Chapter 3

Back then, Gary had been devastated. He swore he would never forget the pain I endured, and he would spend his life making it up to me. However, he had now forgotten.

I didn't break down as Lucy expected. Instead, I forced a faint smile. "It's fine. It's just a minor injury."

What they didn't know was that I no longer feared cats, because some people were worse than animals.

I bowed and offered an apology, but Lucy sneered, saying it wasn't enough. "You should kneel. That would show sincerity," she said.

Her words made my eyes burn. I turned to leave.

Lucy instantly pouted, tears welling up. "Gary, she won't even kneel. She's not sincere!"

His cold gaze fixed on me at once, his tone dripping with disdain. "It's just kneeling. What's so noble about you? Think about Mr. Johnson…"

I bit back the humiliation and sank to my knees. "I'm sorry."

Tears blurred my vision, and my dignity was crushed into dust.

Gary's friends smirked in open disdain. They had always disliked me, believing that Lucy, their university classmate, was his true match.

"What a disgrace. Why doesn't she just leave already?"

"If I were her, I'd have died of shame long ago."

"To Gary, she isn't worth a single strand of Lucy's hair. How pathetic."

Their words made my eyes sting, and his favoritism toward her made my chest ache with grief.

Lucy, smug with victory, added, "Why don't you cut up these dresses yourself? That would prove your sincerity."

My gaze darted to Gary as I fought to keep my emotions in check.

For a moment, he hesitated, as though torn. However, when Lucy leaned in to whisper in his ear with a coy and teasing expression, he faltered. "Zoey, no matter what, this started because of you. Just do as Lucy says," he said.

I said nothing. I only picked up the scissors and began to cut. The dresses I had poured my soul into turned into scraps before my eyes. Tears fell freely onto the scraps.

Lucy even streamed it live. When I raised my head, her screen was filled with cruel, mocking comments. She beamed at my humiliation. "Alright! That's enough for today," she said at last.

I left without a glance at Gary. However, he chased after me, catching my wrist. "Lucy is just young. She likes to fool around, but she means no harm. How do you think that makes me look when you walk away like that?"

I turned, my chest heavy with delayed grief and bitterness. I said coldly, "I did what you asked. Now let me go."

His brows furrowed as unease flickered across his face, the first hint that something vital was slipping away from him.

I tore my wrist free and walked away without looking back.

Soon after, my friends transferred the money to me, which I sent to the hospital. With the arrangements made, I returned to packing my luggage.

Days passed. The house grew emptier with each box, and the flight drew closer.

Gary still left early and came home late, but I no longer cared where he went. I thought only of leaving.

Then, on the eve of my departure, Lucy called me again. "Zoey, come to my house right now."