Chapter 3

After a few tense seconds, Stella took off the ring and set it on the coffee table.

I didn't spare them another glance and walked straight into the kitchen.

A moment later, I heard Sean's phone ring, and he stepped outside to take the call.

Soft footsteps approached from behind.

Stella stopped at the kitchen doorway and called my name.

I turned around. Mochi was curled up in her arms, purring like an angel.

A wicked, mocking smile spread across her face.

"Chloe, I really have to thank you."

Swallowing the bitter lump in my throat, I asked, "Thank me for what?"

She glanced playfully at the scratches on my hand. "For taking care of my cat, of course. Don't tell me you didn't know? Sean and I adopted this cat together."

I froze.

She continued, her voice dripping with venom, "I was super busy back then, and Sean felt bad for me, so he brought him over to his place to look after him."

Her smile was pure malice.

In that single moment, I lost every shred of desire to confront them.

The sound of the front door clicking open broke the silence.

Stella suddenly lunged toward me. Before I could react, she violently threw the cat to the floor.

Mochi let out a horrific shriek and clawed deep into my calf.

Before I could even process what was happening, Stella burst into loud sobs.

"Chloe... if you hate me, take it out on me! Why would you hurt an innocent animal?!"

A second later, Sean barged in, glaring at me with eyes colder than ice.

My voice shook as I instinctively tried to explain. "It wasn't me..."

He looked at me with pure disgust.

"Chloe, I know you never liked Mochi, but how could you be so cruel?"

I grabbed his arm, shaking my head. "That's not what happened!"

He shoved my hand away without hesitation, scooped up the cat, and walked out the door with Stella.

I stood there, staring blankly at the empty hallway, tears streaming down my face.

At that moment, I asked myself: was any of this worth it?

I had thought Sean at least understood me.

Even though I wasn't an animal person, I had bought treats and toys for that cat.

Once, when I refused to feed him treats by hand, Sean had casually snapped, "Can't you have a little patience like Stella does?"

Hearing her name triggered me, and I blurted out, "Can you stop comparing me to her?"

Sean had just laughed it off, exasperated. "She's practically my little sister. Are you seriously jealous of that?"

A little sister.

How many affairs start under the guise of being "just a sister"?

Every time I asked him to set boundaries with Stella, he turned around and accused me of being crazy.

"Stella's brother was my best friend. Before he died, I promised him I’d look after her."

Right.

He had looked after her so well that every crossed line was excused as family duty.

In silence, I dragged my suitcase out and began packing.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from Sean.

"The cat is badly hurt and needs to stay at the clinic. You went way too far this time, but I won't hold it against you."

My fingers trembled. Before I could reply, another message popped up.

"Stella has a brand deal shoot that needs me. I won't be coming home for the next couple of days. I'll see you directly at the engagement party."

I stared at the screen.

Not coming home? Where was he staying, then?

All the fury and heartbreak boiled down into two words: "Sounds good."

Whatever.

No matter what I did, I would never measure up to Stella.

Why keep humiliating myself?

I finished packing, took one last look at the apartment, and walked out without looking back.