Chapter 3

On my way back to the lounge,

my wife called me on FaceTime.

"Martha told me you fell! Oh my god, why didn't you just drive? Is it bad? Do you need to go to the hospital, babe? I'm coming to get you right now."

Hearing the sheer panic and worry in her voice, I could tell she wanted to fly to my side this very second.

A warm smile spread across my face.

"I'm totally fine. If you're coming, can you just bring me a clean change of clothes?"

I looked down at my torn sleeves and the stubborn mud stains.

"I don't want to look like a hobo for our date later."

"On it! I'm getting in the car right now."

After hanging up, I couldn't help but grin like an idiot.

One of my classmates, noticing I had been gone for a while, came out to find me.

He waved me over.

"Liam, the food is served! Get in here!"

"I heard Zack brought some high-end wine and cigars back from his trip abroad."

"Liam, Chloe, stop chatting and get inside!"

The moment I walked in, Zack offered me a cigar.

"Want one, Liam?"

I glanced around. Everyone was puffing on smoke, praising Zack's generosity.

Even our old teacher, whose hands used to hold chalk, was now holding a cigar and singing Zack's praises.

I shook my head and politely declined.

"I don't smoke, thanks."

I never touched tobacco, and besides, my wife hated the smell of smoke.

I set the cigar aside, intending to just let it go.

But Zack wouldn't let me off the hook.

"Liam, what's the matter? You won't even give me this face?"

He was clearly trying to embarrass me.

I saw the annoyance in his eyes, but I didn't care to engage. I just kept looking at the SnapChat texts from my wife.

Seeing me glued to my phone, some classmates started snickering.

"Maybe Liam's never seen a real cigar before and doesn't know what to say."

"Forget smoking it, he probably hasn't even seen one in person, haha!"

"Liam, didn't you use to be so high and mighty?"

"Yeah, didn't he win a bunch of art awards back in school? Why hasn't he achieved anything major?"

They took jabs at me to suck up to Zack.

Zack chuckled.

"Come on, guys. Maybe my cigars aren't good enough for Liam. My driver is on his way with some business contracts, so I'll have him bring a few more bottles of fine wine. Let's just have a good time tonight."

His words sounded polite, but his eyes were full of arrogance and disdain.

My phone buzzed again. Unwilling to deal with these people, I walked out to text my wife back on SnapChat.

She said she was stuck in rush-hour traffic and the rain was getting worse, so she would be a bit late.

I told her to take her time and drive safely.

My clothes didn't matter; her safety was my priority.

Just as I sent the text, I heard Chloe's voice.

"Liam, do you have a girlfriend now?"

I turned to face her.

The tenderness in my eyes vanished, replaced by cold indifference.

"What I do is none of your business, Chloe."

I tried to walk past her, but she stepped in my way.

"Who is she?"

"Does she know that the once high-and-mighty Liam was once a pathetic simp who gave up his art and his life for another woman? And look at you now—you're even too intimidated to accept a cigar."

Ah, so she was watching earlier.

"Didn't you always dream of becoming a famous artist? Why hasn't anything happened after all these years? You're still the same, Liam—spineless yet full of pride."

"I'm so glad the universe gave me a second chance to dump a loser who will never amount to anything."

"Oh, by the way, Zack and I are getting engaged."

She smirked.

"If you had just listened to me back then and moved to the big city, we might have been married with kids by now."

"But look at you. Your horizon is so narrow."

"Living day to day with zero ambition. Pathetic."

I was getting annoyed.

"Congratulations."

Chloe's smile froze. "What?"

"Congratulations on marrying Zack. But since you're getting married, you really shouldn't be snooping into my love life. It wouldn't look good if your fiancé misunderstood."

"Liam, you—"

Chloe was furious, her face turning red.

I honestly didn't get why she was so mad.

Even if we had different values, we were married in our past life. I genuinely wished her well.

She glared at me, stamped her heel, and stormed off.

"Mind your own business!"

I frowned, thoroughly confused.

She was acting completely irrational. I shouldn't have wasted my breath on her.

I stood in the hallway for a bit to clear my head before returning to the private dining room.

But the moment I walked in, everyone stared at me in silence.

I was confused.

Someone looked like they wanted to say something, but Zack, sitting at the head of the table, spoke first.

"Forget it. It's just a contract. It's torn, but it's fine. No big deal."