sadie,” he’d asked, his voice rough with sleep, “besides money, is there anything else you like?” I thought for a moment. “Fireworks,” I’d said. “The kind that light up the whole sky.” He hadn’t seemed satisfied with that answer. He buried his face in my neck, and after a long pause, he mumbled, “Okay. Next time, I’ll set off a fireworks show over the Hudson for you.” Right. A man’s promise. The fireworks happened, they just weren’t for me. “Sadie? You listening?” Maya was still talking. “And tonight, Caleb Thorne is throwing this massive welcome-home party for her at The Plaza.” “She gets what she wants, and you get what you need! You’re leaving for LA, so I’m throwing you a going-away party!” Maya texted me an address. I figured it would be nice to see her one last time before I disappeared. So I went. But the moment I walked in, I knew something was wrong. The party was… huge. Way too fancy. Way too many people. And there, in the middle of the glittering ballroom, stood Clara, dressed in a stunning gown of blue, sparkling diamonds. On either side of her, like two sentinels, were Caleb and Julian Thorne. All three of them turned and looked directly at me. I froze, pulling out my phone. A new text from Maya had just come in, a second too late. “OMG WRONG BALLROOM NAME! That’s Caleb’s party for Clara! DON’T GO IN! So embarrassing!” She sent a new location. “Come here instead! All the girls are waiting. Don’t be jealous of her fireworks, I got you sparklers!” I cursed Maya a thousand times in my head. I knew she was a mess, but this was a new level of incompetent. I kept my head down, trying to back out unnoticed, but it was too late. Clara was already walking toward me. She held a glass of champagne, a brilliant, practiced smile on her face. “You must be Sadie,” she said, her voice smooth as silk.

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The day my dad got out of prison, the first thing he did was try to sweet-talk my mom. “Brenda, look,” he said, his voice low and coaxing. “I’m not gonna get mad. You just gotta tell me the truth. Did you… see anyone while I was away? You know I wasn’t an angel before I went in. It’s no big deal. Four years is a long time. A woman’s got needs. I can handle it.” Hearing those words, my blood ran cold. I rushed over, ready to run interference for my mom, to whisper in her ear to deny everything, no matter what. I’d seen what happened to Mrs. Henderson down the hall. After she confessed to her husband that she’d had an affair, you could hear the screaming through the thin apartment walls. We’d see her later with bruises she tried to hide with cheap concealer, a haunted look in her eyes. My dad was an ex-con. He was ten times more brutal than Mr. Henderson could ever dream of being. In that life, my mom listened to me. She denied everything. But years later, she turned on me, her face twisted with resentment. “This is all your fault, Jenna,” she spat. “You and your bright idea to keep my mouth shut. Now I’m stuck here, miserable, while the men I was with are all doing great. One of them owns his own construction company! But no, I get to live with the guilt, tied to a damn jailbird for the rest of my life!” In her rage, she shoved me. We were on the balcony of our eighth-floor apartment. She pushed me right over the edge. Later, she told the police I’d jumped. That I was being cyberbullied over some boy at school and couldn’t handle it. Now, I’m opening my eyes, and I’m back. Back on the day he came home. I don’t step in to save her. Instead, when my dad turns his questioning eyes on me, I stutter and look at the floor. “Mom… Mom told me not to tell anyone about the uncles who came over,” I mumbled. “I don’t know anything else.” 1 “Jenna, tell me straight. While I was gone, did any other ‘uncles’ come by to see your mom?” His voice, rough and familiar, pulled me back from the void. His face was too close, his breath smelling of stale cigarettes. I knew, with a jolt that made my heart hammer against my ribs, that I was back. He had just started his interrogation, and this time, it was aimed at me. “Jenna? What’s wrong with you?” he pressed. “Did they, or didn’t they? Just tell me.” I took a shaky breath and delivered the line I’d prepared in a past life. “Mom told me not to tell anyone about the uncles who came over,” I whispered. “I don’t know anything else.” His eyes narrowed. “What did they do? Did they… hug your mom or something?” I pretended to think hard, my expression blank, giving him just enough to keep him digging. “They came over for dinner a lot. They brought us groceries. One of them used to hold my hand and say he was gonna marry me when I grew up.” His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching in his cheek. The look on his face had already turned dark. He asked more questions, but I just shook my head and clammed up, playing the part of the scared, confused kid. I didn’t want my mom to have any reason to blame me later. He handed me a crisp hundred-dollar bill. A reward. As I watched him sink into the sagging armchair, his expression shifting from suspicion to barely contained rage, the reality of my second chance finally sunk in. I clutched the money, my gaze turning to ice. This time, Mom, you’re on your own. Let’s see how you handle this. 2 That night, I lingered by their bedroom door. Just like before, I heard my dad’s voice, slick with fake understanding. “Brenda, I’m serious. I won’t get mad,” he was saying. “You know that whole assault charge was bogus. That girl just got pissed I wouldn’t pay her what she wanted. So, if you did something… I get it. Four years is a long time. You must’ve been lonely, right?” My hands started to tremble. This was the exact moment. In my first life, I’d heard this and burst in, making up an excuse to get my dad out of the room before desperately convincing my mom to keep her mouth shut. I’d used the story of Mrs. Henderson to scare her straight. No one else knew the full extent of the beatings, but my bedroom window had a direct view of theirs. My mom, terrified, had heeded my warning. The next time my dad tried to bait her, she’d flown into a rage. “Rick, what the hell is wrong with you?” she had screamed. “You think because you screw around, I do too? I was too busy trying to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table to even think about another man! Maybe if you weren’t such a scumbag, you wouldn’t assume everyone else is!” He’d actually believed her. After that, no men came around. To make up for his suspicion, and maybe his guilt, he actually cleaned up his act. He got a steady job, stopped running around, and for a few years, things got better. We even bought a house. I thought I’d made the right choice. Then, just before my high school graduation, she snapped. “You must be so proud of yourself, Jenna,” she’d sneered. “Making sure your perfect little family stayed together. Did you ever stop to think how miserable I was? The men I was with are all successful now. And what do I have? A lifetime of regret with an ex-con. This is all your fault. You ruined my life!” And then she pushed me. This time, there would be no rescue. Let her learn for herself what Mrs. Henderson already knew. 3 Without me bursting in, my mom’s voice trembled under my dad’s persuasion. At first, she denied it instinctively. “Rick, what are you talking about? I would never do something like that.” But he kept at it, a master manipulator weaving threats and promises together. “If you did, just tell me. We’ll put it behind us and move on. But if I find out on my own… well, you know what happens then.” A few seconds of silence, and then she broke. “Oh, Rick,” she sobbed. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. It was like you said, I was so lonely… but it was more than that. I was all alone with two kids, trying to make ends meet. The pressure… it was too much. They helped us. I don’t know how I would’ve survived without them. You… you really forgive me?” The air went still. A full minute passed. My mom’s voice rose in panic. “Rick? Honey? What’s wrong? You said you’d forgive me if I told the truth.” My dad’s voice was low and heavy, thick with suppressed fury. “‘They’? So it wasn’t just one. Who were they? How many? Tell me everything, and then I’ll forgive you.” 4 She was in too deep to stop now. “Three,” she whispered. “Two you know—Mark and Leo. The other one… his name is Eric.” “And how did you manage that, with the kids around?” he pressed. She hesitated. “When they were at school… they’d come to the house. Sometimes we’d get a hotel room. But they always gave me money, Rick! It wasn’t for free! I was doing it to provide for the kids…” Her voice trailed off. “You’re not mad, are you? You promised you’d forgive me. Now that you’re back, I’ll cut them all off. I swear. It’ll just be us.” He didn’t answer. The silence stretched on again, heavy and menacing. Then, his voice came, cold and demonic. “You really think I can just ‘move on’ after you let not one, not two, but three different men in our bed? You forget why I went away? You forget what I did to that bitch who accused me?” My mom finally understood. She’d walked right into his trap. “You were lying,” she choked out. “You were tricking me! You bastard, Rick! You’re a monster!” CRACK. The sound of his hand hitting her cheek echoed through the door, followed by his cold, cruel laugh. “I knew you couldn’t keep your legs closed. But three of them… that’s impressive. You know, I’ve always wondered about Kevin. Tell me the truth, Brenda. Is he my son? Or does he belong to one of them?” 5 I froze outside the door. This was new. I never knew my dad had suspected Kevin wasn’t his. My brother, Kevin, was two years younger than me and spoiled rotten by my mom. He treated me like dirt, always using my mom’s favoritism to his advantage. He was there, on the balcony, the night she killed me. He didn’t push me, but he didn’t stop her, either. And when the police questioned him, he backed up her story, telling them I jumped. He and my mom were a united front. I hadn’t seen him since I came back, but now, hearing my dad’s suspicion, a memory surfaced. Leo. Every time Leo came over, he wasn’t just all over my mom; he was all over Kevin. He’d slip him twenty-dollar bills, buy him new sneakers, treat him like a prince. I never got a thing. Mark and Eric couldn’t have cared less about us kids. A cold certainty washed over me. Kevin was Leo’s son. I had to tell my dad. Someday. Another sharp crack from inside the room. “I said, is Kevin my son!” “Rick, you’ve lost your mind in there!” my mom shrieked. “You get out and you immediately accuse me and your son? You can doubt me, but not Kevin! You were there when he was born, you watched him grow up! Who else’s would he be? You were the one cheating back then, not me!” 6 Her denial was fierce, but my dad just went quiet again. I was about to walk away when I heard his voice, dead and flat. “Take off your clothes.” “What? Rick, what are you doing?” I heard the distinct sound of a leather belt being unbuckled. “Rick, don’t you dare,” my mom pleaded, her voice shaking with fear. “Even if we’re married, this is assault! It’s illegal!” He just laughed, a sound devoid of any humor. Then came the sickening thwack of the leather. “After you’ve been with God knows how many men? You think I still want you? Don’t flatter yourself,” he sneered. “I recorded everything you just said on my phone. You call the cops, it’s a he-said, she-said domestic dispute. And what happens when I send this little recording to all your friends and family?” Another lash, and she screamed in pain. “Rick! How could you hit me? I’m calling the police!” “You think I’d let you?” he growled. “You’re never calling anyone again. If you even try, I’ll kill Kevin.” That did it. The fight went out of her. She started begging, sobbing for forgiveness. “Rick, please, I’m sorry! Kevin is your son, he’s your son, I swear! If you have to doubt someone… then fine! I’ll tell you the truth! Jenna isn’t yours! She’s Leo’s daughter!” 7 Outside the door, the world tilted. A wave of rage and nausea washed over me, so intense I nearly passed out. It didn’t matter if it was this life or the last one. When backed into a corner, she would always, always throw me to the wolves to save her precious son. Was I even her daughter? At this point, I didn’t care whose DNA I had. What mother could be this cruel? Fine. If she wanted to play that game, then the gloves were off. I remembered now. The way Mark, another of her lovers, used to stare at me, his eyes lingering too long. How he’d find excuses to touch my hand. My mom saw it. And instead of stopping him, she’d smiled at him like she was showing off a prize pig. “Our Jenna, she’s only a pre-teen, but she’s already blossoming, isn’t she?” she’d cooed. “Some boy is going to be very lucky one day.” Mark’s eyes had lit up. “Well, I’m too old to be that lucky boy,” he’d chuckled, his gaze slimy. “But you know, when she’s legal, maybe I could be her first… show her the ropes?” My mom had giggled. “Of course! What a lucky girl she’d be!” She wasn’t just my mother. She was my pimp. “What? Jenna is Leo’s daughter?” My dad’s roar snapped me back to the present. I didn’t wait to hear more. I ran out of the apartment and found Kevin playing video games on his phone at the park across the street. “Kevin, come quick!” I yelled. “Dad is beating Mom!” 8 He shot up and started running, but I grabbed his arm. “Wait! We’re just kids, we can’t stop him! Call Uncle Leo! He’s the only one strong enough!” He didn’t question it. He frantically dialed Leo’s number, then sprinted toward our building. I let him go first, staying a few steps behind. When Kevin kicked open the bedroom door, we both froze. Well, I was less shocked. I’d seen a naked, beaten woman before. It was just my mom this time instead of Mrs. Henderson. Kevin, however, looked like he’d been struck by lightning. When he finally found his voice, he launched himself between them, shielding my mom. “Dad, what are you doing to her?” he screamed. “You abandoned us for years, and now you come back and do this? She raised us by herself! Are you crazy?” My dad’s eyes were bloodshot with rage. “She cheated on me, you little brat! Now get out of my way before I take this belt to you, too!” But Kevin stood his ground, glaring at our father with pure hatred. If I hadn’t been betrayed and murdered by my mother, maybe I would have done the same thing. But now, I just watched, cold and detached. I saw the belt rise, ready to fall on my brother. My mom shrieked. “Rick, he’s your son! If you touch him, I’ll never forgive you! He’ll grow up, and you’ll get old. You think he won’t make you pay for this?” For a second, my dad hesitated. Kevin seized the opportunity. “That’s right! You hit me, and you’re a dead man when I’m older!” Big mistake. My dad had spent four years in a place where threats were the only language spoken. He brought the belt down hard. Kevin screamed, a high-pitched wail of pain. “It hurts!” A sick sense of pleasure bloomed in my chest. Good. That was a tiny bit of payment for the agony of my fall. But it wasn’t enough. Not even close. I glanced at my watch. Leo should be here any second. The real show was about to begin. A minute later, Leo burst through the front door, his face pale with panic. “Jenna, where’s your brother?” I pointed silently toward the bedroom. “You better hurry. Dad’s hitting him, too.” His eyes went wide with fury, and he charged into the room. “Rick, you son of a bitch, stop!” 9 I followed him to the doorway and watched his face go from rage to stunned disbelief. He’d expected a fight, not this. Not Brenda, naked and bleeding on the floor. His eyes lingered on her body for a second too long, a flicker of something—pity, desire, anger—flashing across his face before he flushed a deep red. My dad saw it too. His rage intensified. “What’s the matter, Leo?” he sneered. “Does it hurt to see your whore getting what she deserves?” Leo tore his eyes away and saw Kevin cowering on the floor. He rushed over, putting himself between them and my father. “Rick, have you lost your mind? I’m calling the cops! They’ll lock you up again!” He pulled out his phone, but my dad’s belt lashed out, sending it flying across the room. “Go ahead, call them,” my dad challenged. “Brenda already confessed everything. Sleeping with my wife while I was locked up, making me raise another man’s kid. You really want to call the cops? Don’t you have a wife and kids of your own, Leo? You ready for that scandal?” Leo froze, his face ashen. He glanced at my mom, who just sobbed and hid her face. There was no point in denying it. He tried to cut his losses. “Rick, don’t be crazy,” he said, his voice strained. “Jenna’s not my kid.” My dad watched him, a predator enjoying the game. “So you admit you were sleeping with Brenda?” Trapped, Leo’s demeanor shifted from fear to defiance. “Yeah, I was. So what? She was all alone, struggling. I felt sorry for her. And you—you got no room to talk, man. Look in the damn mirror before you start pointing fingers at her. You think a woman is gonna stay faithful for four years to a piece of trash like you? Get real.” My dad was momentarily stunned by his audacity. Then, with a roar, he swung the belt at Leo. “You sleep with my wife in my house and you dare to lecture me? You made me raise your daughter for ten years, you bastard!” 10 Leo glanced at me in the doorway, and a look of relief crossed his face. As long as my dad thought I was his daughter, Kevin was safe. His secret was safe. But I wasn’t going to let that happen. I stepped into the room, my voice clear and cold, cutting through the chaos. “Dad,” I said, meeting his wild eyes. “I’m not Uncle Leo’s daughter.” I let the silence hang for a beat, then turned and pointed a steady finger at my brother. “He is.”

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The HR manager told me to pack my things. I was being laid off. I smirked, looking him dead in the eye. “Does my dad know you’re firing me?” HR slid a paper across the desk. “The layoff list for the Security department just came down. Your dad’s on it.” I laughed. “Well, does my mom know?” He glanced at me. “We’re downsizing Janitorial, too. She’s on the list.” I leaned back in my chair, letting out a cold huff. “And I suppose my grandpa, the esteemed man at the front desk, has been informed of this momentous event?” HR tapped the last list. “Head of the chopping block for the Doorman staff. Your grandpa’s name is first.” … 1 There we were, three generations of my family, lined up like ducks in a row on termination day. The entire office was staring, their faces a mixture of pity and morbid curiosity. “They all got laid off? That’s their whole family’s income, gone in one day.” “So tragic. But honestly, who does that? You’d think a normal family would know not to put all their eggs in one basket. Now the whole carton’s smashed.” “Wait, isn’t that Mason guy dating Chloe, the VP? She’s really firing her boyfriend’s entire family?” A chubby guy with glasses chimed in, “Please. Mason had it coming. He’s a total mooch, and not content with that, he brought his whole family to leech off the company too.” “And on top of that,” he added, lowering his voice, “he had the nerve to piss off Julian. And everyone knows Julian is the one Chloe *really* cares about. It was only a matter of time.” Just then, Julian’s voice cut through the whispers. “Oh, Mason, buddy. I tried to talk Chloe out of it. I really did. I told her your family was struggling and that this was a bit extreme.” Julian, looking sharp in an expensive custom-tailored suit, shot me a look of pure triumph. “But what could I do? She insisted on defending my honor. Said she had to get rid of you all.” He leaned in, his voice dripping with false sympathy. “You’re not mad at me, are you?” I scoffed. “Cut the act, Julian. You know you threw yourself down those stairs to frame me.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “So what if I did? What does it matter if there’s security footage? Chloe refuses to even look at it.” “It’s just how it is, Mason. She believes whatever I say. I’m the one she’s always cared about. We’ve known each other for twenty years. You never stood a chance.” 2 Julian’s arrival only fueled the office gossip. The comments got louder, and meaner. The most vicious was Stacy, Chloe’s best friend. She’d always hated me. “Mason, if you had any self-respect, you would have bowed out ages ago. Look at you. Your family, your education… what part of you can even compare to a man like Julian?” Her round-faced friend nodded eagerly. “Exactly. Julian and Chloe are childhood friends. He’s an Ivy League grad from a family of academics. And your family is…?” She let out a derisive snort, scanning the four of us with utter contempt. My mom’s face went rigid with anger. She was about to let loose when my dad put a hand on her arm. “Let it go,” he murmured. “This is good for him. A little humiliation might finally knock some sense into him and stop him from being Chloe’s doormat.” My mom nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. “You’re right.” Stacy wasn’t done. “Mason, you should take a good long look in the mirror. Chloe is rich, she’s beautiful. Did you really think she would ever be serious about a leech like you?” That was the last straw for my grandpa. “Hey! You watch your mouth, young lady! Who are you calling a leech?” Before Stacy could answer, a sharp voice cut in from behind me. “He’s talking about your grandson, you useless old man.” 3 I turned. It was Chloe. Julian arched an eyebrow at me, then smugly wrapped his arm around Chloe’s waist, pulling her close in a clear display of victory. Chloe looked at my grandfather with her usual air of imperious disdain. “You’ve been fired. Don’t you dare cause a scene in my company, you old fossil.” My grandpa was so stunned by her vulgarity that he started wheezing. My parents rushed to his side, patting his back. “Dad, don’t listen to her. She’s not worth it.” I stepped in front of my grandpa, shielding him. “You can say whatever you want about me, Chloe. But you don’t talk to my grandfather like that.” My dad’s anger flared. “That’s right! You can insult my son, but you will not insult my father!” My mom crossed her arms. “And you can’t insult my son, either!” Chloe threw her head back and laughed, a high, sharp sound. “Oh, is that right? Did I hurt the beggars’ feelings? Are you seriously going to stand there and tell me you’re *not* mooches?” Her eyes swept over the four of us. “A janitor, a security guard, a doorman, and a ‘Director’ I appointed out of pity. You have the nerve to deny you’re leeches? Your entire family should be on your knees, thanking me for my charity.” “Now you listen here, young lady,” my mom snapped back. “That’s not right. If it weren’t for my—for my son busting his ass in the project department, drumming up clients, this ‘charity case’ of a company would have gone bankrupt years ago!” Chloe doubled over with laughter. “Oh, ma’am, are you serious? You think this company runs because of *your son*?” “What kind of connections does Mason have? Do you really think he’s the one who got Isabella Sterling, the heiress to Sterling Enterprises, to personally come in and sign that contract?” My mom snorted. “Why not? She happens to be very fond of—” My dad shot my mom a look, a silent signal to hold back. Seeing my mom fall silent, Chloe pounced. “What’s the matter, cat got your tongue? Don’t tell me you were actually going to say the great Isabella Sterling signed that deal because of your son?” 4 Looking at Chloe’s face, it was like seeing a stranger. Julian was her childhood friend, and ever since he’d returned from overseas, he’d made it his mission to make my life a living hell. It started the day he arrived, when he walked into my office and declared, “I think I’d like this office.” I knew then he was trouble. “If you want it, you have to earn it,” I’d told him. “This is the Project Director’s office. Can you bring in investors? Can you even manage a project?” Before he could respond, Chloe had stepped in, linking her arm with his. “Mason, don’t you dare look down on him.” “Julian isn’t like you, from a family of uneducated blue-collar workers. He’s a top graduate from a university abroad, from a highly respected family. He has connections and resources overseas you can’t even dream of. He’ll do a better job than you ever could.” I’d raised an eyebrow. “You really think so?” “Of course!” she’d snapped. “Julian is the company’s new good luck charm! He just got here and he already landed a massive deal with Sterling Enterprises. You know, only the biggest multinational corporation on the planet.” I almost laughed. “A good luck charm? Him? That project was my—” “Oh, stop it, Mason,” she interrupted. “Don’t tell me that old story about how your department’s ‘all-nighters’ landed the client. In the seven years I’ve been VP, Sterling Enterprises has never given us the time of day.” At that, Julian had smirked. “Hey, isn’t your dad one of the security guards here?” “And your grandpa’s the doorman, your mom’s a janitor—oh! Speaking of which, since your mom’s on staff, why don’t you call her up here to clean my new office?” Even Chloe hesitated. “Julian, that’s Mason’s mom. Maybe that’s going too far—” He just ruffled her hair. “Sweetheart, you’re too kind. That’s how people take advantage of you. Fine. If making his mom clean is in poor taste, Mason can do it himself.” Chloe didn’t spare me a second thought, didn’t care one bit about my dignity as her boyfriend. She and Julian flirted right in front of me while I was on my hands and knees cleaning. “Julian, look,” she’d cooed, presenting him with a lavish gift box. “A little something to celebrate you joining the company.” He opened it to reveal a Rolex. “Wow, Chloe. This is way too much.” “You deserve it,” she said. “You landed us a billion-dollar deal on your first week.” Meanwhile, I was scrubbing the floor. Chloe shot me a glare. “Hurry it up. Don’t hold up the transition.” That was just the beginning. Even after I moved offices, Julian wouldn’t let up. He’d intentionally “bump” into me during meetings, spilling scalding coffee on my hand and then playing the victim. Chloe never once asked if I was okay. She’d rush to his side in front of everyone. “Julian, are you hurt? Meeting’s adjourned, I’m taking you to the hospital.” He locked me in a supply closet overnight to “teach me a lesson” for his own manufactured slights. He made my grandpa park and wash his car every single day, treating him like a valet. He made my mom clean his office a dozen times a day, always finding some new speck of dust to complain about. He ordered my dad around like a personal servant. Every time I tried to talk to Chloe about it, she’d dismiss me. “Mason, you’re being too sensitive. They’re just doing their jobs. They get a paycheck, they should do the work.” “You’re only like this because you’re poor. It’s made you paranoid. You always assume the worst of Julian.” Then came the annual company gala. Chloe gave a heartfelt speech about the man who had stood by her all these years, who helped her achieve her dreams. Everyone, including me, thought she was talking about me. I was getting ready to stand up. But the name she called was Julian’s. I watched them embrace under the spotlight as the entire company laughed at me. From that day on, I was a joke. They called me “the clown” and “the simp” to my face. The last straw was a few days ago. Julian cornered me on the stairs. “If you don’t break up with Chloe,” he sneered, “I’ll make her kick you to the curb.” And then he just… threw himself down the flight of stairs. As always, Chloe didn’t investigate. She didn’t listen to my side of the story. She demanded I get on my knees and apologize to him. I refused. So she had HR fire my entire family. After so many humiliations, I was numb. The love I once felt for her had curdled into something else entirely. Pity, maybe. 5 Seeing us silent, Chloe continued her tirade. “What’s the matter? Nothing to say? Finally realize what pathetic losers you are?” My grandpa couldn’t take it anymore. “Of course not! It’s because of my—” My dad stopped him. “Dad, not yet. Let’s see how far she takes this.” Chloe took our silence as agreement. She tapped her designer heel on the marble floor. “Your entire family eats my food, wears clothes paid for by my salary. You should have learned your place as my dogs.” Stacy chimed in. “Exactly! Being Chloe’s dogs is the best thing that ever happened to you.” “Chloe,” I said through gritted teeth. “Don’t push it.” *CRACK.* Her hand slapped across my face, the sound echoing in the silent office. “Who do you think you are,” she hissed, “to speak to me like that?” That did it. My mom was fiercely protective. The second she saw me get hit, she lunged forward and grabbed a fistful of Chloe’s hair. “You dare touch my son? I have had it with you!” My mom slapped Chloe right back, just as hard. Stacy tried to pull my mom off, but I shoved her away. Julian rushed forward. “Mason, you’re such a mama’s boy! You’re just going to stand there and watch your mom attack Chloe?” My grandpa shot Julian a withering look. “And you, young man. Of all the things to be, you chose to be a homewrecker.” Julian’s face turned beet red. Chloe, reeling from the slap, looked at me in disbelief. “Mason! You’re really going to let your mother do this to me?” She glared at my mom. “You’re a fired janitor and you have the audacity to lay a hand on me? This isn’t over.” I stepped in front of my mom. “She did nothing wrong. If you have a problem, you take it up with me.” A slow, cruel smile spread across Julian’s face. “Mason, I told you. You can’t win against me.” Chloe’s face was a mask of hatred. “Don’t you dare act tough now, you leech. Ganging up on me with this old hag.” My dad and grandpa just stared, their eyes wide with a strange kind of awe. “Fine,” Chloe said, regaining her composure. “I’ll give you one last chance. I can forgive your mother. You can even stay. If you get on your knees, right now, apologize, and sign this document disowning your entire family. Then I’ll consider letting you take over your mother’s old job. You can stay and scrub the company toilets.” 6 “That’s—that’s just inhuman!” my grandpa sputtered. Julian sneered. “Shut your mouth, old man. Your doorman job is gone. You keep barking, and I’ll make sure you’re blacklisted from every security firm in the city.” My dad’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Wow, you can do that?” Julian puffed out his chest. “I’m the man who landed the Sterling Enterprises deal. Even Isabella Sterling listens to what I have to say.” I started clapping slowly. “Bravo. A truly masterful performance.” “But I have to ask,” I said, my voice dangerously calm. “You’re firing us. Does Ms. Sterling know about that?” For a fraction of a second, Julian looked nervous, but he quickly recovered his swagger, adjusting his tie. “I don’t need to report the firing of a few nobodies to Isabella Sterling.” “That’s right,” Chloe said. “Julian is the Vice President of this company now, the hero who saved us with the Sterling deal. If he doesn’t like you, he can fire you. Does he need to pick a special day?” “Who do you think you are, that we’d need to clear it with Ms. Sterling?” She looked at me. “Mason, kneel to Julian, sign these papers, and I might keep you around.” “Yeah, Mason,” Stacy added. “Don’t be an idiot. Chloe’s company is about to go public thanks to this deal. Don’t throw away your meal ticket. Besides, you’ve knelt before. It’s not like your knees have much value left.” Chloe shoved a document into my hand. It was a legal form to formally sever all parental ties. “This is your last chance, Mason. Disown them, and I’ll still consider marrying you.” 7 I looked at the document. Then I looked at her. And I started to laugh. Under Chloe’s expectant gaze, I took the papers and ripped them into a hundred tiny pieces. I looked at her stunned face and realized, with blinding clarity, that I had been a fool. I had been in love with a monster. “Chloe,” I said, my voice steady and clear. “Remember this moment. Today is the day that I, Mason Hayes, am breaking up with you. And you will live to regret it.” I turned my back on her. Behind me, my dad, mom, and grandpa all gave me a simultaneous, triumphant thumbs-up. For the first time ever, Chloe saw me fight back. For the first time, she looked… scared. “Mason!” she yelled after me. “If you walk out that door today, don’t you ever think about coming back!” “None of you will ever work in this building again!” “Hilarious,” I called back over my shoulder. “We quit.” Julian rolled his eyes. “Go on then. Plenty of people are desperate for your jobs. Go eat out of a dumpster. It’ll save you some money.” As I walked out, I saw Chloe’s confident mask crumble. She stumbled slightly, shocked that I had actually left. Stacy rushed to her side. “Don’t worry, Chloe,” I heard her say. “He’s a total simp. He can’t live without you. Besides, I did some digging. His family’s broke. They don’t even have a house, they were living in the staff dorms. Now that they’re fired, where are they going to go? I guarantee you, he’ll be back tonight, on his knees, begging for your forgiveness.” “You’re right,” Chloe said, her voice regaining some of its strength. “He’ll be back.” 8 The second we were out of the building, my grandpa clapped me on the shoulder, his eyes shining. “Well done, grandson! You finally made all the crap we put up with these past few weeks worth it.” My mom sighed in relief. “Your grandma was right. The only way to cure a simp is to let him get his heart broken. If we had tried to intervene, you would have just accused us of trying to ruin your life.” My dad nodded. “Your grandmother is a wise woman. You see things clearly now? You’re really over Chloe?” I looked at them, my family. “I’m so sorry. I dragged you all through hell because I was an idiot. But I see it now. I’m done. I’m never going back to being her doormat. Tonight, when we get home, I’m calling the Sterlings. It’s time to move forward with the marriage arrangement.” Tears welled up in my grandpa’s eyes. “Oh, son. I’m so glad to hear you say that.” We walked around the corner of the building. Lined up along the curb was a fleet of black Escalades. A row of men in sharp, black suits stood waiting. As we approached, they all bowed in perfect unison. “Mr. Hayes. Sir. Ma’am. Young Master Hayes. Welcome back.”

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My lease was up after three years, and my landlord refused to renew. I was scrambling to find a new place, which is a nightmare in this city. My best friend, Maya, saw the apartment listing online and was furious on my behalf. “This landlord is a total psycho,” she grumbled, scrolling through the pictures on her phone. “You offered to pay more, and you’ve kept the place spotless. Why is he so desperate to rent to someone else?” Impulsively, she stabbed the “call” button on the listing, planning to mess with him a little. But when the call connected, we both froze. The voice that answered was my boyfriend’s. 1 Maya had him on speaker. A familiar “Hello?” came through the phone. The voice was quiet, but it hit me like a lightning bolt. It was my boyfriend, Leo. I couldn’t believe it. I reached out to stop Maya, but my hand hovered uselessly over the screen. We just stared at each other, stunned. “Hello?” he said again, a little louder this time. Maya recovered first. Clearing her throat, she pinched her nose to disguise her voice. “Hi, are you the landlord for apartment 1204 at The Goldcrest?” “Yes, I am.” She shot me a look, then continued, “I saw your listing online, and I—” “Sorry,” he cut her off, “the apartment’s already taken. Someone put down a deposit.” He hung up. Maya shot up from the couch and threw her phone onto the cushions. “Holy crap! The apartment you’ve been renting for three years… the landlord is Leo?” she exclaimed. “This is like something out of a bad movie!” 2 The shock started to wear off, replaced by a cold, sinking feeling. I opened my utility app and pulled up the account for my apartment. Under “Account Holder,” it read: L. Hayes. Next, I called the building management office and asked for the owner’s name for my unit, pretending I needed it for a renter’s insurance claim. “The owner is Leo Hayes,” the woman on the phone confirmed cheerfully. I slumped onto the floor, the strength draining out of me. I leaned against the side of the bed, motionless. When I first signed the lease, the landlord had to reschedule at the last minute. I had a conflict and couldn’t make the new time, so Leo offered to go and sign the paperwork for me. I never once saw the owner’s information. Later, when I saw the name on the utility bill, I’d even joked with him about how common his name was. Looking back, I felt like the world’s biggest idiot. He was collecting rent from me, his girlfriend, for an apartment he owned. He was using me to pay his mortgage, while also crashing at “my” place whenever he wanted. It was a flawless setup, and I had been completely clueless. Maya’s words cut right to the bone. “That’s some next-level scheming. He’s got you paying off his mortgage, and he gets to live there for free. Girl, you’re not his girlfriend, you’re his sugar mama.” 3 My phone buzzed. It was a text from Leo, sent ten minutes ago. [Hey, I’m off work. On my way to pick you up so we can go apartment hunting.] He’d been telling me for weeks that he was about to be sent on a work trip for the better part of a month. He was worried I wouldn’t have time to find a place and move before he left. He kept pushing me to find something quickly so he wouldn’t have to “worry about me” while he was gone. It wasn’t concern. He was just in a hurry to get me out so he could get his next tenant in. A hot wave of anger washed over me. I almost called him right then and there to confront him. But Maya stopped me, a frown on her face. “Doesn’t this seem weird to you?” she asked. “You offered to pay more rent, and he still said no. Why do you think that is?” The answer hit me like a punch to the gut. He already had a new tenant lined up. And he was about to break up with me. The rental listing wasn’t for just anyone. It was for her. The girl he was cheating on me with. 4 In Leo’s car, I took Maya’s advice and tried to act normal, like nothing had happened. “You know,” I said casually, “I heard the apartment across the hall from me just went up for rent. Maybe I should just take that one. It would save me the trouble of moving everything.” I watched his face closely. I didn’t miss the flicker of panic in his eyes. “But you’ve always complained about the noise in that building,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “This is a great chance to find a quieter place.” A sarcastic smile touched my lips. “I’ve lived there for three years. I’m used to the kids upstairs running around. It’s like a white noise machine at this point. I’d probably have trouble sleeping without it.” He chuckled, but it sounded forced. “What are you, a masochist? Don’t get attached to a bad situation. Come on, let’s find you a better place. It’s so loud, I swear the mom upstairs is always screaming at her kids whenever we’re trying to have a moment. It’s not exactly a mood-setter.” His words were like poison, every syllable a lie. I dug my fingernails into my palms, trying to keep my composure. 5 Leo and I met in college. He pursued me for a year before I finally agreed to go out with him our sophomore year. He was a local; I was from a small town a thousand miles away. I’d always assumed we’d break up after graduation. But then I landed an internship at a top ad agency right here in the city. It was a dream opportunity. I told him the good news, and he was ecstatic. “That’s amazing!” he’d said. “You can stay here! We don’t have to break up!” He helped me search for an apartment. Since he knew the city, I trusted his judgment. He was the one who sent me the link to the apartment I ended up renting. To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled with it when the realtor showed it to us. The walls were paper-thin. You could hear every stomp and crash from the family upstairs. I told Leo I thought we should keep looking, but he was unusually insistent. With all the other places we’d seen, he’d been the picky one, finding fault with the lighting, the amenities, the security. But this place, despite the obvious flaw, he loved. He argued that for the location and the price, it was the best we’d find. “If it weren’t for the noise,” he’d said, “the rent would be way higher.” At the time, it made sense. I was on a tight budget, and it really was a good deal. So, I took it. Looking back, I finally understood why he was so determined for me to live in that specific apartment. 6 The real estate agent showing us apartments today was the same woman from three years ago, a friendly, middle-aged local who owned her own small agency. After three hours of looking, I hadn’t liked a single place. No matter how much Leo tried to sell me on them, I found something wrong with each one. He was starting to get frustrated. “What exactly are you looking for?” he asked, his patience wearing thin. “Your lease is up in a week.” “If I can’t find anything, I’ll just crash with Maya for a while,” I said calmly. “I’m not in a rush. I want to find a place I actually like.” He frowned. “But we’ve seen all the suitable listings this agency has.” “Then we’ll find another agency,” I said with a shrug. Leo’s jaw tightened. “The agent has spent all afternoon with us. You can’t just ghost her now. That’s not right.” The agent quickly jumped in. “It’s no problem at all! We have plenty of other options. We’ll take our time. The right place will come along.” I looked at her then, really looked at her, and then back at Leo. A strange thought popped into my head. They looked alike. They had the same eyes. 7 The next day, I was sitting in a coffee shop waiting for Maya when I noticed a striking, long-haired girl at the table next to me. She was on the phone with a real estate agent, scheduling a time to sign a lease. After she hung up, she stood to leave and collided with Maya, who was rushing in with a coffee in each hand. The girl’s white dress was now covered in latte. Maya’s phone clattered to the floor, the screen shattering. I rushed over to help Maya apologize. The girl was surprisingly gracious and didn’t make a fuss. I insisted on getting her Venmo to pay for the dry cleaning. Back at our table, while I was sending the money, I casually said to Maya, “Why were you in such a hurry? You wrecked your phone.” As I opened the Venmo app, a little red dot appeared on my Instagram icon. A new story. I tapped on it instinctively. It was the girl from the coffee shop. [Found my new place! Ready for some sweet cohabitation adventures ~] The location tag was unmistakable: The Goldcrest. My building. Just then, Maya’s voice, loud and sharp, broke through my daze. “Oh my god! You are not going to believe what I found out!” she exclaimed. “That real estate agent? She’s Leo’s mom!” “This whole family is running a goddamn romance scam on you!” 8 After our apartment hunting trip, that crazy thought about the agent wouldn’t leave me alone. To check it out, I’d asked Maya’s mom to pay a visit to the real estate agency. Maya’s family was also local, and her mom could talk the ear off a statue. She could get a stranger’s life story in five minutes flat. Maya chugged a glass of iced tea, not even pausing for breath. “So, my mom went in pretending to be a buyer,” she reported. “She and the agent hit it off, started calling each other ‘sis.’ The agent even pulled out her phone and showed my mom pictures of her son. I showed my mom a picture of you and Leo, and she said, yup, that’s him. The agent’s son is Leo.” I’d been with Leo for five years, and I’d never met his parents. He told me they were business owners who lived out of state, in Arizona. He said they rarely came back, and he always flew out there for the holidays. And he did disappear for a few days every Christmas, always returning with some turquoise jewelry or a bag of local coffee for me. I never had a reason to doubt him. How many of his stories were lies? On a sweltering summer day, a chill ran down my spine. 9 “So then,” Maya continued, “my mom starts gushing about what a catch her son is and asks if he has a girlfriend, saying she has a niece who would be perfect for him. My mom is a master bullshitter. She invented a whole fake niece on the spot, from a super-rich family, and you could see the agent’s eyes light up.” Maya rolled her eyes. “And guess what she said? She said her son has a great job, owns his own place, drives a nice car, makes six figures, and has a great personality. The only thing missing is a girlfriend.” I laughed, a bitter sound. “Owns a place and a car, sure. Six figures is a stretch.” “Totally! Six figures my ass. He wishes.” He’d bought a used BMW his second year of work. The apartment was a small one-bedroom in a mid-rise building. He was a software developer at a mid-sized tech company. His salary was nowhere near “six figures.” His mom was really puffing him up to land a rich girl. 10 “So basically,” Maya said, her voice full of indignation, “you’ve been with him for five years, and his mom doesn’t even think you’re good enough for him. No wonder you’ve never met her.” My parents owned a small dermatology clinic in my hometown. It was a comfortable life, but nothing fancy. Leo must have told his mom about my family, and she’d written me off as not good enough. Leo was never serious about me. He was just keeping me around until something better came along. And instead of just breaking up with me, he and his mother were using me to pay his mortgage. And now, they were about to do the same thing to the next girl. 11 My phone vibrated, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was the girl from the coffee shop, accepting my Venmo payment. A second later, another message came through. [Hey, I saw your Instagram story. Small world! I’m the next tenant for your apartment!] I was stunned. I typed back quickly. [That’s crazy! When did you see the place?] [Last Sunday. The agent let me in. She said you were at work.] My lease wasn’t up for another week. He hadn’t even bothered to tell me he was showing the apartment. He just waited for me to be gone. He really couldn’t wait to get me out. She asked me a few questions about the apartment. [Can I ask you something privately? I loved the place, but is the noise from upstairs really bad?] I told her the truth about the thin walls. [Yeah, that’s what I was worried about,] she replied. [But my boyfriend really loves the location. It’s super close to his work. So I decided to take it.] I asked the million-dollar question. [Does your boyfriend work at the tech company nearby?] She confirmed it. I then asked her, trying to sound casual, if the agent who showed her the apartment was Leo’s mom. The answer she sent back was exactly what I expected. I didn’t need to ask anything else. I knew. Leo was her boyfriend. He and his mom were running the same scam all over again. 12 “Hello? Earth to Jane?” Maya said, waving a hand in front of my face. “What are you staring at? Did you hear a word I said?” I held up my phone and let her read the messages. Her eyes grew wider with every line. “No way! That girl from the coffee shop is Leo’s side piece?” she gasped. “And his mom showed her the apartment while you were at work!” I thought about it. “I don’t think she knows about me,” I said. “She seemed totally normal when she saw me. Leo probably told her he was single.” A thought occurred to me, and I quickly typed another message. [Have you signed the lease yet?] [Not yet, I’m signing it tomorrow.] [Don’t sign it!] I typed, my fingers flying. [Why not?] I sent her a picture of me and Leo, smiling together on vacation. Then, I typed out the truth, one word at a time. [Because he’s a liar.]

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