Chapter 3

"Why do you want the paper cranes?" I kept my voice flat and distant, desperate to hide the fact that I had been crying. But his next words plunged into my chest like a dagger.

"Joy just saw your post. She said she wants them."

At that moment, the world felt like it collapsed beneath me. My mind went completely blank.

I had imagined a thousand different apologies he might offer, but never in my wildest dreams did I think he would ask for my paper cranes just to placate his spoiled patient.

Turns out, when you reach the peak of absurdity, you really do just laugh.

I let out a cold chuckle. "Are her hands broken? If she wants paper cranes, she can fold them herself."

With that, I hung up on him.

My chest heaved violently, as if a lump of lead were trapped in my throat, choking the air out of me.

It hurt so much. There wasn't a single scratch on my body, so why did it feel like I was being torn apart?

I wanted to scream, to smash something, to let it all out. But knowing my mother was just outside, I swallowed it down. Her health was fragile; I couldn't bear to make her worry.

Early the next morning, I went back to the apartment I shared with Sean.

The place was dead quiet when I walked in. Nothing had been moved. That was when it hit me—Sean hadn't come home last night.

Our noble, dedicated psychiatrist had spent the entire night alone in a hospital room with his female patient.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I recalled the photo Joy had posted. Beneath that thin strip of gauze was nothing more than a superficial scratch.

It was her favorite trick. As long as she broke the skin even a tiny bit, Sean would instantly go into a state of high alert.

For a fleeting second, an impulsive thought crossed my mind: what if I cut myself too?

I genuinely wanted to see who Sean would choose if Joy and I were both bleeding.

But I quickly shook the thought away. Harming myself over a man wasn't worth it.

I needed to settle things with Sean today once and for all. But just as I pulled out my phone to dial his number, the front door clicked open.

I instinctively turned around. Sean was still wearing the suit from yesterday's ruined engagement party. He stood in the doorway looking exhausted, and right behind him was a girl, shrinking back like a timid, fragile little flower.

My jaw dropped. The sheer audacity left me speechless.

Sean had actually brought Joy into our home.

"Sean, what is the meaning of this?"

Reining in my emotions, I pointed directly at Joy behind him.

At my gesture, Joy seemed even more terrified. She clutched the hem of Sean's jacket tightly, whimpering in a soft, pathetic voice, "Dr. Sean... does she hate me?"

Sean knitted his brows, clearly displeased with my hostility. "This is Joy. You know that. I talk about her all the time."

I gave a dry laugh. "Of course I know who she is. I'm asking why the hell you brought her into our house."

"It's like this—Joy's condition has deteriorated. She can't be left alone right now. So I'm bringing her home so I can look after her. As my girlfriend, you should be supporting my work."

Hearing those words, I was genuinely floored. The lingering heartache inside me turned into blazing fury in an instant. This final insult burned away the very last ember of affection I had kept for him.

I stared at Sean. "So, running to her beck and call whenever she snaps her fingers isn't enough anymore? Now you expect me to play live-in maid for her too?"

Seeing my reaction, Sean's scowl deepened. He shielded the fragile girl behind him and snapped impatiently, "Nobody asked you to take care of her! Why do you have such a terrible temper? Don't you know Joy is sick? If you scream at her like this and trigger a relapse, can you take responsibility for that?!"

"Dr. Sean... Dr. Sean, please don't fight because of me..."

Joy peeked out from behind him, batting her big, innocent-looking eyes.

Faced with her helpless gaze, Sean's protective instincts flared to an all-time high. He opened his mouth to say more, but before the words could leave his lips, I slapped him hard across the face.

"Smack!"

"No, I can't take responsibility," I sneered. "But you can, can't you, Dr. Sean? You're so noble, so selfless, so endlessly devoted! You can abandon your own fiancée at your engagement party and leave her to be laughed at by everyone, all to save this precious patient of yours!"

As the words tumbled out, tears escaped my eyes against my will. I had always been proud and strong. Seeing me cry, Sean froze in shock. He reached out to wipe my tears, but before his fingers could touch me, Joy suddenly shrieked and clutched her head.

"No! Stop! Don't!"

Joy gripped her hair, her screams growing shriller by the second as she cowered into the corner of the wall.

"Ahhh! Stop it!"

Sean shot me a look dripping with blame.

I took a step back with a bitter smile. Sean dropped to his knees and wrapped both arms around Joy.

Her petite frame sank into his embrace. His large hand gently, rhythmically stroked her back, murmuring soothing words.

The scene burned into my eyes like acid. I turned around, marched into the bedroom, and began shoving my clothes and essentials into a suitcase.

By the time I finished packing, Joy had calmed down. She was curled up on the couch under a fleece blanket, radiating fragility.

No wonder Sean was wrapped around her finger. Even I felt a twinge of pity looking at her act.

I wheeled my suitcase into the living room. Sean stared at me in surprise. Lowering his voice as if terrified of waking Joy, he asked, "Chloe, where are you going?"

I looked back at him, a mocking smirk playing on my lips.

"Can't you tell? I'm breaking up with you."