Chapter 3

I watched their retreating figures, completely frozen. My chest tightened, and my hands started to shake. Finally, a bitter, hollow laugh escaped my lips.

Memories rushed back. No wonder Ryan had looked so uncomfortable the first time he saw Amber when she moved in. I just hadn't thought much of it back then.

*"Some people just don't know when to give up. Always clinging to someone else's boyfriend."*

Her words echoed in my mind.

When she said that, she was looking at the woman with the gold-rimmed glasses—her so-called "cousin."

Could it be... Ryan was dating three of us at the same time?

The realization felt like a heavy blow to my chest, making it hard to breathe.

I walked back to the elevators, trying to reconstruct the morning. The elevator had come down from the 20th floor, stopping at the 14th and 10th floors.

Finding her "cousin" was going to be a challenge.

But that was fine. I had all the time in the world.

As night fell, the streetlights outside began to flicker on.

I stood by my window, checking my phone. It was 7:00 PM. Hearing the faint sound of laughter from the family next door only made me more irritated.

*Ding!*

The elevator doors opened.

As if fate was on my side, the woman stepping out was exactly the one I was looking for.

"You... what are you doing here?" she asked, stopping in her tracks.

She didn't look shocked to see me. She already knew who I was. That confirmed everything.

"You know me?" I smiled faintly.

"I know you. You're Chloe Miller," she said calmly, nodding.

She turned to enter her passcode, then stood aside to let me in. "Come in. You must have been waiting for a long time."

I didn't hesitate. The second I stepped inside, I kicked off my painful heels.

Seeing this, she got some ice from the freezer, wrapped it in a towel, and handed it to me to soothe my swollen ankles. I had been standing in heels all day, and the relief was heavenly.

"What is your relationship with Ryan?" I asked, cutting straight to the chase.

"What do you think?" She smiled weakly. "I'll tell you a secret. Ryan's nickname for you is Friday."

"Why?" I frowned, staring at her face.

"Because he has a girl for every day of the workweek. Monday to Friday," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"A girl for..." I murmured, the puzzle pieces suddenly clicking together in my head.

Did he really have five girlfriends? My heart sped up as I looked at her, desperate for the truth.

"Yes. He has four other girlfriends," she said with a dry laugh. "And you are the fifth."