Chapter 1

After my girlfriend secured her place at an elite university, she made it official online.

In the photo, she was holding another man’s hand and flashing a peace sign in front of her acceptance email.

“I did it!”

The first comment was from her father: “That’s my girl. You make me proud.”

I quietly liked the post and said nothing.

Earlier, when my girlfriend received her university recommendation letter,

the first thing her father had done was tell her to break up with me.

“Dump him. I’ve already found you someone with a much brighter future!”

“A broke kid who does nothing but coast through school isn’t good enough for you anymore! God knows what you ever saw in him.”

I laughed.

They still didn’t know that when her family’s company ran out of cash and nearly went bankrupt last year,

I had anonymously bought up all its debt and covered five million dollars for them.

I had also written a recommendation letter to the university, securing her admission.

That coveted university spot of hers existed because of my recommendation.

I just wondered whether they would still be so confident when I took it all back.

I closed my phone without leaving a like or a comment.

In the kitchen, a pot of porridge bubbled on the stove. I was making it for Olivia Bennett.

After we got together, we moved out of student housing and into this little rental.

Ever since then, I had taken care of her daily needs.

Her appetite had been poor lately, so I’d made her favorite savory rice porridge with pork and eggs.

A key turned in the front door.

Olivia was home.

She took off her coat and gave me a flat “Hey.”

My hand paused around the bowl. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember when silence had become all we had left.

She used to come home, peek into the pot, and chatter about her day.

“I made a few snacks, too. Have some porridge first. It’ll settle your stomach.” I filled a bowl and brought it over.

She glanced at it and frowned. “Porridge again? I told you I don’t like this stuff anymore. It’s so bland.”

My hand froze in midair, steam still rising from the bowl.

This used to be her favorite. She would cling to my arm and beg me to make it.

“Then don’t eat it.”

Suddenly, the whole thing felt pointless. I turned to go to the bedroom.

She stopped me.

“Ethan, we need to talk.”

I turned back and waited.

“I don’t think we can keep going like this.” She avoided my eyes.

“My guaranteed admission came through. The people I meet and the opportunities I get are going to be completely different now.”

“And you… you’re still just wasting your days at school.”

“My dad’s company is back on track, too. It’s doing even better than before.”

I already knew where this was going. I didn’t interrupt.

She seemed to finally gather her courage and looked up. “Ethan, let’s spend some time apart. Give each other a chance to think.”

Time apart?

I looked at her determined face and suddenly smiled.

“Okay.”

One word, and the whole speech she’d prepared died in her throat.

She froze, apparently surprised I had agreed so easily.

I got up and cleared the dishes, just as I always did.

“Olivia.” My back was to her, my voice calm. “If that’s your decision, don’t regret it later.”