Chapter 2

I handed the bag in my hands to Crystal Amos, Clayton's younger sister. She was one of the few people who had treated me with kindness for the past few years.

"Please burn this dress after I'm gone. I don't deserve to wear this anymore."

Crystal accepted the bag from me, the anger showing in her eyes because of how unfairly she thought I was being treated.

"Clayton's truly gone overboard this time! I'm going to give him a piece of my mind! I'll make sure he gives you a hefty break-up fee before you leave! "

Crystal turned to leave in a huff, but I quickly stopped her.

"There's no need for that anymore."

She was well aware of how I'd been treating them both for the past few years, and she committed it to heart. After all, I was the one who had tried to help them improve their relationship and bring them closer to each other.

As soon as I was done speaking, Clayton reappeared while pressing against the wound on his arm. His voice was icy-cold as he asked, "Where are you going?"

I looked up at him. It had only been half a day since I saw him, but I couldn't help feeling taken aback.

Suddenly, I was reminded of the time when I first met him.

It was dark in the bar, and he was leaning against the edge of a table, downing glasses of wine all by himself.

A jacket was draped over his broad shoulders, adding to his tall frame. His eyes were dark and murky, his lips tugged in a straight line, and he looked about as welcoming as a wolf with blood on its muzzle.

However, all it took was just one look from him, and I was enamored. I could no longer shift my eyes away from his gaze.

I had seen plenty of expressions in his eyes over the past few years. However, I had never once seen the tenderness he'd only reserved for Gladys.

I snapped back to the present and said, "You're mistaken. I was just asking Crystal to help me settle some irrelevant things."

The more I spoke, the more my eyes darted around the place. Somehow, it felt as though I was also trying to convince myself of that.

I wasn't wrong, though.

Since I'd arrived without a word, I was going to sever all ties with this world before I left, too.

Clayton stared at me for a long time. Then, he finally accepted my explanation and left after failing to find any fault with what I'd just told him.

This was more like his usual self.

Clayton had always been quiet when he was around me. He'd only speak a little more if he were talking about Gladys. Naturally, he wouldn't really care where I was going.

However, a short while later, the door to my home opened. I watched as Gladys ignored me and rushed upstairs to find Clayton.

She behaved as if this were her home instead of mine, seeing as how she didn't even spare me a single glance.

I followed her up the stairs and saw her knocking on Clayton's door.

As soon as she'd knocked, Clayton immediately screeched, "Get lost!"

Gladys sounded anxious. "It's me, Clays…"

The sound of the door unlocking was heard.

The door was thus opened from the inside.

I only realized then that the "Get lost" he'd yelled at the door earlier was meant for me. He thought I was the one knocking at his door instead of her.

Clayton's eyes were full of lust as he stared at Gladys and asked, "Why are you here? Aren't you worried that he'd find out you came over?"

Gladys' eyes immediately filled with tears. Her voice shook as she said, "We aren't dating just yet. He can't do anything about me.

"But you got hurt because you tried to protect me. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't make sure that you were okay."

I stood rooted to the ground. My heart felt as though someone had just pummeled it into a mess. It had hurt so much.

It was obvious that they didn't even bother pretending I was still alive, based on their conversation with each other.

I had done everything I could all day to stop them from contacting each other, yet in their eyes, I was still nothing but the dust beneath their shoes. I was expendable to them.

Gladys began to cry. "Don't you want to see me too?"

Clayton couldn't hold back anymore. He hugged her tightly right in front of me.

"I need you, Gigi. I've always needed you."

I watched as his eyes gradually turned red. He looked like he'd just been reunited with something precious he'd lost for years.

His words were like a sharp knife in my heart.

So, had I always been a joke to him?

After they were finally done hugging each other, Gladys immediately started checking on the wound on his arm. She kept caressing his arm while sobbing quietly.

"Does it hurt?"

Clayton looked at her with pity in his eyes, feeling sorry for her. He gently grabbed her wandering hands and held them in his own.

His eyes were gentle as he said, "Don't be scared, Gigi. It doesn't hurt anymore.

"Look, the doctor bandaged it up really well for me. Nothing will go wrong as long as I change out the bandages regularly as told.

"Also, you should go back."

I'd spent five years with him, yet not once had I ever heard Clayton speak so gently to me.

As it turned out, only the main protagonist of the story deserved his gentleness.