Chapter 4

4: 4

4

Ursula came out of the kitchen, her face full of apology.

"Carmen, the truth is, I lied to my parents. I told them Dylan and I are together."

"You know how it is, older folks nagging about marriage, it drives you crazy. I didn't have a choice."

"They're coming to see me tomorrow. I'm sorry, but you'll have to move out first."

Dylan sat on the couch flipping through documents, not lifting his eyes to me.

"I'll reimburse you for the hotel."

"Don't come back for a few days. If you run into Ursula's parents, it'll be awkward for me to explain."

My hand tightened on my bag.

When we'd first gotten together, Dylan had bought this apartment outright, in cash, and said it would be our home from then on.

We picked out the furniture together, brought home so many cute fridge magnets.

And now this home was about to welcome its new mistress.

The air went stiff. Ursula spoke up with a smile.

"Carmen, you're the best. Once I get past my parents, I'll thank you properly, I promise!"

"I already packed up all your things for you. See? Aren't I thoughtful?"

Dylan let out a cold scoff.

"Ursula, you don't need to say so much."

"She's been short-tempered lately. Any minute now she'll get jealous and start sulking."

I bit down gently on my lower lip.

Dylan was a cold man by nature. The smallest friction between us and he'd freeze me out, saying things that cut.

Every time, I was the one who came to make peace, who saved us.

But this time I didn't want to give in anymore.

I set the apartment key down in front of Dylan.

"Here's your key back. I won't be coming around anymore."

"And let's break up."

Dylan raised his head from the documents, a thin anger rising between his brows.

"Carmen, what exactly are you so upset about? Enough to use a breakup to needle me?"

Ursula quickly switched to a pitiful expression.

"Carmen, if you really mind me being close to Dylan, I don't have to stay here."

"Dylan did help you once, after all. He doesn't mind your past."

"If you leave him, what other man would want you? Carmen, don't do something rash!"

Something detonated in my head.

"What did you say?"

Ursula looked all innocence.

"Carmen, when you were assaulted, it was Dylan who went with you to report it to the police."

"He even found someone to handle the lawsuit for you. After all that, do you really have the nerve to bring up a breakup with him?"

Cold spread through my whole body.

Years ago, walking alone at night, someone had clamped a hand over my mouth and nose and dragged me into an alley.

Dylan happened to be passing by and saved me.

Afterward he stayed patiently at my side, helped me climb out of that darkness, contacted the best lawyer in the city, and put the man behind bars.

Over all that time together, I gradually fell in love with Dylan, willingly sank into this relationship.

I never imagined he would tell that whole story to Ursula.

I stood frozen where I was, and heard only Dylan's cold laugh.

"Carmen, no wonder I could never bring myself to touch you."

"The real reason, probably, is that I found you dirty."

"After all, what man wants something secondhand?"

I looked at him in disbelief, even my fingertips trembling.

At my worst, I had scrubbed myself raw in the shower, trying to wash that past away.

It was Dylan who told me, again and again, that it wasn't my fault, that I shouldn't turn on myself.

And now he stood there smiling as he said the cruelest thing possible.

The past came rushing back. My stomach began to cramp, and every trace of color drained from my face.

Ursula settled in beside Dylan, calmly enjoying the sight of me coming apart.

I used all my strength to hold myself steady and pulled up my suitcase.

"Dylan, seven years together. Thank you for enduring me."

"You don't have to force yourself anymore."

With that, I stumbled out.

A week later, Dylan dropped Ursula's parents at the station and took out his phone to call me.

It wouldn't connect.

Irritated, he opened our chat. The last message was frozen nine days back.

After thinking a long while, he sent a message anyway.

【Ursula's parents went back home. You can move back in tonight.】

【Which hotel are you at? I'll come get you.】

The old me always replied within seconds.

But now there was no answer, and none came.

Dylan backed out of the chat in a huff and idly opened his social media feed.

The instant he took it in, he froze where he stood.