Chapter 3 The Truth Behind Her Confession

I laughed bitterly at myself.

She was the one who'd done something wrong, yet somehow, Callista made me out to be the petty, unreasonable one.

I tossed the ring box into the trash. "I can't be bothered to argue any further."

Callista gave me a long look, then turned away and shut the bedroom door after saying, "You need to calm down."

Over the past five years, Callista and I had our share of major fights. Every time, she'd tell me to calm down, then shut the bedroom door in my face.

I'd always believed that, as a man, I should be willing to accommodate my girlfriend. By the next morning, I'd be apologizing and trying to make up with her.

I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the bitterness welling up inside me.

I looked around the house that had once felt so warm and welcoming. Now, it only made me feel suffocated. I couldn't bear to stay another minute.

I grabbed my wallet and headed to a hotel.

As I lay in bed, memories of the past came flooding back.

Callista and Zachary had been two of the most talked-about people on campus. They'd grown up together, and everyone knew they were childhood friends. Naturally, everyone assumed they'd end up together.

That was why, even though I had feelings for Callista, I kept them to myself.

So when Callista confessed her feelings for me, I assumed she'd lost a dare. It wasn't until she leaned in, her lips almost touching mine, that I realized she was serious.

I'd asked her about Zachary back then, too, and she insisted they were nothing more than friends who'd grown up together.

She looked so sincere that I believed her.

Little did I know that this so-called friend would keep coming between us, again and again.

Whenever Callista and I went on dates, Zachary would shamelessly tag along, turning every date for two into an outing for three.

Whenever Callista and I fought, she'd run to Zachary for comfort, claiming he was basically family.

Even on my birthday, if Zachary called to say he was feeling down, Callista would leave me behind to keep him company.

I argued with her about it plenty of times over the years, but Callista always hid behind their 20 years of friendship. She even accused me of having a dirty mind, saying that people who were dirty-minded saw filth in everything.

But Callista had forgotten one thing—disappointment accumulated little by little. And once enough had built up, it was time to leave.

Early the next morning, I woke up to a message from Callista.

"Where's my breakfast?"

Callista had stomach issues, so I'd researched all kinds of recipes and made her different kinds of food to help her stay healthy.

For five years, no matter how badly we fought the night before, I'd still get up early to make her breakfast, afraid her stomach would act up.

Callista probably expected to open the bedroom door and find a delicious breakfast waiting for her, along with me ready to give in and make up with her.

I responded, "Make it yourself."

Callista probably hadn't taken what I said about breaking up the night before seriously at all.

Then again, even though Callista had been the one to confess her feelings first, I spent the past five years cherishing her and bending over backward to keep her from feeling even slightly wronged.

Anyone could see how I felt about Callista. She could see it, too.

She was certain I only brought up breaking up in a fit of anger. Once I cooled off, she expected me to come back, admit I was wrong, and do whatever it took to appease her.

But she was wrong. I was truly tired.

After work, I planned to return to our apartment and pack up my things.

Since I'd decided to break up with her, I needed to make a clean break. I wanted Callista to understand that this wasn't an impulsive decision, and I'd thought it through carefully.

I had just reached the door and was about to unlock it when I heard Callista's friend, Anya Chandler, speaking.

"Callista's boyfriend is so petty. He's throwing a tantrum over something so trivial, and now he's even walked out without making her breakfast. What kind of man does that?"

Zachary chuckled. "That's why our friendship is so much more dependable. Whenever Callista's upset, I'm the one who's there for her. I honestly don't know what kind of boyfriend Julian thinks he is."

Anya laughed. "That dare back in college really screwed Callista over. Who would've thought Julian would actually take her confession seriously? Callista was afraid people would call her a heartless player if she told him the truth, so she wound up with a boyfriend she never meant to have.

"If she'd just swallowed her pride and confessed to you instead, you two would probably be married by now."

She paused, then added, "Besides, you're already wearing matching rings. Callista might as well break up with Julian and be with you."

My blood ran cold.

The heartfelt confession I'd believed in all those years had actually been nothing more than a dare.

Callista had come to me only because she couldn't swallow her pride and confess to Zachary. And she'd stayed with me just to protect her reputation?

Five years of love, and it had all been a lie.

No wonder Callista was so attached to Zachary. He'd been the one she wanted all along.

Our relationship had been a mistake from the very beginning, and it was all a lie. I was the only fool who'd taken it seriously, offering her my whole heart.

Looking back now, I realized I must have been nothing but a fool in Callista's eyes.

"Why aren't you going in?" Callista asked from behind me.

I turned to face the woman I had loved for five years and clenched my fists. "Should I go in and celebrate you and Zachary finally getting together?"