Chapter 2

Just before noon, I went to Ashton’s office.

I usually brought him lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays whenever I had time.

Ashton used to wish I would come every day. He loved making sure everyone knew I was his girlfriend.

When I walked in that day, I saw that the photo of us that had always stood in the most prominent spot on his desk was gone. A landscape photo had taken its place.

Ashton took the lunch I had packed for him. Then, he hesitantly said, “Chloe, maybe you should stop coming by the office until after the wedding. I’m being considered for a promotion. I don’t want people gossiping about you.”

I gave a dry laugh and called him out. “Is that really why you want me to stay away? Or are you worried the girl with a crush on you will get upset when she sees me?”

Ashton froze. For a moment, panic flashed across his face.

Then he recovered and took my hand. “You noticed too?”

He gave a bitter smile. “I suppose it’s hard not to. She’s made it pretty obvious. But Chloe, you have to believe me. Nothing has happened between us.”

“Then why didn’t you tell her clearly that you weren’t interested?” I asked.

Ashton pressed his lips together for a second.

“Because I know you can’t help who you fall for. She knows I have a girlfriend, but that doesn’t make her feelings go away. But that is what unrequited love is like.

“Sometimes, wanting someone you can’t have only makes you want them more.”

He looked up at me briefly. “Chloe, you wouldn’t understand.”

I curled my hand into a fist.

Right, I had never had an unrequited love for anyone, but he had.

Rachel’s warning came back to me. "What if he sees himself in her and starts falling for her too?"

I was about to speak when a knock at the door interrupted me.

“Mr. King, I came to return your umbrella.”

It was Kimberly.

She walked in. When she saw me, she teared up.

“I’m sorry. I accidentally scratched the charm on the handle.”

I looked at what she was holding.

I had made that charm for Ashton myself.

Once, a friend of his had knocked a bead off it. Ashton had been so furious that he had nearly ended their friendship.

It already had several deep scratches, but Ashton did not raise his voice at Kimberly.

“It’s okay,” he said gently. “I know it was an accident.”

“Chloe.” Ashton turned to me. “It’s just a simple little thing. You can make me another one, right?”

I did not answer.

I stared at Kimberly as she walked away, lost in thought.

She was wearing the same pale blue dress Ashton had given me for my birthday last month.

No wonder none of the photos he posted after my birthday party showed my face clearly. He had taken them all from behind or from the side.

No wonder Kimberly had posted on my birthday.

[Thank you for letting me pretend, just for a moment, that I was your princess too.]

Ashton had not chosen that dress because it suited me.

He had dressed me to look like Kimberly, then posted photos that let her imagine herself in my place.

Nausea rose in my throat. I dug my nails into my palms and fought to keep my expression steady.

Soon after I left, Ashton texted me.

[I’ll keep my distance from her. I’m having dinner with some friends at seven the night after tomorrow. Come with me and take your mind off things, okay, Chloe?]

I knew what he was trying to do.

I did not arrive on time. Instead, I arrived at the private dining room half an hour early.

Before I opened the door, I heard his friends talking inside.

“Ashton, you spent twelve years pining for Chloe before she gave you a chance. She must think pretty highly of herself. Maybe it’s time to make her a little jealous.”

“That girl’s crazy about you. Don’t you want to enjoy being the one someone else is pining for?”