Chapter 3

I took a deep breath, forcing down the anger bubbling inside me.

"Well, since everything's fine, I'll head back to school."

Chloe waved me off, a smile instantly lighting up her face.

"Go on, go on. Don't want to interrupt my quality time with Damien."

No sooner had I settled back into my seat at the library than my phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat from Chloe.

It was a picture of a royal blue satin scarf embroidered with gold flowers.

"Ava, look! This is the latest limited edition scarf Damien just gave me! He said he specially had someone bring it back from abroad. He really loves me so much!"

It was followed by three starry-eyed emojis.

"But it's so strange. This scarf has a... a kind of stinky smell? Is that what luxury smells like?"

That scarf wasn't some latest limited edition at all; it was a runway piece from a luxury brand two years ago.

My favorite celebrity wore the exact same one at an event the year before last, and I'd even looked up the details then.

But I didn't expose her. I just replied with a casual, "Looks nice. Glad you like it."

Let them deal with their own twisted love and hate.

All I wanted was to quietly prepare for my exams and hoped she wouldn't bother me again.

Clearly, her brain wasn't equipped to handle emotional problems independently.

A week before my exams, she showed up again, sobbing hysterically, her face swollen and bruised.

"I only lost one of Damien's pinky rings, and he hit me! He said it was from his true love, and he wouldn't let me come home until I found it!"

I instinctively moved away, avoiding her touch, my gaze fixed on her red, swollen, and bruised face.

To hit her that hard... Damien's temper and possessiveness were finally showing through.

I felt no sympathy, in fact, I almost wanted to laugh.

Last life, she killed me for Damien. This life, experiencing his domestic violence felt like a twisted form of karma.

Seeing my lack of reaction, Chloe cried, pressing me.

"I'm practically dying of grief, how can you, my best friend, have no reaction at all?"

I put down my pen, leaned back in my chair, and said, light as a feather.

"Oh, he must *really* love you then, if that's how he shows affection."

Chloe froze, staring at me with disbelief.

"Look at my face! Do you think this is love? This is domestic violence! He hit me so hard!"

Oh, so she wasn't completely brain-dead yet; she knew this was domestic violence.

I raised an eyebrow, playing along.

"Well, if you can't stand it, you can call the police, or just divorce him. Then you wouldn't have to look for some stupid ring."

But Chloe reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately retorting.

"I can't divorce him! Damien, he... he was just impulsive. The ring must have some very important sentimental value to him, that's why he got angry!"

"I forgive him. As long as I find the ring, he'll definitely love me like before!"

I couldn't help but sneer. What kind of decent person, once married, still wears a ring from their "true love"?

Chloe clutched my arm, her voice pleading.

"Ava, please help me! I really don't know what to do!"

I frowned, frustrated.

"You don't even know where you threw it, how am I supposed to help you find it?"

"I don't care! If you don't help me, I'll bother you every single day and prevent you from taking your exams!"

I forcefully pulled my hand away, my eyes hardening.

"Chloe, don't push it! You know how important this exam is to me!"

Chloe curled her lips, looking at me with a menacing grin.

"Then help me find the ring!"

In that moment, seeing her twisted expression, I finally understood. Avoiding her was pointless. She would never let me be.

Last life, I helped her, and she killed me.

This life, if I didn't, she'd ruin me.

I came from nothing. This graduate program was my one shot at a future. I couldn't let her take that from me.

But I knew she would.

So fine. If she insisted, I'd let her find the truth herself. The truth she could never see coming.