Chapter 3

"My dear sister, since you've already taken the wedding photos, why don't you stand in for me at the wedding too?"

"If you're going to experience it, go all out. Just taking wedding photos is so boring, isn't it?"

Ashley’s face instantly flushed a furious crimson, stammering, unable to form a coherent sentence.

Daniel stood up to shield Ashley:

"Chloe, if you have a problem, direct it at me. Don't pick on a young girl like Ashley."

"She's not as venomous as you, and not as petty."

Ten years of our relationship, and to Daniel, all that was left of me was venom and pettiness.

Even though I'd already decided to sever ties, Daniel's words still pierced me deeply, like a thousand tiny cuts.

My hand trembled uncontrollably.

I took a deep breath to steady myself.

I turned to Daniel. "Do you think you're some kind of saint? You're old enough to know better, still playing that sickening ‘big brother, little sister’ act? Don’t you find it disgusting?"

I poured the entire glass of wine over Daniel's head. "You said I was petty? Well, today I'll show you what true pettiness looks like."

Daniel wiped his face, his eyes wide with disbelief.

I grabbed Ashley, ripping the protective pendant from her neck.

"If I'm not mistaken, this pendant was *mine*, the one I got for you. You almost died in that car accident years ago, and I prayed for days and nights at the temple just to get you this protective pendant."

"Then you told me you lost it. Turns out you gave it to Ashley."

"Is this how you trample all over my sincerity?" I practically screamed the words.

All the grievances of the past few days exploded out of me.

My chest heaved violently. Everyone present was too stunned to utter a sound.

Daniel's face, which had been contorted in anger, instantly deflated. He quickly stammered an explanation:

"Chloe, it's not what you think. Ashley had a heart attack and was in critical condition. I was afraid she wouldn't make it, so I gave it to her..."

"Enough." I cut Daniel off.

Painful memories assaulted me one after another.

Ever since Ashley returned, the cracks in my relationship with Daniel had grown wider and wider.

Ashley's issues always took precedence over mine.

On my birthday, one call from Ashley was enough to pull Daniel away.

During our vacation, Ashley claimed her heart hurt, and Daniel abandoned me, buying a plane ticket to rush to her side.

Even when my mother passed away, Daniel stayed with Ashley at the hospital.

I was consumed by grief, but Daniel lightly dismissed it: "She's already gone. What good would I do there? But Ashley only has me."

We had reached this point because the final straw had fallen, breaking the camel's back.

I picked up the pendant, tracing its surface with my fingers, then, with a sharp movement, I smashed it onto the floor. Daniel tried to grab it, but he was too late.

The exquisite jade shattered instantly, just like my relationship with Daniel at that moment.

I lifted my face, wiped away my tears, and forced a bright smile.

"Everyone, Daniel's and my wedding is canceled. From now on, Daniel and I are completely done, separate paths, no looking back."