4

On my mom's 60th birthday, I planned to go home by myself.

I'd told Nathan three weeks in advance, but I had a feeling he wouldn't make it on time.

I didn't remind him. I didn't see the point in asking again.

At five o'clock, I carried the cake downstairs.

Nathan's car was parked at the curb.

Vivian was in the passenger seat, and the trunk was stuffed with her luggage.

I opened the passenger door, but Nathan said, "Vivian gets carsick. You sit in the back."

That seat was supposed to be mine alone. Nathan had once said that no other woman would ever sit there.

I never imagined all his rules would change the moment Vivian showed up.

When we got to my mom's place, Nathan went in empty-handed.

Vivian, on the other hand, had brought a silk scarf, and my mom couldn't stop thanking her.

When the seafood stew came to the table, Vivian had just picked up her bowl when Nathan suddenly put his hand over hers.

"You're allergic to seafood. Don't touch it."

My mom froze.

Seafood stew was her signature dish.

"I didn't know Ms. Shaw was coming."

"Now that you know, there's still time to fix it," Nathan said, moving the seafood stew away from Vivian. Then he looked at me. "There's a restaurant nearby. Go get her a salad."

I still had stitches in my wrist. Before I could respond, my mom's face darkened.

"Leah came to spend my birthday with me, not to run errands. And her hand is still hurt.

"There's plenty of food on the table. If Ms. Shaw can't eat this, she can just eat a little less."

Nathan frowned. "Allergies are serious, Evelyn. There's no need to make things difficult for her just because she's not family."

The whole table went quiet.

On my mom's 60th birthday, he'd brought along an extra guest without warning, then accused my mom of giving her a hard time.

I didn't want my mom upset at her own birthday dinner, so I got up, went into the kitchen, and made Vivian a salad.

When I brought it out, Nathan had already opened the box for the birthday cake I'd ordered.

Vivian saw the mango on top and said softly, "I can't eat that. It's okay. You guys go ahead."

Nathan stopped me. "Order a different one."

"It's my mom's favorite flavor."

"It's just a birthday. One cake is as good as another."

My mom slowly took off her party hat and pushed the cake away. "Then let's not have any."

Only then did Nathan seem to notice my mom's expression. But instead of apologizing, he turned to me and lowered his voice. "Leah, it's your mom's birthday. Do you really have to ruin the mood like this?"

Suddenly, I didn't want to say anything at all.

He didn't care about me, so he didn't respect my family either. Yet he still thought this whole mess was my fault.

Just then, Vivian got a message, and her eyes turned red.

"My landlord says I have to leave. He thinks I'm too much trouble because I kept calling about the broken lock."

Nathan stood up at once. "I'll go talk to him."

I looked up. "Now?"

"This can't wait."

"It's my mom's 60th birthday. It's rude to leave like this."

He glanced at Vivian.

"Your mom has a birthday every year. Vivian has nowhere to stay tonight. Some things are more urgent than others."

My mom went pale.

I took a deep breath, swallowed my anger, and opened the door for them.

"Go."

Vivian said quietly, "I can stay at a hotel."

Nathan frowned right away. "It's not safe for you to stay at a hotel alone."

Then he looked at me. "I'm just helping her out a little, and you act like I'm choosing between the two of you."

"Aren't you?" I shot back.

"I'm just dealing with an emergency." Nathan's frown deepened as he shook his head.

"Fine. I understand." I stepped aside again and motioned for them to leave.

He stood in the doorway like he was waiting for me to give in the way I always used to.

The elevator doors were about to close, and Vivian called out, "Nathan, are you coming or not?"

He looked at me, then finally reached out and stopped the elevator doors.

I said calmly, "Nathan, we're breaking up."

His expression stiffened, and he reached for me. "Just because I'm helping her deal with her housing problem?"

I shook my head and stepped out of reach.

"In the past two years, I asked you to have dinner with me 99 times. Every time, I had to plan ahead, check your schedule, and make sure I never bothered you at the last minute.

"I always thought you were like that with everyone. Now I know you were only like that with me."

Nathan frowned. "Don't threaten to break up with me."

"I'm not threatening you. I'll separate your things from mine and move out tomorrow. I'll keep paying the rent for the remaining three months."

Vivian held the elevator open again, and Nathan finally stepped inside.

"Calm down. We'll talk tomorrow."

The doors slowly closed in front of me.

I went back to the table and cut the cake with my mom.

After she blew out the candles, I sent the signed transfer form to Diane.

"The new Northbrook store. I'm in."

Then I removed Nathan as my emergency contact, left our shared calendar, and revoked his access to the smart lock.

This time, Nathan wasn't even on the waiting list.