Chapter 4

The next day, I decided to skip class and head to Vera's apartment.

In less than two hours, I had packed up all my belongings, erasing every last trace of myself from the place.

As I made my way to the entryway, the front door clicked open and Vera walked in.

She glanced at my suitcase, her impatience flaring.

"Yves, what are you doing?"

"I don't want people getting the wrong idea," I said.

"There is no one else. Yves, this is our home. I won't bring anyone else here."

I let out a humorless laugh, choosing to ignore her as I stepped toward the door.

She blocked my path, her voice dropping into an angry hiss. "Yves Keller! What's with the sudden tantrum? We haven't broken up! We're just giving each other some space and seeing other people."

I stopped and looked at her.

The eyes that had once completely captivated me were now filled with an arrogance that made me feel sick.

"No thanks," I said calmly. "I'm traditional. I'm not interested in an open relationship. I've spent all these years terrified of losing you. I'm tired. Let's just end things here."

Vera froze, staring at me as if I'd just said the most absurd thing she'd ever heard.

"End things here?" She stepped closer, tilting her head up until her warm breath brushed my neck. "Then what's this bullshit about you and Eliza? Yves, rumors that you have a crush on her and are planning to go after her have already reached my campus."

I paused for a fraction of a second before meeting her gaze. "So?"

Vera scoffed. "Yves, even if you're trying to spite me, there was no need to drag Eliza into this. Everyone knows she's hated you since we were kids. Have you already forgotten how she took that birthday gift you gave her and threw it straight in the trash?"

Of course I remembered. That was precisely why I felt safe using Eliza as my shield—there was zero chance of anything ever coming of it.

"This has nothing to do with you."

"Yves, cut it out." She frowned, her voice turning stern. "A girl like Eliza isn't someone you can mess around with. Don't bite off more than you can chew."

My remaining patience snapped. I grabbed the handle of my suitcase and moved to push past her.

This time, Vera didn't stop me.

Instead, her cold, mocking voice trailed behind me as I walked out. "Do you honestly think Eliza would ever want you? Even if everyone else is in the dark, she knows you've been with me all these years.

"Go to her if you want. I'm sure she will humiliate you and make you the laughingstock of the entire campus. And when you get hurt, you'll come crawling back to me."

A cold wave of humiliation washed over me.

Leave it to Vera to strike with surgical precision right where it hurt most.

I turned back to look at her self-righteous, sneering face, then yanked my arm out of her reach as she tried to grab me.

Vera stumbled back, barely catching her balance. She stood frozen for a few seconds, staring at me in utter disbelief.

"Fine, you've got guts," she snapped. "Listen to me, Yves. A guy like you doesn't get infinite second chances with me."

Without a word, I turned away and walked out the door without looking back.