Chapter 2

Staring at the ceiling, my mind drifted. How could someone change so fast?

The Creative Director position was his promise to me five years ago.

He told me it wasn't just a job—it was the throne he saved for me, the starting point where we could stand side by side and receive everyone's blessings.

He had said, "Once you're in that seat, we'll get married. I want the whole world to see that the woman I chose deserves the absolute best."

But just when our future was finally within reach, he let go of my hand and ran toward someone else.

If he wanted to give the position to Chloe, I wouldn't even have hated him if he had just been honest. But why keep me in the dark? Did he really think so little of me?

If I was such a nuisance, what was that late-night proposal, when he slipped a ring on my finger and promised me forever?

Was the night too dark, the lights too dim, for him to see who he was actually promising his life to?

I curled into a ball, hiding in the dark, and finally let the tears fall.

The irony was, I wasn't the one who couldn't survive without him. He was the codependent one. Every time I took on a major project and we had to be apart, he would get incredibly anxious. He only calmed down when he dragged me back to the core decision-making table by his side.

So while I steadily built my career, I constantly pulled him along with me. Liam was right about one thing—I had always written him into my future. I was willing to compromise for love, as long as it didn't compromise my integrity.

But that didn't mean I would let him walk all over me.

I closed the company portal I had accidentally opened, wiped my tears, and logged out of my work email for the last time.

He had his schemes, but I had my backup plan. From now on, our paths diverged.

I had just finished washing my face when my phone buzzed with a FaceTime call from Liam.

"Babe, pick up! I need to see you!"

When I didn't answer, he sent several more FaceTime requests before finally texting:

"We're all at our usual spot. Everyone's waiting for you. Come over, I'll send my driver to pick you up."

But I was done.

"Tired. Staying in," I replied.

The reply came instantly.

"Are you sick? I'm coming over."

"No. Don't come," I texted back, frowning.

Just as I hit send, a text from Chloe popped up.

"Evelyn, I'm so sorry. I practically begged Liam to let me tag along. I didn't know it would upset you. I can leave right now. As long as you come, I don't mind going home."

The text reeked of fake sweetness.

Before I could reply, my phone started blowing up with notifications from the group chat, tagging me repeatedly.

"Evelyn, what is your problem? Can you not stand Liam having other friends? Your jealousy is getting out of hand."

"Are you seriously throwing a tantrum just because Chloe is prettier and more popular than you? Get over yourself."

I froze, my instinct to explain myself dying instantly when a direct text from Liam arrived.

"Evelyn, I invited Chloe. If you're mad, take it out on me. Why are you targeting her?"

"Whatever. Come or don't. We actually get things done faster without you here anyway."

Right after, someone posted photos of them at a high-end restaurant in the group chat, with a passive-aggressive caption:

"Dinner tastes so much better without certain people bringing down the vibe."

Unbelievable.

I left the group chat, blocked every single one of them, and then blocked Liam on Snapchat, FaceTime, and my contacts.

He used to be my pinned contact. Now, he was just trash in my blocked list.