Chapter 2

Leo's texts felt weird, but I couldn't quite put my finger on why.

All I could muster was a quick: [Sorry about that.]

I felt awkward, but an overwhelming wave of exhaustion hit me.

Within two minutes of closing my eyes, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I had walked into an empty apartment at 3:00 AM. Chase never came home.

I knew what he was doing. He was waiting for me to apologize, waiting for me to pick him up from the club, grovel in front of his buddies, and shower him with gifts.

But I was done.

Too tired to care, I slept straight through the night.

The next morning, Chase still wasn't back.

In the past, our fights always ended with me staging a grand apology, buying him something expensive, and making him look like a big shot to his friends.

Suddenly, I wanted to see what would happen if I didn't apologize at all.

Chase vanished for three whole days.

Instead of Chase reaching out, his best friend Leo called me: "Serena, Chase is completely wasted at the lounge. Want to come pick him up?"

He dropped a pin with the location.

I grabbed a cab and headed straight to the bar.

Inside the dim, pulsing lounge, I scanned the booths.

Then I saw Chase. Sitting directly on his lap was a young, pretty girl.

Leo spotted me first. He leaned down and whispered something into Chase's ear.

Chase glanced up at me. As I moved toward him,

He coldly turned his head away.

His friends noticed me and started snickering.

Leo chimed in with a grin:

"Serena's here to apologize, right on cue!"

They had witnessed this routine dozens of times, so none of them were surprised.

A look of smug anticipation spread across Chase's face.

Except this time, I stood rooted to the spot and simply said, "Chase, let's go home."

The public apology and lavish gifts he expected never came.

Chase slammed his glass onto the table with a loud clatter.

"It's just a damn relationship! Am I not even allowed to grab drinks with my boys anymore?"

The girl on his lap wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling.

"Stop teasing her, Chase. Just go home with Serena! Even if she's older, she's still a woman. Women need pampering—it's not like girls should be begging guys for forgiveness anyway."

As she spoke, she threw me a blatant, taunting smirk.

That was when I finally recognized her face.

It was Chloe, the girl who had been crushing on Chase since childhood—the one he always claimed he 'only saw as a little sister.'

Her words felt like a slap in the face.

Remembering our two years together, I swallowed my pride and spoke softly:

"Chase, please. Let's just go home."

I reached out to take his hand, but he shoved me off violently.

Teetering on my stilettos, I lost my balance and nearly tumbled backward—until a firm arm caught me from behind.

I looked up straight into Leo's alluring, flirtatious eyes.

He gave me a half-smile, then turned toward Chase with a frosty glare:

"Chase, you call yourself a man? Why are you taking your temper out on your girl?"

Chase blew up like a firecracker:

"Girl? We're just dating for now. She isn't my wife."

"Whether we stay together or break up depends entirely on my mood."

Leo teased playfully:

"Aww, is little Chase trying to break up? Done playing the cute younger boyfriend?"

The crowd burst into another round of chuckles.

Flustered and enraged, Chase practically roared:

"What cute boyfriend? I only let her take care of me to give her face! Besides, she's older—taking care of me is what she's supposed to do!"

Leo's lips curved into a sharp grin. "Oh, so you don't like it? In that case, break up with her so I can shoot my shot!"

Chase's instinct was to snap back, "Fine, then—"

Then he caught himself. "A real man doesn't stoop to a woman's level. I'm not giving people an excuse to say I bullied her."

Chloe giggled sweetly, resting her head on Chase's shoulder. "Chase, you're such a real man. I admire you so much."

"If you ever do break up, please consider me first, okay?"

Chase pinched her cheek. "Honestly, I've realized I prefer sweet, obedient girls like you. Not naggy older women who treat me like a chore."

I couldn't stomach another second of this. When I turned away, I caught Leo hiding a smirk behind his hand.