Chapter 3

Though I couldn't partner with Logan for the gym run, we quickly became close friends.

This was the first time I had ever had a friend other than Julian.

We often went to the local library to study, and on weekends, we went to amusement parks.

Life was peaceful and beautiful.

I thought I had finally broken free from Julian's shadow and could live my own life.

Until one day, in the middle of a packed public library.

Julian limped up to my table. In front of everyone, he threw a damp, dirty gym bag right onto my open textbook. Inside were his soiled underwear.

"Wash it," he demanded.

Mutterings and whispers instantly broke out around us.

The stares directed at me were filled with shock and disgust.

My face flushed crimson, my hands shaking with rage. I slammed the bag onto the floor and tried to focus back on my study guide.

But the bag was thrown right back.

This time, it hit me square in the face.

Vivian, who had followed Julian inside, spoke in a sweet, dripping voice:

"I'm so sorry, Chloe. Julian said you've always done his laundry."

"I offered to help, but he held my hand and said this kind of dirty work isn't for me."

The whispering around us grew loud enough for me to hear every word.

"Oh my god, does Chloe actually wash Julian's underwear?"

"But isn't Vivian Julian's girlfriend? Chloe is still doing his laundry? That's so shameless!"

In that instant, I felt like I was dragged right back into the nightmare of my past life, being pointed at and judged by everyone.

Logan grabbed my hand. "Chloe, let's go study somewhere else."

"Okay," I choked out.

But Julian grabbed my arm from behind. He glared unhappily at our joined hands.

"Why won't you wash it?"

"Is it because you're going to wash his instead?"

A few people in the library snickered. I couldn't stay there for another second.

Logan looked at me with deep worry. I covered my face, feeling a sense of self-destructive despair. Maybe to Julian, I was never anything more than a maid. Someone destined to serve him.

Even though we were reborn, he still refused to let me go.

Logan comforted me, "Chloe, Julian is out of his mind. Don't listen to a word he says."

I forced myself to pull things together. I applied for the Early Decision interview for Apex University.

Julian had already been admitted to Beacon University. This time, we wouldn't be at the same school. I wouldn't have to follow him around like a shadow anymore.

But the moment I pushed open the door to the interview room, my heart sank.

Julian was sitting right there in the student assistant's chair, staring at me blankly.

And after I finished answering all the professors' questions, he offered a single evaluation:

"Chloe has zero talent. She is not cut out for this major."

The very next day, his words spread like wildfire across our high school. People whispered:

"Chloe isn't made for academics, but she sure has a talent for washing a guy's underwear."

Some bullies even started calling me "Laundry Girl" straight to my face.

Julian's presence was dragging me back into my worst nightmares.

Logan didn't know the full history between us, but seeing my agony, he gently asked:

"Why don't we just study abroad?"