Chapter 3

Kristen had reserved a private room. By the time I arrived, almost everyone was already there.

The moment I stepped inside, every conversation seemed to pause. The crowd all turned toward me, sizing me up with barely concealed amusement.

We were all in the same social circle. Everyone knew exactly what had been going on between Kristen, Jake, and me.

It didn't take long for someone to break the silence. "Well, if it isn't Peter. I'm surprised you actually showed up."

Another person laughed. "What's so surprising? Kristen told him to come and apologize to Jake, didn't she? No matter how proud he is, he still has to listen to her."

They all watched in silence, eager to see how this would play out.

Kristen didn't even glance my way. She sat on the couch with Jake beside her, the two of them close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.

I walked over, picked up a glass, and filled it with vodka. Holding it up, I looked around the room. "Since everyone's here, I'd like you all to be my witnesses. This toast is my apology to Jake."

Jake shot to his feet, waving his hands in alarm. "Peter, what are you doing? You don't owe me an apology. As long as you stop making things difficult for Kristen, we're fine. Say whatever you need to say. I won't hold it against you."

Kristen frowned the moment those words left his mouth. "What are you talking about? He should apologize to you. I've been looking out for you since we were kids. No one's going to bully you as long as I'm here."

Jake looked almost embarrassed. "Peter, you don't have to do this. Just take a sip if you want. I promise I'm not upset. As long as we've cleared the air, that's all that matters.

"And Kristen's always been like this. She gets ridiculously protective of the people she cares about. If she ever gives you a hard time, let me know. I'll talk to her for you."

I smiled but said nothing. Instead, I raised my glass. "Jake, I'm sorry for what happened. I let my imagination get the better of me, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you. Here's to a fresh start. I hope we can be friends."

Then I tipped back the glass and drained it in one swallow.

For the first time that evening, Kristen looked like she wanted to say something. Her lips parted, only to press together again.

She was the only person in the room who knew I was allergic to alcohol. And yet, she said nothing.

Seeing me finish the drink without hesitation, someone jeered, "Well, you've got guts. I'll give you that. But one glass? That's hardly an apology. If you're really sincere, you should finish the whole bottle."

Laughter rippled through the room. Not long ago, no one would've dared humiliate me like this. Back then, everyone knew Kristen had my back.

Now, they all knew who mattered more.

Kristen frowned, looking as though she was about to put an end to it. Before she could speak, Jake sighed.

"It's okay, Peter," he said quietly. "I just hope you won't come to my office and slap me again. I'm trying to make a living on my own now. If you have a problem with me, you can come talk to me in private."

Kristen's voice rose sharply. "He went to your office? When?"

Jake hesitated. "Not long after I started working there."

A cold smile spread across Kristen's face. She turned to me, her gaze sharp enough to cut.

I met her eyes without flinching. "Yes. I went to see him."

Jake had only just returned from overseas when his family's business went under. From then on, he always seemed to have a reason to call Kristen away.

There was always some excuse—a fever, needing someone to remind him to take his medicine, feeling down and wanting someone to talk to… It was one little thing after another.

At first, I told myself it was only temporary.

But once became twice, and twice became countless times. Before long, the arguments between us had become routine.

"Kristen, I'm your husband! You're running out in the middle of the night to be with another man. Do you really think that doesn't hurt me? He's a grown man. He can take care of himself.

"Why can't you be there for me the way you're always there for him? I need you too."

There were moments when I could see the conflict in her eyes. But in the end, she always chose Jake.

I kept swallowing my anger until the day he sent me a photo. It was him and Kristen in his office, locked in a lingering embrace.

That was the last straw. I got in my car and drove straight there.

He looked at me with a smug smile. "Peter, you were never anything more than a placeholder while I was gone. Now that I'm back, take the hint and step aside. Otherwise, you're only going to embarrass yourself.

"We've got plenty of old photos together. If that one wasn't enough, I've got more. Some of them are a lot more intimate. Want to see those too?"

I'd had enough, so I slapped him across the face.

He rubbed his cheek. Then, to my disbelief, he smiled.

"What? Think you can keep her? Or do you already know you're about to lose her?"

Jake lowered his head, still playing the wounded victim.

Now, when Kristen found out, she was furious. "Peter, I always thought you were just jealous. I never imagined you could be this cruel. You make me sick!"

Her eyes landed on the bottle of wine on the table. "It's one bottle of liquor. What's the big deal?"

She knew I was allergic to alcohol. I stared at her in disbelief. "Kristen, is this really how little faith you have in me?"

She let out a cold laugh. "Have you done anything to deserve my trust? Or was this whole apology just another performance? Did you really think showing up here would make me forget everything you've done?"

Every word landed like another blow. Before coming here, I'd still been clinging to one last shred of hope.

I told myself she'd only been misled. Or maybe she'd spoken in anger and was simply waiting for me to take the first step toward making things right.

But as I looked at the bottle sitting in front of me, I finally understood.

There was no misunderstanding, no hidden reason. I just didn't matter to her as much as he did.

Kristen, I'd had enough.

I smiled, my voice breaking as I looked at the bottle between us. "If I finish this… does that settle everything between Jake and me?"

Kristen met my gaze without a trace of warmth. "You're asking the wrong person. You're the one who wronged Jake. Whether you're forgiven is up to him."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and let out a quiet laugh. "Alright. Then I'll drink."

As I reached for the bottle, one of Kristen's friends suddenly stepped forward. "Don't! He's allergic to alcohol. If he drinks that whole bottle, it could kill him."

Kristen's voice came from beside me, light and indifferent. "No one's forcing him. He's doing it of his own free will."

I gently removed the hand trying to stop me.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

Then, I lifted the bottle and drank as tears streamed silently down my face.

I supposed this was the price I'd have to pay for believing in the wrong person. Everything around me grew hazy as my body stopped listening to me.

The last thing I saw was Kristen rushing toward me, panic etched across her face.

Loving Kristen was exhausting, so I'd let her go.