Chapter 3

Owen never came back after he left.

It wasn't until 2 AM that I saw Harper's Ins story.

In the photo, she was half-undressed, curled up in a man's arms.

A shadow obscured half the man's face, but his build was all too familiar.

That Ins story was like a dull blade, slowly slicing through my nerves.

I gripped my phone tightly, my fingers trembling.

Just then, my company called, saying there was an urgent project requiring me to travel abroad for a week.

I agreed with almost no hesitation.

Getting away from here, even temporarily, was better than staring at an empty room, lost in my own thoughts.

Before boarding, my phone vibrated. An audio file from an unknown number.

I tapped it. The next second, Harper's voice spilled from the receiver.

Moans, mixed with a man's low gasps.

I slammed my screen off, but those sounds had already taken root in my mind.

I switched off my phone for the flight.

When the plane landed, I turned it back on. Dozens of missed calls popped up on the screen, all from Owen.

I scoffed, ignoring them.

But a moment later, his call came through again.

"Why did you leave without saying anything?" His voice was accusatory, with a hint of an emotion I couldn't quite place.

"I thought you already made that clear?" My voice was calm.

"Clear about what?" He paused for a second. "Just because I went to Harper?"

"Didn't you two have fun? Do you even have time to think about me?" I sneered.

"Clara, you've misunderstood. She was already drunk, and I was worried something would happen to her."

"I'm her best friend, I couldn't just leave her!"

Owen was still trying to explain on the phone.

"Good enough to roll around in bed together? Owen, we're done."

I hung up the phone, then forwarded that audio file to him.

For the next few minutes, my phone vibrated nonstop.

**[It's not what you think!]**

**[Let me explain!]**

**[That audio is fake! Someone's trying to frame me!]**

I didn't reply to a single one. Soon enough, his tone changed.

**[Fine. If you don't trust me, then there's nothing more to say.]**

**[Hope you don't regret this!]**

I blocked him directly.

A week later, I dragged my suitcase back home.

The moment I inserted the key into the lock, I heard a rustling sound from inside, followed by low laughter.

I pushed the door open.

In the living room, clothes were scattered everywhere.

On the sofa, Harper was wrapped around Owen, both of them disheveled, her lipstick smeared on his collarbone.

The air solidified.

Owen jerked upright, his face pale. "You… you're back?"

I stood in the doorway and slowly smiled.

"Looks like I'm back at just the right time."

Harper was wearing my bathrobe, my slippers on her feet, and holding my whiskey glass.

The amber liquid swirled in the light. She grinned at me, a deliberate display of triumph.