Chapter 3

With Dad handling all the travel arrangements, I didn't need to worry about anything.

I'd just laid down to get some rest when my phone started buzzing again.

Chase.

Looking at his name on the screen, I raised an eyebrow, hit accept, and put the phone to my ear.

I didn't say a word.

"Quinn."

His voice had none of the irritation and arrogance from before.

"Did you get the ticket?"

"You just hung up. I haven't even finished reading the travel package details and you're already calling back."

I threw that little jab at him without much feeling.

"Oh, right, no worries, no rush." He laughed it off and kept talking.

"I mean, it's peak travel season. Tickets are hard to come by. Just keep looking and don't stress yourself out."

Chase never comforted me without an ulterior motive.

I knew he was about to hit me with some outrageous request.

In the past, I would've gotten angry at demands like this, argued with him, and eventually given in under his pressure.

But now I felt absolutely nothing.

I stayed quiet, waiting for what came next.

"Actually, there's one more thing."

"I remember you snagged a discount voucher for that photography studio, right?"

"After we get back from the trip, Anna wants to do a photo shoot. Could you let her use it and just grab another one for yourself?"

"Getting one ticket or two - it's all the same, right? Besides, you've got nothing else going on. Think of it as keeping yourself busy."

I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

That voucher was for a wedding photography session.

I'd been planning to use it with Chase after graduation - stepping from college straight into marriage.

He'd been so righteous about it back then.

"We're still young. We should focus on our careers. Once we have money, we can have the good life. No point wasting cash on superficial stuff like that."

I'd been stupid enough to believe him.

Turns out he was saving it for Anna, that manipulative little snake.

Anna wasn't just stealing my tickets - she was stealing my man.

Though honestly, who'd even want a guy like that anymore?

Now that I was thinking straight, I felt completely calm.

A man like this wasn't worth my love - hell, he wasn't worth anyone's love.

My brief silence made Chase think I was upset and unwilling.

"You spend all day cooped up in your dorm anyway, not studying, just scrolling on your phone. You're turning into a total waste of space. Getting tickets would be good mental and physical exercise for you."

"Anna's going through a rough time and needs looking after. This would help her feel better faster. Don't you think?"

Disgusting.

Every word out of Chase's mouth made me sick.

How could anyone be so shameless?

I agreed coldly:

"Fine. I'll send you the voucher."

In Chase's mind, I'd caved and submitted once again. His tone got cheerful.

"Now that's more like it. Admitting when you're wrong - that's my good girlfriend."

"Check if there are any paid add-ons with that voucher. Don't want them hitting us with extra charges when we get there. That'd be a real buzzkill."

"If you can snag another one, I'll do a shoot with you sometime."

He talked about taking photos with me like he was doing me some huge favor.

"Sure." My voice was ice-cold.

"Gotta go. Anna's calling me."

He hung up in a rush, like he had something incredibly urgent to attend to.