Chapter 3 The Game Is Over

I tried everything to get out of it, but Riley dragged me to the party anyway.

The moment we got to the hallway outside the private room, I froze. Claire's voice carried right through the door, sharp and smug.

"Oh, come on, stop hyping it up. Zach's been saying dramatic crap for years, but he always comes crawling back. He's probably just blowing off steam right now. Give it a few days, and he'll be wagging his tail and begging for my attention again."

I clenched my jaw so hard I bit into the inside of my cheek. The coppery taste of blood spread across my tongue.

Years of effort. Years of loving her, looking out for her, giving her everything I had… And that was how she saw me?

Like I was nothing. A doormat. A joke.

Riley glanced over and saw the look on my face. His hand landed on my shoulder in a quiet show of support.

He was about to open the door when I stopped him.

I didn't want to see Claire. Not now. Not ever again.

I turned, grabbed Riley's arm, and started walking away.

However, we barely made it to the corner when the door behind us swung open. Claire and Leo stepped out, laughing.

Leo spoke first, his voice low and teasing. "Claire, you've had enough to drink. You should really stop talking like that. If Zach heard you, it'd break his heart."

Claire giggled, half-slurring her words. "Isn't that what you want? You're the one who kept pushing me to say yes to marrying him, just so I could bail last minute. You're such a bad influence, Leo!"

That did it. The tears I had been holding back finally spilled over.

So, it was all a game. A cruel, private joke between the two of them, and I was the punchline.

It made sense now. When Claire agreed to marry me, there wasn't even a flicker of excitement in her eyes. I thought I had caught her off guard. I wrongly assumed she was just overwhelmed.

The truth was—she wasn't surprised. She was disgusted.

Leo pulled her into his arms like it was the most natural thing in the world. She giggled, pounding her fists playfully against his chest.

"Bad influence? This whole plan was your idea, babe. I only went along with it to make you laugh."

Then, they kissed. Right there in the hallway, like no one else existed.

I felt hollow. I felt like my soul had cracked open and drained out onto the carpet. I didn't speak, didn't lose it. Instead, I just turned and walked out the front doors with Riley.

The night air was cool, but it cut through me like glass. Each gust of wind felt like it was slicing straight through my chest.

"You're too kind, Zach," Riley snapped, furious. "That's why they had the gall to pull this crap. They knew you'd never fight back."

I gave him a small smile, more out of reflex than anything.

Then, I opened my mouth to speak… and coughed up red.

The coppery taste of blood hit the back of my throat.

"It's over," I murmured quietly. "Claire and I… we're done. For real this time."

After a lot of convincing, I finally got Riley to head home.

When I got back to my apartment, my phone was already buzzing.

It was the delivery guy I had hired. He said he had made it to Claire's place, but no one was answering. I remembered then that she never picked up calls from unknown numbers.

I told him to wait and hung up. Then, I called her myself.

It sounded like she was in a bar. I could hear loud music in the background, people laughing, and glasses clinking. Still, none of it could drown out the smugness lacing her tone.

"Well, well. Look who couldn't stay away," she cooed. "What happened to all that fire from earlier, leaving me on the street like a drama queen? Where's that courage now?"

In the past, I would have swallowed my pride, begged for forgiveness, and said anything to get back on her good side.

Not this time.

"Your stuff is at your front door," I said flatly. "Make sure you grab it when you get back."

She laughed, way too pleased with herself.

"Oh, Zach. What'd you get me this time? Is this your way of making up? Didn't you text everyone that you weren't gonna show up to anything if I was there? But now you're trying to win me over again?"

I didn't respond. I just hung up.

Right before the call ended, though, I swear I heard her snicker and say something like, "I hope it's something cute. If I like it, maybe I'll forgive you."

I stared at the dark screen in my hand, then let out a dry laugh. After all these years of being her doormat, backup plan, and lapdog, she still thought I was groveling.

She didn't get it just yet.

But… she would.

One day, she would wake up and realize the game was over.