Chapter 1

When I found out Clive Hawkins had booked a hotel room to cheer up his heartbroken childhood friend, I slapped him across the face.

In the hotel room, Clive's shirt was half open, and there were still marks on his neck he hadn't bothered to hide.

I stood in front of him and asked if he really thought this was fair to me.

He clicked his tongue and ran a hand through his hair, as if he had just heard something ridiculous.

"We're just dating, not married. Who I sleep with isn't your business."

After saying that, he even turned around to glance at Danielle Medina.

Danielle spoke softly, her voice trembling as if she were about to cry, "Julia, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. Don't blame him…"

"That's enough," Clive cut her off, but his eyes stayed on me, his gaze turning cold. "I did it willingly. It's not that big of a deal. Do you really have to make a scene like this?What, you want to break up again?"

Again with the breakup threat.

This was the 11th time we had talked about breaking up because of Danielle.

From the freshman year of college until now, we had been together for four years. We had fought countless times, and every single time, I was the one who backed down first.

Clive had probably taken that for granted a long time ago.

This time, I didn't want to back down anymore.

I didn't even have the energy to argue. I nodded and turned toward the elevator.

Suddenly, Danielle jogged over and grabbed my hand. Her fingers were ice-cold, her voice soft like cotton.

"Julia, please don't be mad. Clive really loves you. He kept calling your name in bed just now…"

I yanked my hand away hard.

How disgusting!

A sick, indescribable nausea rose from my stomach.

Clive strode over, pulled her behind him, and stared at me as he spoke, word by word, "If you can't accept it, then get out. Don't stand here giving me that look."

I looked at how he shielded her, and I suddenly laughed.

"Fine," I said calmly, then closed the hotel room door for them.

The elevator went all the way down. I didn't cry.

When I reached the lobby, the girl at the front desk glanced at me with pity, then lowered her head and went back to typing.

The wind outside was strong. I walked two blocks before I managed to flag down a car.

The driver asked where I was headed. I said, "Just drive."

My phone kept vibrating. All of it was messages from Clive.

[Done throwing a fit yet?]

[Come back.]

[Julia, don't push your luck.]

The last message said, [You really wanna break up? You'd better think it through.]

I didn't reply.

The scenery outside the window rushed backward, like the messy memories between us over the years.

I'd had a crush on Clive for three years in high school. It took me forever to work up the courage to confess.

The first time he held my hand after we got together, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

He once gave me a limited-edition stuffed bear, stayed with me in the ER in the middle of the night, and even took me to watch fireworks he had specially arranged for my birthday.

But he was also the one who left me behind again and again for Danielle.

A 12-person group chat suddenly popped up on my phone. Someone tagged Clive.

[Heard you got caught in a hotel with Danielle by that girl. Was she crying and making a scene again?]

I had been in that group for three years, but I had never spoken. They had probably forgotten I was still in it.

Clive replied right away.

[Don't even start. She's annoying as hell. Now she's pulling the silent breakup act and won't even reply to my messages.]

[Wow, she's got guts now! Ignoring you? If you ask me, take this chance to enjoy yourself for a few days. She's always clinging to you anyway. Didn't you find that annoying, too?]

[Ha, I bet she won't last till tomorrow before coming back to you.]

Clive replied, [You're right.]

As he said that, he immediately posted on X.

[First 100 likes get a breakup cash giveaway.]

No one knew what was going on, but they all liked and reposted it anyway.

I reposted it too and left a comment.

[Count me in.]