Chapter 3 The Truth

I spent the entire afternoon completely out of it.

I made up an excuse that I wasn't feeling well and left in a hurry.

…

On the way back, I stared at their profile pictures. Only then did I realize—somehow, they looked like a couple's matching avatars.

My hand felt like it weighed a ton.

After hesitating for ages, I finally blocked them and deleted their contacts, but I never expected that Elias and Winnie would show up at my doorstep, showing clear signs of a rushed journey.

With a dark expression, Elias scolded me. "Winnie was afraid that you'd misunderstand us and rushed back overnight. This is all because you blocked us.

"Why throw such tantrums like blocking us? You're an adult!"

I looked at his familiar yet suddenly unfamiliar face, momentarily dazed. For the four years we spent in college, he had never once raised his voice at me.

I used to joke that he was too mature for his age.

Only now did I understand—he only ever lost control of his emotions in front of Winnie, who carefully stepped forward and took my hand.

"Did you misunderstand something, Amy?" she asked. "Elias and I are innocent."

My gaze fell to her wrist. She was wearing the bracelet that he had recently asked me to help him pick out with so much care.

I had thought, full of anticipation, that he was finally starting to care. Now? It only felt like a cruel joke.

Then, my gaze drifted to the fading marks on her neck, and I let out a cold laugh. "So, you were 'checking him out for me,' huh? Did you run a full physical at the same time?"

Winnie paled and instinctively released my hand, only for Elias to support her immediately. "Amelia White, when did you become so bitter and sharp-tongued?"

"What do you want from me then?" I finally lost control of my anger. "Am I supposed to be a fool and smile after seeing my boyfriend and best friend together? Why can't you just admit that you cheated behind me?"

Elias stepped forward, his chin up as he admitted the truth head-on. "Yeah, Winnie and I have been together behind your back for the past two years."

That caused Winnie to panic as she tried to cover his mouth. "Hush. Amy won't be able to take it."

He grabbed her hand tightly and looked straight at me, eyes burning. "Amelia, you're dull, average-looking, overly sensitive, and paranoid. I would have called it quits with you ages ago, if it weren't for Winnie being afraid of hurting you and you clinging to me like a koala."

His words cut through me like a blade.

I remembered the first time we met.

…

I had fallen into a man-made lake while trying to save a stray cat, slipping in myself—and he was the one who jumped in and pulled me out.

Under the starlight, his eyes had shone as he smiled at me. "How can there be such a clumsy girl? You're kind of interesting."

…

A surge of rage and heartbreak rose in my chest.

I pointed toward the door and screamed, "Get the fuck out of my house!"

Elias was not angry. Rather, he laughed coldly, folding his arms as he looked at me. "Your house? Please, this place is Winnie's. You should be the one leaving."

"What did he just say?" I froze and looked at Winnie, who avoided my gaze.

She stepped between us, her voice trembling as she pleaded, "Amy…"

"Why don't you calm down for a bit in the nanny's room?" He pulled her into his arms, frowning. "You're just too kind. She's just the nanny's daughter. Why are you, the Whites' heiress, acting so submissive toward her?"

Suddenly, something clicked in my mind—and I laughed. "Mrs. Romger!"