Chapter 3

I leaned back and looked up at her. This was the first time I had seen Serena since walking out.

Her outfit was impeccably styled, and the faint scent of expensive perfume drifted from her hair. She had clearly spent hours putting herself together.

It was obvious my departure hadn't affected her in the slightest. In fact, she looked like she was thoroughly enjoying her newfound freedom.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered dressing up to the nines.

Christian hovered behind her, continuing his pathetic act:

"Is this about that night I asked you to drink with the client? Did you misunderstand something? I swear, I can explain everything."

I crossed my arms and kicked one leg over the other, lounging on the couch.

"Sure, go ahead and explain. You didn't have the guts or the liver to close the deal, so you dragged me in to drink until my stomach bled."

"Now that the contract is signed, shouldn't you be wiring me my cut of the commission?"

"Wait, don't tell me you never planned on paying me? After all, I'm the one who actually closed the client!"

I waved my phone in front of his face. "Mr. Vance even added me on WhatsApp. What do you say I shoot him a quick message and steal the whole project for myself?"

"Enough, Logan! When did you become so damn petty?!" Serena snapped.

Leo instantly barked out a laugh. "Petty? Why don't you try drinking until you're hospitalized with internal bleeding, you psycho!"

"Look at you, acting all high and mighty! Whore out your own boyfriend to entertain clients for your high school crush? Who the hell do you think Logan is, your personal escort?!"

"Even an Uber Eats driver gets paid a delivery fee! You're parading around with this loser right after a breakup, trying to mark your territory?”

“ I’ve seen shameless people before, but you two take the damn crown!"

Serena’s hands clenched into tight, trembling fists. "Shut up! Or else—"

Leo didn't flinch. "Or else what? You gonna hit me? Touch a single hair on my head tonight, and I’ll sue you for every penny you’re worth!"

"You broke-ass clown, acting like you run this town!"

Serena turned on me, fuming. "Logan, are you really just going to sit there and let him talk to me like this?!"

"Why wouldn't I? Did he say a single lie?"

I locked eyes with her, completely detached. "Serena, I worshipped you for seven years. Now that I’ve stopped caring, you can’t handle it? Do me a favor—take your boy toy and get the hell out of my sight."

She parted her lips to argue, but I deliberately pulled up my contacts and hovered my thumb over Mr. Vance's name.

Christian panicked, instantly grabbing Serena’s arm and dragging her away.

The mood was completely ruined. I stood up to leave. Chloe reached out and caught my hand, looking up at me softly. "Let me call you an Uber and make sure you get home safe."

"No need, Chloe. See you around."

I gently patted her shoulder, helped the slightly tipsy Leo out of the lounge, and stepped into the cool night air. The breeze instantly cleared my head.

Across the street, I spotted Serena leaning against her car, smoking a cigarette. Christian was sitting in the passenger seat.

Through the rolled-down window, he looked up at Serena and reached out to fix the collar of her jacket.

Serena followed his gaze and caught me looking. She froze for a split second.

Then, she crushed her cigarette out, opened the driver's door, and sped off, leaving nothing behind but exhaust fumes.

Childish. Absolutely pathetic.

I said nothing, hailed a cab, and got Leo home.

The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. I pulled myself together and dragged my feet to the office.

The moment I reached the lobby of my corporate building, I saw Serena standing by the entrance, holding a massive bouquet of fresh flowers.

In seven years, she had never set foot near my office.

Whenever the weather was terrible and I had asked her to pick me up, she would always scoff with irritation: "Just call an Uber! It’s pouring, why should I sit in rush hour traffic for you?!"

So I would spend an hour crammed into the subway, drenched from head to toe. And when I finally unlocked the front door, she’d be curled up on the couch watching reality TV.

And I would still have to dry off, step into the kitchen, and cook her dinner. I lived like that for seven entire years. Back then, I thought love conquered all, that sacrificing my dignity was romantic.

Looking back now, how pathetic was I?

My parents raised me with love and care, yet for Serena, I had completely erased myself.

The second she spotted me, she marched over and shoved the massive bouquet straight into my arms. "Alright, are you done being dramatic? It was just a few drinks."

"Stop throwing tantrums. Who else would put up with you besides me?"