Chapter 3

Chloe reached out, wrapping her arm tightly around Andrew's.

She looked at me with a smug, victorious smile. "Andrew came to help me take care of some paperwork."

I gave her a flat look. "Congratulations."

Andrew tried to step forward to explain, but his hand grabbed empty air.

"Audrey!"

I didn't stop. I quickened my pace and walked away.

That evening, Andrew brought Chloe back to our apartment again.

I looked at them calmly. "Do you want me to vacate the master bedroom for you guys? I doubt the study is comfortable enough for two."

My words clearly struck a nerve.

Andrew’s face turned incredibly ugly. "Audrey! Do you have to be so damn sarcastic?"

"Since when did you become like this?"

"You're acting like a hysterical psycho!"

I almost laughed out loud.

I hadn't cried, I hadn't made a scene, yet the label of a "psycho" was already slapped onto my head.

I pointed at my forehead and smiled. "Well, you've thrown so many labels at me, I'm starting to lose track of who I'm supposed to be."

Andrew looked uncomfortable for a split second, but then his anger flared. He violently pushed my shoulder.

"Don't get cocky with me! Don't forget, this is my apartment!"

"I pay for your food, your drinks, and your rent! And you dare speak to me like that?"

"Get out! Get the hell out of my house!"

He shoved me toward the door, not even giving me a chance to grab my phone.

Before I could even process what was happening, the heavy door slammed shut in my face.

"Andrew! Give me my phone!"

I pounded on the door frantically, but it never opened again.

The autumn air was freezing. I rubbed my arms as goosebumps broke out all over my skin.

This was the city I grew up in, yet at this moment, I was entirely homeless.

Without a single penny or a phone, I had no choice but to walk all the way to my office.

By the time I reached my desk, I was utterly exhausted. I collapsed onto the table and fell asleep.

The next morning, with the help of a coworker, I bought a cheap replacement phone and dialed Andrew's number.

He didn't answer.

Instead, Chloe’s voice came through the speaker: "Andrew, it's an unknown number."

Andrew's impatient voice echoed in the background: "Just hang up if you don't know who it is."

But Chloe didn't hang up. She probably guessed it was me.

"Andrew, maybe you should go apologize to Audrey?"

"She's a girl, after all. She needs to save some face..."

What a manipulative little snake.

I let out a soft laugh. It was such a cheap trick.

But Andrew's response still managed to completely freeze the blood in my veins.

"Why should I care about her? She has nowhere else to go in this city anyway."

"She doesn't even have her phone."

"It won't take long before she crawls back and begs for my forgiveness."

The line went dead. I stood there, staring blankly at my phone.

So, he knew. He knew I had nothing, and he did it anyway.

I let out a bitter laugh.

I thought my heart was already numb, but it still managed to ache.

I immediately redialed the number.

"Why are you still calling? Didn't you hear what he just said?" Chloe’s annoyed voice filled my ear.

"Have you no shame? Why do you keep throwing yourself at Andrew? Don't you get how pathetic you are?"

I ignored her insults.

I smiled faintly. "Let's meet. I have something I want to give you."

Chloe sounded suspicious. After a moment of hesitation, her greed got the better of her. "Fine. Meet me at the Starbucks on the South Side."

I hung up and headed out immediately.

But when the time came, Chloe didn't show up.