Chapter 3

I stared wide-eyed until dawn.

Chapter Four

The next day, we ended our trip early.

The atmosphere on the way back was incredibly heavy.

Chris wore headphones, eyes closed, refusing any interaction with me.

And I, meanwhile, repeatedly looked at the three deduction records on my phone, and the three "emotional damages" payments transferred to my account.

A total of $3942.00.

How ironic.

Back home, Chris slammed the door to the guest room.

I sat alone in the living room, my grievance nowhere to go.

Chloe messaged again, asking if we had argued.

I sent her a photo of my phone with the shattered screen and replied with three words: [You tell me?]

She immediately called, her voice full of apologies:

"I'm so sorry, Jo. I didn't know it would be like this… I just wanted to make a fun app, I never thought…"

"Chloe, tell me the truth. Why did you really develop this app?" I interrupted her.

Another silence on the other end of the phone.

"I… it was just a hobby," she stammered.

I sneered. "Really?"

I tapped open the app, looking at our two linked profile pictures.

"Chloe, did you know Chris was trouble all along? Did you make this app to warn me?"

"No! Absolutely not! Jo, don't overthink things!" she denied frantically.

My gut told me she was lying.

But I had no proof.

Maybe from the beginning, I shouldn't have agreed to this.

That evening, Chris emerged from the guest room, his eyes swollen.

He sat down beside me. "Joanna, let's talk."

I didn't respond.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking," he said, head bowed.

"I shouldn't have lied to you."

"I admit it. I lied to you."

My heart clenched.

"That call, it wasn't my mom."

"It was… a childhood friend of mine, Mark."

"He got into gambling, owed money to loan sharks, and was being chased by them."

"He called me for help, and I, being soft-hearted, lent him the money we were saving for a car down payment."

He said, looking up.

"I was afraid you'd be angry, afraid you'd scold me for not thinking straight, so I didn't dare tell you."

"Joanna, I really know I messed up. I'll find a way to get the money back."

His explanation sounded watertight.

If this had been before today, I might have softened, might have believed him.

But now.

I looked at his face and calmly asked the question.

"Is everything you just said completely true?"

"Cross my heart!" He raised three fingers, swearing solemnly. "May lightning strike me if I'm lying again!"

My phone was silent.

No deduction.

Could it be… that this time, he was finally telling the truth?

I looked at him, my heart a mess of conflicting feelings.

He cautiously watched my expression, then tentatively took my hand.

"Joanna, please forgive me?"

"Let's unbind that app. It feels like a thorn between us. I'm afraid it'll eventually tear us apart."

I looked at the earnest plea in his eyes, and my resolve started to crumble.

Maybe he really did know he messed up.

Should I really give him another chance?

Just as I was about to nod.

Chris's mom called.

I put her on speaker.

On the other end, her voice was choked with tears.