Chapter 2

**Chloe's POV**

When I reached the lobby, my phone buzzed. It was my mom. "Chloe, the Savannah Contemporary Dance Company is still waiting for your RSVP. If you really decide to come here, your dad and I will help you pack tomorrow. But... can you really leave Julian behind?"

I wiped the cold tears from the back of my hand. My voice was hoarse but absolute.

"Mom, I'm coming. I'll sign the contract tomorrow."

Behind that door upstairs lay three years of my life, treated as a cruel joke.

But starting today, I wouldn't take a single step backward.

I returned to my apartment and immediately pulled out a heavy-duty black trash bag.

I had rented this apartment specifically to be close to Julian so I could take care of him.

Those blue slippers on the shoe rack that Julian had complained about a thousand times? In the bag.

The cheap keychain he threw at me, the costumes I stayed up all night tailoring for him? In the bag.

And then, the notebook filled with "Julian's likes and dislikes."

I flipped to the very last page. Clamped there was the receipt from our first official dinner date.

That day, Julian had looked at me with a patronizing smirk and asked, "Chloe, you've been chasing me for so long. Aren't you tired?"

With a blushing face, I had replied, "I don't mind the fatigue as long as it's you."

It turned out that day was just number one on his payback list.

Expressionlessly, I tore the receipt to shreds and threw it, along with the notebook, into the trash.

My phone kept vibrating.

Julian sent a text on Snapchat: *Did you leave those pain patches at the door?*

*Why aren't you answering?*

Then came a barrage of FaceTime calls.

I stared at the screen, looking at the name that used to make my heart race, and pressed accept.

"Where did you go? Hudson said you were here," Julian's voice carried a hint of his usual arrogant irritation.

"I went home," I said, my voice completely flat.

"What about your audition?"

"I didn't go. I missed it."

Julian fell silent for a second, then his tone softened with a patronizing tone. "Hudson was just joking. I didn't know he'd use something like that to lie to you. I'll make him apologize to you later. Stop throwing a tantrum."

I almost laughed out loud at his casual dismissal of it as a "joke."

I traded my entire career for his leg, and he thought a lazy apology from his friend could just erase my ruined life!

"No need," I cut him off coldly. "I hope you guys enjoy your little game."

Julian's heart skipped a beat. "Chloe, what do you mean by that?"

"I mean, you disgust me. Don't ever contact me again."

With that, I hung up and immediately blocked Julian on Snapchat, Ins, and my contact list.

The world was finally quiet.

I opened my laptop, replied to the Savannah Contemporary Dance Company's email to confirm my employment, and sent my resignation to the owner of my current dance studio, promising to finish the children's recital at the end of the month before leaving.

Once everything was done, I looked around the empty apartment and let out a long, heavy breath.

For three years, I had filled Julian’s life to the brim, only to corner myself into a dead end.

Now, I was going to reclaim my life, inch by inch.