Chapter 3

This time, what hurt me wasn't just some holiday stunt.

It was finally realizing how blatantly biased she was, and how she purposefully ignored my emotional needs, treating me like a court jester.

Why should I keep someone like her around?

Yet, Joanna felt no guilt whatsoever. There was nothing but annoyance in her voice when she spoke.

"Everything you did was just to satisfy yourself. I wanted none of that, and you didn't even know! Fine, I get it. You’re just picking a fight because of the holiday thing. Let me guess, did your parents talk bad about me? Before the end of the year, I'll go…"

Talking to her was like speaking to a brick wall.

Completely disappointed, I stopped her from making any more false promises. "Give me my money back right now unless you want cops knocking at your door, got it?"

She cared too much about appearances to risk public humiliation.

There was a long silence on the other end before she exploded.

"You're the one who said that your money was mine to spend, so why are you getting all twisted up now that I've done it? Do you really think I care about that tiny amount of money? From now on, I won't touch a single cent of your money even if you beg me!"

The next second, she hung up. Soon afterward, the money was transferred back to my account.

Joanna deleted and blocked me everywhere.

For the first time, I didn’t beg her to add me back. Instead, I transferred a hundred thousand dollars to my parents.

The shocked, overwhelmed expressions on their faces made my chest ache.

-

After spending a proper holiday with them, I returned to the city a day early.

The apartment was empty, but there were unfamiliar sneakers by the entrance, men’s T-shirts, a razor, and even cologne.

The place was a complete mess. Clearly, Zion had already moved in.

I clenched my fist, but I acted like I didn't see any of it. I stepped over the dirty clothes on the floor as I went to collect my belongings, suppressing my disgust.

Since money wasn’t an issue, I quickly rented a fully furnished apartment and moved in immediately.

That evening, just after I finished cleaning, Joanna suddenly called.

"Did you go back home? Where are you?"

"Yeah. I moved out."

She didn't pursue the topic, only changing it. "Why didn't you tell me to come fetch you?"

In the past, I had always indulged her in everything.

I only ever had one request. Whenever I returned from a business trip, she had to come pick me up. At least then, I could feel like someone was waiting for me.

Now, I understood that care without sincerity meant nothing.

"There's no need. We've already broken up, so it wouldn't be appropriate."

"I think you're just feeling guilty!" Joanna's voice suddenly rose shrilly, accusing me. "Zion’s family’s staying at his apartment, so he had nowhere to live. You weren't home anyway, so I just let him stay over for a few days. How could you sneak back in just to break his things?"

Then, Zion's tearful voice chimed in.

"It's alright, Joanna. So what if the limited-edition jersey you bought me got cut to pieces? So what if our photos together were ripped up? Ethan’s probably just jealous. I’ll move out and give the apartment back to him."

I didn't even need to think to know that this was some ploy by Zion to incriminate me. It wouldn't have been the first time, after all.

Yet Joanna believed him without question. She immediately softened her tone to comfort him.

"It's fine. I'll buy you another jersey, and we can take more photos together. I'll teach this jealous brat a lesson for throwing his weight around!"

The subject of her words turned back to me, and her tone became cold immediately.

"Ethan, do you just hate seeing me happy? Apologize to Zion right now, or just wait until tomorrow at work!"

Nobody knew that the cold, untouchable female CEO everyone admired treated the man she had dated for seven years with nothing but harshness and selfishness, as if I were her enemy.

After spending seven years as her emotional punching bag, I was exhausted.

Calmly, I replied, "I didn't do it. You should change your temper, Joanna. No one's going to keep on indulging you anymore."

She froze for a second, before letting out a mocking laugh.

"Since when did I need anyone to indulge me? Ethan, I got where I am today all because of my hard work, so stop giving yourself too much credit!"