Chapter 3

Julian cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I know you’re throwing a tantrum. I brought Chloe over to talk some sense into you.”

“I’ll go downstairs and cut some fruit. You two talk.”

With that, Julian turned and headed down the stairs.

Chloe stepped closer, reaching out to take my hand.

I stepped back, dodging her touch.

Chloe blinked, looking hurt and innocent. “Claire, what’s wrong?”

I stared at her in silence.

The girl standing before me was my sister, yet she felt like a total stranger.

Looking at her feigned concern, all I wanted was to rip that sickening mask off her face.

And so I did.

“Chloe, how could you look me in the eye?”

“Our parents died when I was eight and you were six. When I found out the foster home was mistreating you, I begged Aunt Sarah to take you in too so I could protect you. When we grew up, I gave up on my dream college and worked three jobs a day just to pay your tuition without a single complaint!”

“When you quit your job, I paid your rent and took you out every single day so you wouldn't feel depressed. And you repay me by sleeping with my fiancé?! Is this your sick way of thanking me?!”

Chloe hadn't expected me to know.

The color drained from her face in an instant. She grabbed frantically at my arm, her voice trembling. “Claire, please, just listen to me—”

I didn't give her a chance to speak. I shoved her away.

“Don’t touch me!”

Years of manual labor to support us had made me stronger than most girls.

The shove sent Chloe tumbling backward.

Her head struck the corner of the wooden nightstand, knocking a heavy glass vase off the edge.

The vase shattered against the floor. Shards of glass sliced deep into Chloe’s hand, spilling blood across the hardwood.

That was the exact scene Julian walked into.

He rushed over, pulling Chloe into his arms. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared at me, “Claire Vance, have you lost your damn mind?!”

Chloe clutched his shirt, her voice breaking into sobs.

“No… don't blame Claire.”

“She knows about us. That’s why she snapped.”

Julian’s body stiffened. But a second later, his jaw hardened. “That’s still no excuse to get violent!”

“Hold on, Chloe. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Julian scooped her up and rushed out the door.

I was left standing alone in the empty bedroom.

I had thought that once his cheating was exposed, Julian would feel guilty, or at least show some remorse.

I never imagined he would brush it off so easily.

As if betraying five years of love was nothing more than an inconvenient misunderstanding.

The realization hit me like a physical blow. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the floor.

I couldn't hold it back anymore.

Tears streamed down my face, my chest heaving with ragged sobs.

A sudden, sharp warmth trickled down my inner thighs.

I looked down. Crimson was blooming across my gray sweatpants.

Panic seized my chest. Trembling, I grabbed my phone and dialed Julian’s number.

He answered on the second ring. I gasped for air, fighting through the blinding pain. “Julian… help… please, call an—”

Before I could finish, Julian snapped coldly, “Cheating on you was my mistake, but you had no right to hurt Chloe like that.”

“I’ll deal with you after she gets treated at the hospital.”

Those cruel words snuffed out the very last spark of hope in my heart.

I stared blankly at the ceiling, trying to tap the emergency call button.

Before the call disconnected, however, Julian’s phone didn't hang up right away.

Instead of an end-call chime, Chloe’s timid voice filtered through the speaker.

“Julian… do you think Claire is really going to leave you for good this time?”

Julian let out a scornful scoff.

“She won't. She spent every penny she had putting you through school. She doesn't have any savings. Without me, she can't even afford rent.”

“I never cared if she found out. I just didn't want the drama. It’s always easier to keep the peace.”

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

I laughed until the tears choked me.

So Julian knew all along how much I had sacrificed for Chloe.

Yet he still chose to sleep with her.

He took my entire heart, my loyalty, my sacrifices, and ground them into the dirt.

I didn't have the stomach to listen to another word.

I hung up the phone.