Chapter 2

However, the first thing I touched was a soft, sagging photo album.

The moment I opened it, I found the photos inside had been cut to shreds. Not a single one was intact.

Written on the last page of the photo album in a signature pen were the words, "Percy, you can't beat me!"

The words made my vision blur with anger and resentment. At the end of the message, she had drawn a crude smiley face.

Shreds of paper fell through the gaps between my fingers, and a sharp ring filled my ears.

After Mom was gone, these photos were all I had left of her.

"It has to be Carlene again!" Percy shouted, staring at the mess on the floor. He was blind to the fact that I was falling apart right next to him. "I didn't even hold the wedding against her, and here she is picking a fight with me first!"

He turned toward the door. "Ines, don't stop me. This time I'm really going to give her a lesson she'll never forget!"

I reached out to grab him, but my hand closed on empty air. I jerked my head around in time to see the front door slammed against the wall. It was so loud that it left my ears ringing.

I sat on the floor holding the ruined album for as long as Percy was gone. Only when my fingers had gone numb from the cold did I dazedly pull out my phone.

Carlene had just posted on Instagram. It was a gloating selfie with a caption that cut deep.

"Someone lost to me again today. Once a loser, always a loser."

I was staring blankly at the caption when Percy's call came in.

"Ines, I just remembered I was supposed to help you plan for the wedding today. But Carlene really went too far! I went to her place because I wanted to get back at her for you. I'm coming home right now—"

"Don't bother." I cut him off, swallowing the hurt. "Percy, let's just break up. You and Carlene have seriously messed up my life."

Despite myself, the last word still came out with a catch in my throat.

Percy and Carlene had been at each other's throats for years, from fighting over rankings back in school to competing for resources once they started working.

Eventually, even my affairs became something they had to get involved in. They'd fight tooth and nail every time, leaving me forgotten on the sidelines.

On our dates, they'd argue over who got which seat to the point of flipping the table. I could only stand there awkwardly, cleaning up the mess.

And when Carlene ruined the surprise Percy had prepared for my birthday, I ended up having to comfort him in his fit of anger.

After putting up with it for so long, even the things I cherished the most were torn to shreds.

Percy was panicking on the other end of the phone. "Ines, don't cry. I'm sorry. Just wait—I'm going back right now."

Less than ten minutes later, the door was flung open. Panting, Percy came in and pulled me into his arms.

"Ines, I really know I was wrong now. Can we not break up? I swear I'm cutting Carlene out for good."

I looked up at his guilty and anxious face.

He was always like this. No matter how far he was, he would always rush back at the first moment to comfort me. Except for the thing with him and Carlene, he was a great partner in every other way.

However, it was precisely this that hurt me the most.

I gently pushed him away and was silent for a few seconds before speaking in a low, quiet voice.

"If you really want to cut her off, I have a way. Percy, let's press charges. She broke into our home and destroyed our property."

Percy was stunned for a moment. "Press charges?"

I stared at his shocked face. "Don't you hate Carlene? Don't you want her to get locked up for a few months to teach her a lesson?"

As I spoke, I stood up and walked toward the door without hesitation.

"Let's go right now."

No sooner had I touched the doorknob than Percy pressed my hand down.

"You're right. We definitely have to press charges." He placed his hand on my shoulder, his voice gentle. "But you must be exhausted. There's no need for you to make a trip to the law firm.

"Have you forgotten that my good buddy Tristan is a lawyer? Just leave this to me. I'll definitely make Carlene pay."

Upon hearing that, some of the tightness in my chest finally began to ease.