Chapter 2

"Girl, are you still there??"

Nina’s message yanked me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I forced myself to breathe, typing back with trembling fingers.

"So, what is this? A power move? Or... are you mocking me?"

She replied almost instantly.

"Neither. We’re both victims here. I just wanted you to see what kind of scumbag he really is."

Kyle's... true colors...

The front door clicked open. Kyle strolled into the apartment casually.

"Chloe, let's get sushi tonight. I'm craving it!"

I lifted my head, staring straight into his eyes.

There wasn't a trace of guilt in his gaze. It was as if the man begging on his knees in that video had nothing to do with him.

Even with the evidence laid out before me, a part of me refused to accept it.

I couldn't accept that five years had amounted to nothing more than a scam.

I had given him my whole heart. It wasn't supposed to end like this.

"Why are your eyes red?"

He walked over, his tone completely indifferent.

I shook my head. "Nothing... the wind blew some dust into my eyes."

He nodded and didn't bother asking again.

Wind? Dust? Inside our high-rise apartment?

I used to think he was just emotionally oblivious. Now I realized that rehearsed affection was always skin-deep.

Throughout dinner, his eyes stayed glued to his phone.

After a long silence, I spoke up. "Kyle, let me see your phone."

He frowned slightly. "Chloe, what's wrong with you today?"

"Everyone is entitled to privacy. Are you trying to strip away my dignity? Rob me of my freedom?"

I searched his eyes, praying to find a single flicker of guilt or remorse.

Unfortunately, all I saw was his usual arrogant disdain.

"Kyle, I posted a video on TikTok last week. A user named Nina commented, and she said..."

Slam!

Kyle hurled his fork onto the table, his face twisting with irritation.

"What are you implying, Chloe? You want to interrogate me over some random troll on the internet? You don't trust me?"

"I told you a million times not to post our personal life online! Just live your life!"

"Instead, you go behind my back and post anyway. Do my words mean nothing to you?"

"Aren't you a little too childish? Don't you feel ridiculous?"

"Do you really think you're eighteen? You're in your thirties acting like a teenager showing off online. It's embarrassing!"

I let out a soft sigh.

"Kyle, can you stop getting defensive every single time? I'm just trying to have a calm conversation."

He cut me off, exasperated.

"Chloe, can you stop creating drama out of thin air?"

"I am a person with my own thoughts. Stop trying to control every aspect of my life!"

I took a deep, shaky breath.

"I'm creating drama? I'm controlling you? Kyle, can you say that with a clean conscience?"

"We've been together for five years. You've never posted a single picture of me on Ins. You've never introduced me to your circle of friends. Am I that embarrassing to you?"

"You only show up when you feel like it. You ignore my messages all day, and the only time you act warm is when it's time for your monthly allowance!"

"You don't even have a job. What on earth are you busy with every day? You don't even give me the bare minimum emotional support!"

"Am I dating a boyfriend, or did I hire an escort who charges by the hour?"