Chapter 3

Julian slammed his hand down on the lid of my suitcase, preventing me from zipping it shut.

"Why are we doing this breakup routine again?"

His voice dripped with exhaustion and annoyance.

"This is the tenth time, Chloe. Can't you grow up for once?"

We really had broken up several times before.

Because he crossed boundaries with Natalie, because he ditched my birthday dinner to pick her up from the airport, because of a thousand little cuts.

Every single time I tried to leave, he would coax me back.

Expensive gifts, home-cooked dinners, sweet promises.

My heart would soften, and I would crawl right back into his arms.

Over and over again.

He assumed today was no different.

"This time is different."

I pulled his hand away and zipped the suitcase shut.

"We are done. We won't be seeing each other ever again."

"You can keep this apartment."

I glanced around the luxurious penthouse I had called home for three years.

"Anything tied to you, I don't want."

Julian's confident expression finally cracked.

"What is your problem?"

He blocked the bedroom doorway, his tall frame looming over me.

"Everything was fine this morning! Why are you suddenly calling it quits?"

Looking at him, a deep wave of exhaustion washed over me.

What was there to explain?

If I called out his emotional affair, he would deny it.

If I brought up Natalie, he would accuse me of being insecure.

Nothing I said would ever make a difference.

Just as I opened my mouth, the doorbell chimed.

Julian stepped away to answer it.

Natalie stood in the foyer, holding a bag of gourmet fruit.

Seeing me standing with my packed suitcase, a fleeting spark of smugness flashed across her eyes.

"What's going on here?"

She set the fruit down on the console table and walked in with an expression of pure, sisterly concern.

"Chloe, are you fighting with Julian and threatening to break up again?"

Then her tone shifted, dripping with subtle venom.

"Dumping him on the very day he proposes?"

"Don't tell me you've got someone on the side and you're feeling guilty?"

"Julian treats you like royalty. How could you be so ungrateful and step out on him?"

The living room fell dead silent.

Julian turned his head to glare at me, his gaze turning suspicious.

"Is she telling the truth?"

A dry laugh escaped my throat.

"You actually believe whatever garbage comes out of her mouth?"

Natalie shrank back immediately, trembling as if she were terrified of me.

"I... I was just guessing..."

"I'm leaving."

I grabbed the handle of my luggage and moved toward the door.

Natalie spoke up again.

"Chloe, why don't you ever appreciate what you have?"

She leaned slightly against Julian's arm, acting like the voice of reason.

"Julian spent an entire month planning today's proposal. Do you have any idea how much effort he put in?"

I stopped in my tracks.

I turned around and locked eyes with her.

"If we break up, shouldn't you be throwing a party?"

Natalie blinked, startled.

I went on, "After all, Julian will be completely free."

"Isn't that the exact day you've been praying for?"

Natalie's face drained of color for a second.

She quickly regained her composure, pursing her lips into silence.

But my peripheral vision caught a glint of light.

On the ring finger of her left hand, a massive diamond caught the chandelier's glow.

I narrowed my eyes and took a closer look.

I recognized that ring instantly.

It was the exact diamond ring Julian had used to propose to me less than two hours ago.

Now, it was sitting snugly on Natalie's finger.

"Nice ring."

I walked over and grabbed her left wrist.

Natalie gasped and yanked her arm back, hiding her hand behind her back.

"What are you talking about?"

Julian looked over, a trace of awkward guilt flickering across his face.

"Chloe, don't start making things up."

I wrenched Natalie's hand forward and held it up right before Julian's face.

"Then explain this."

Under the bright living room lights, the diamond sparkled brilliantly.

The very same ring.

Identical.

Natalie's cheeks flushed crimson, and she struggled desperately to pull her hand away.

"I was just... just trying it on!"

"I didn't mean anything by it!"

Her voice trembled, tears instantly welling in her eyes again.

Julian frowned, giving her an annoyed glance before turning to me with a softened, conciliatory tone:

"She just liked the cut and tried it on for a second."

"I'll buy you an even bigger one tomorrow."

Natalie immediately moved to slide the ring off her finger.

"I'm sorry, Chloe. Here, take it back."

I stepped back, refusing to touch it.

"Keep it."

"You two deserve each other."