Dumping My Scumbag Boyfriend for His Uncle

This was the seventh day of my cold war with Ethan, also the last Valentine’s Day of our four years in college.

He had given me an invitation to attend his new company’s yacht party.

I set off clutching a wristwatch bought with two full months of my part-time earnings—a gift I hadn't managed to give him on his birthday, which I now intended to use to break the ice and reconcile.

Yet the moment I stepped onto the deck, I saw him holding Vivian, his childhood sweetheart, in his arms, shielding her from champagne being sprayed by another colleague.

Later, they played Truth or Dare and Vivian had to find someone on the spot to sip a drink with.

Pouting, she picked up a cocktail and walked right up to Ethan. “Hey handsome, wanna share my drink?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk curving on his lips.

Emboldened, Vivian held the cup to his lips, put hers on the other side of it, and started sipping.

Their mouths were inches apart while their noses almost touched.

I stood rooted to the spot, my heart leaping to my throat.

Without a second’s hesitation, he pressed closer and started sipping.

After having her share, Vivian pressed herself to his side.

“That was sweet!”

I squeezed the gift box in my hand, my nails digging deep into my palm.

As rage rushed to my head, I darted forward, snatched the cocktail from Vivian’s hand, and hurled it across the floor.

“If you’re that desperate for a man, make a Tinder profile. Ethan’s a taken man!”

The surroundings went silent in an instant and all eyes were on us.

Vivian’s face turned from red to pale.

Ethan, however, shoved me aside and snapped:

“Chloe Vance, what has gotten into you?

“It’s just a game—do you have to blow things out of proportion like that?

“You haven’t found a job this long after graduation. How dare you show up here to throw a tantrum at me?

“I invited you here to build connections, not to humiliate me!”

With Ethan backing her up, Vivian instantly regained her confidence, covering her mouth with a soft snicker:

“Come on Chloe, no need to be mad. Ethan is helping you out here.

“It’s fine if you can’t find a job. Ethan can make arrangements—just like how he got me my job, right, Ethan?”

Ethan sat back, crossing his long legs, his eyes filled with condescension.

“How could she compare to you? You’re an outstanding graduate from a top university. What does she have save for a pretty face?

“She’s holding me back. That’s all she’s good for!”

I froze in place. The sea breeze blew past, catching the hem of my skirt, but could not blow away the bitterness in my heart.

In truth, it wasn’t that I couldn’t find a job. After all, I had always been top of my class.