Chapter 5

To avoid any drama from Finn, I checked into a luxury hotel downtown for my final night.

I didn't expect Nevaeh to find me first.

My phone buzzed with an incoming photo.

I opened it. It was a photo of Finn and Nevaeh lying in his bed. She was wearing his button-down shirt, curled up in his chest. He was asleep, his arm naturally draped over her waist. The background was the familiar headboard of his bedroom.

Then, my phone rang.

Her voice was dripping with smugness.

"See this, Chloe?" she said, her voice filled with triumph. "This is how we really are. You were nothing but a substitute."

I took a deep breath. After years of putting up with her games, I couldn't believe she still thought she could hurt me with this.

"Nevaeh, if you have nothing intelligent to say, keep your mouth shut."

I didn't hold back. I was done playing the victim.

"I don't know what cheap tricks you used to get that photo, but congratulations, you win this round."

Nevaeh ignored my sarcasm, her tone suddenly dropping into frustration.

"Finn broke up with you nine times just to use you as my replacement. I’m the one he loves."

My heart twinged slightly. Yes, I knew that.

"But so what? Whenever I need him, he comes running back. I thought this time would be the same, but..."

She paused, revealing something I had been actively trying to ignore.

"But he’s been fighting with me constantly this time. He said we can’t keep doing this, that I’m just his sister. You, the little substitute, actually managed to crawl into his heart."

I didn't buy her words, but I found it hilarious that she was actually feeling insecure.

I mocked her, "So, are you scared now?"

Nevaeh suddenly let out a sharp, arrogant laugh.

"Scared? Chloe, are you blind? Even if he hesitates, he can never say no to me. I asked him to marry me. Want to guess if he said yes?"

I sighed and hung up the phone.

I always knew Nevaeh’s place in Finn’s heart.

The year he carried me out of the stadium, I saw Nevaeh’s name tattooed on the inside of his wrist.

The year he comforted me, he was busy texting Nevaeh to calm her down.

The year he ruined that used car dealership for me, he used the family trust fund that he shared with Nevaeh.

He had consumed my entire youth.

But Nevaeh was a shadow he could never escape.

That night, knowing Finn wouldn't call, I still kept my eyes on my phone.

I sat on the hotel sofa, staring at the screen all night.

Today was supposed to be our tenth reconciliation. Instead, I was leaving.

At 7:00 AM, I headed to the airport and deleted all of his social media accounts.

At 8:00 AM, after passing through security, I blocked his number.

At 9:00 AM, I boarded the plane.

As I was deleting every photo and trace of him from my phone, including that pathetic photo from Nevaeh, my phone rang. It was Joyce.

I answered.

But instead of Joyce, Finn’s panicked, shaky voice came through the receiver, sounding close to tears.

"Chloe, where are you?"