Chapter 4

During the week I was away on business in Axton, I was so busy I only had time for one meal a day.

When the trip was finally over, I turned on my phone and was met with nearly a hundred messages and missed calls.

They were all from Nina.

In her latest message, she said, "I can explain the photos. Don't make such a hasty decision, okay?"

I didn't reply.

But when I got home, Nina was waiting at my door.

I walked over.

Just as I was about to say something, Nina suddenly shoved me with all her strength. My knees slammed against the hard ground, and blood immediately began to pour out.

But Nina acted as if she hadn't noticed it and immediately lashed out at me.

"Jules is getting attacked all over the internet now. Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?"

I picked up my phone.

That was when I finally realized what had happened. After crying myself awake the night before, I'd been so out of it that I couldn't tell the dream from reality.

I had left a comment under one of Julian's videos: [Did you know she's my girlfriend?]

Because of that, people started accusing Julian of knowingly getting involved with another man's girlfriend.

Disappointment was written all over Nina's face.

She said, "Julian came from an orphanage. It wasn't easy for him to get to where he is today. Must you ruin him before you're satisfied?

"Or is one photo really enough to make you want the rest of us to be miserable too?"

Her accusations came fast and hard. Each one dug into wounds that still hadn't healed.

I couldn't keep my emotions buried any longer.

"Do you…" My voice trembled the moment I spoke. "Do you have any idea how I've made it through these past few days?"

Tears kept rolling down my face.

It didn't matter how calm and rational I seemed during the day. When night came, every memory of Nina, Julian, and me came crashing back.

Each one cut so deep that even breathing hurt.

More than once, I stood at the edge of the hotel room balcony.

I thought maybe I should just jump.

But Nina didn't care. "Isn't this all your own doing? If you hadn't made such a scene, would any of this have happened?

"You're just miserable, and you're trying to make everyone else unhappy too."

She paused for a moment, then spoke slowly. Her tone was icy.

"Who could ever put up with someone like you? No wonder your parents didn't want you."

When I heard those words, I stood there in shock.

A chill spread through me, and I could barely breathe.

Back then, Nina had asked me, "Could you stop trying to be so strong? Otherwise, I always feel like you don't need me."

I had told her, "I'm an orphan. You're all I have."

Nina kept comforting me. She said, "I'm your first real family. I'll always be by your side."

She never knew those words had become my lifeline.

But now, she had shattered it with her own hands. It became her weapon to protect Julian and to hurt me.

The doorbell rang, and Nina opened the door.

Julian was standing outside with red-rimmed eyes.

He said, "Ryan, if it'll make you feel better, you can do whatever you want to me."

Nina held him close, her voice full of tenderness. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

Then, she slammed the front door shut.

After that, the apartment fell silent again.

It was so quiet that I couldn't help but think.

When a heart breaks, it doesn't make a sound.

Nina moved quickly.

She made a public post that said: [Julian Locke and I fell in love on this day seven years ago. We were each other's first love. As for a certain someone, they're just chasing attention and clout.]

The photo attached was a Polaroid of her and Julian holding each other.

The date showed it was taken exactly seven years ago today.

I remembered that day. I had asked her to spend our first anniversary with me, but she said she was busy and didn't have time.

The comments were already going wild, with everyone cheering them on.

Some people even dug up my personal information. They called me a horrible person and said I deserved to be an unwanted orphan. Some went as far as to curse me to get hit by a car.

I turned off my phone and wrapped my arms around myself.

"It's okay, Ryan," I told myself.

I still had my job, and I could still earn that promotion. I can still build myself a home.

Then my phone started ringing nonstop.

"Come to the office," the voice at the other end said.