Chapter 3

The news of my breakup with Austin spread like wildfire after the engagement party.

The internet completely turned against me.

[Unbelievable! Austin's family is so wealthy, and she's just a nobody. How dare she act so entitled?]

[Throwing away a seven-year relationship over chocolate? What a selfish, cold-hearted gold digger!]

[I'm so disappointed in her.]

[She's so toxic!]

The comments got nastier by the hour.

I ignored them all. I spent the night in the small staff room behind my diner. The next morning, I got up early to prep for the lunch rush.

But before noon, Austin showed up. And of course, he brought Hailey and a couple of cameramen holding phones to live-stream.

"Chloe."

"How is your head? Does it still hurt? Hailey and I came to apologize. I brought your favorite chicken soup."

He offered me a thermos, his voice gentle and caring. "Chloe, please stop being angry. The viewers on the live stream are watching. Just give us a chance to make it right."

Smash!

I slapped the thermos out of his hand.

The hot soup spilled all over the floor.

Austin froze, his face twisting from shock to pure rage.

Behind him, Hailey whimpered and shrank back, playing the terrified victim.

The camera zoomed in on my face. The chat was exploding:

[Oh my god, what a bitch! He literally brought her soup and she threw it?]

[Austin is trying so hard, but she's just toxic. I bet she's already cheating on him.]

[Hailey is such a good friend, still trying to help them make up.]

Despite the cameras, I kept my face blank. "Get out of my diner."

Suddenly, Hailey dropped to her knees right in front of me. The camera immediately got a close-up of her tear-streaked face.

"Chloe."

"Please don't hate Austin. Yesterday was my fault. If you want to take your anger out on someone, do it to me!"

The comment section went wild, praising her:

[She is so sweet and selfless!]

[Austin should marry Hailey instead of this psycho!]

Austin looked at me, his eyes telling me to stop.

Instead, I walked behind the counter, grabbed a bucket of dirty mop water, and dumped it right over Hailey's head.

Everyone gasped.

The live stream chat went into overdrive:

[WHAT THE HELL?! IS SHE INSANE?]

[Dumping dirty water on someone who is kneeling and apologizing?!]

[Call the police! Arrest her!]