Chapter 5

Barry's words crushed whatever was left of my hope.

I yanked the plain band off my finger and hurled it at him.

Tears spilled down my face, hot and unstoppable.

Then I slapped him. Hard. "Barry, you bastard."

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

The night air bit at my skin, the chill snapping me out of my daze.

Before I knew it, I was standing outside the apartment Barry and I once shared.

A year into our relationship, I had moved out of the dorms to be with him.

Barry was juggling an internship, and the campus curfew made it tough. I worried he'd burn himself out, so I moved in—to take care of him.

Then three months ago, he told me he was moving back to the dorms. Said it was closer to the lab, that he didn't want to waste time commuting.

Not wanting to be too far from him, I went back to campus too.

With graduation keeping us both busy, neither of us had set foot in this place since.

I should've just left.

But something made me unlock the door.

Inside, the apartment was spotless.

A faint trace of home-cooked meals still lingered in the air.

Memories of our three years together hit me like a freight train, twisting my stomach into knots.

Then—something felt off.

Barry and I had moved out months ago.

But the apartment? It had clearly been used.

On the balcony, a woman's lingerie hung out to dry.

Not mine. Not even my style.

My fingers trembled. A sickening realization clawed its way up my throat.

I yanked open the bedroom door.

My things—gone.

In their place? A stranger's.

A framed photo sat on the nightstand.

Barry and Lyla.

My legs gave out. I collapsed.

So this was the truth.

While I had been in the dark, they'd already been living together. Like lovers.

My gaze landed on the trash can.

Used rubbers.

Tears splattered onto the floor.

I didn't know how long I sat there before Barry walked in, looking exhausted.

The moment he saw me, his expression twisted. "What are you doing here?"

A cold laugh slipped past my lips. "Barry, why shouldn't I be here? If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known someone already took my place. If I hadn't come... I wouldn't have realized I was just a stand-in all along."

Barry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose like I was the one being difficult. "Lyla's family had problems. I'm the only one she has left. She's not in good health, and I didn't want to upset her.

"I need you to get this, Amelia. Lyla is important to me. I can't let anything happen to her.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused me today? I'm exhausted. Can't you just behave? Stop making me worry?"

Before, whenever Barry looked this exhausted, my heart used to ache for him.

But now?

I laughed. "So, to keep from upsetting her, you took care of her in bed? Don't you find that disgusting?"

His response was a slap across my face.

A sharp sting bloomed on my cheek. My vision blurred, dizziness nearly knocking me off my feet.

Regret flickered across Barry's face. He reached out—

Then his phone rang.

Lyla's tearful voice spilled through the speaker.

"Barry, I had a nightmare... I'm so scared. Can you come get me?"

Barry's entire demeanor shifted. He murmured a few comforting words before heading for the door.

Before leaving, he glanced back at me.

"Amelia, you should go. If Lyla sees you, she'll only feel worse. Once she calms down, I'll explain everything. Wait for me, okay?"

I watched him walk away.

Then, I smiled.

'There won't be a next time, Barry.'