Chapter 9

I gave a bitter laugh. "It's all my fault. Why do I have a father like this? Why do I have a lover like this?"

Alex knitted his brows.

"Are you serious about breaking up?"

I stared blankly at the floor.

"What else can I do? I'm not shameless enough to cling to you when you're already engaged to someone else, am I?"

Seeing me like this, a pang of pain shot through Alex's heart.

Yet, he also felt I was being unreasonable.

I had him for five years. In those five years, Alex had given me everything he could.

But after Serena went abroad, not only was she subjected to domestic violence by her then-husband, but she also lost a child.

Serena had no parents; she only had Alex.

I, at least, still had family, and five years of his companionship.

Why was I never satisfied?

"I don't agree to the breakup."

Alex said firmly.

"But you agreed at the time, didn't you? If we break up, you can take good care of Serena without any worries."

Alex was so angry his stomach hurt.

"No matter what you say, I won't agree."

I had been by his side for a very long time. To him, it was more than just love; it was something deeper.

He couldn't accept losing me.

"A breakup doesn't require your agreement; it's just a notification."

I said.

I had no desire to get entangled in this anymore. If possible, I just wanted to live my own life peacefully.

The red and swollen marks from the slap were still on my face, but Alex didn't care in the slightest.

Having been cared for by me for so many years, Alex had come to view me as a habit.

But I was a living, breathing person, and I couldn't remain just a "habit" forever.

Seeing my resolve, Alex’s head throbbed.

Meanwhile, he hadn't visited Serena for too long, and she was constantly texting him.

He resisted replying.

Until Serena sent him a photo of herself.

Bruised knees.

"Alex, I accidentally fell, it hurts so much, I can't even walk now. What should I do?"

Alex couldn't sit still anymore.

But he had a vague premonition.

If I left this time, he would lose me forever.

He paced agitatedly in the living room.

I watched his phone vibrate incessantly, saw him go from calm to anxious.

"If you have something to do, go. Don't worry about me."

Alex heard me, and then Serena sent another message.

"Alex, it's so dark here, I'm scared."

Alex grabbed his jacket, ready to leave.

"I'll have my assistant come take care of you."

Leaving that one sentence, Alex hurried downstairs.

I stood up and pulled a photo from the drawer.

It was the one we took at the amusement park.

Even though it wasn't a great picture, no matter how crazy I got, shredding all the others, I'd always kept this one.

As a last memento.

Back then, I was happy.

Alex, though busy, had still accompanied me to the amusement park.

I thought that counted as a special preference.

Now it seemed I was just too foolish.

Picking up a lighter, I set the photo ablaze.

The flames illuminated my haggard face.

From now on, all grudges, all ties, were finally severed.

I slept soundly that night.