Chapter 4

Stacy would never chase after me.

Her thoughts were filled with smugness. "Jake has always been attached to me. He'll definitely come running back within three hours."

I silently told myself, "I'm never going back. Not in this lifetime."

…

The next day, I was at Sidman Group, buried in paperwork.

My phone lit up with a message from Stacy, demanding an explanation.

"Jacob, where are you? You skipped work without permission. I'm cutting your pay in half this month."

I scoffed and ignored her.

Didn't she know I quit yesterday? What a stupid question.

That evening, she unexpectedly messaged me again just as I was leaving work.

"It's Grandma's birthday today. She insisted I invite you. Come if you want."

My grip tightened around my phone.

Stacy usually bossed me around and mocked me, but her grandmother, Martha Thorne, had always treated me well. Martha was a gentle, caring woman.

So I replied with a simple "Okay".

But when I hurried to the mansion, I saw Stacy with her arm linked through Zack's. They were surrounded by guests, drinking and mingling.

I had always been the one who accompanied Stacy to these events. Now, I was suddenly in an incredibly awkward position.

Everyone looked at me at once and covered their mouths as they laughed.

Stacy gently lowered the arm she had linked with Zack's. She lifted her chin with a proud look on her face, as if waiting for others to come talk to her.

But her group of friends came over first and started teasing me.

"Well, well, Jacob. How come you didn't wear that ridiculous mascot costume today? Or did seeing a handsome young guy like Zack make you feel threatened?"

I lowered my eyes to hide my emotions.

Before, I had gone out of my way to give Stacy the romance she loved. On her birthday, I planned a surprise for her. I dressed up as a mascot, brought her flowers and cake, and even danced for her.

I had stomach problems, yet I went days without eating while planning that surprise for her. All I wanted was her approval.

Instead, she called me a fool for putting on a ridiculous show. She said I had done it all for nothing in front of her friends.

By the time I came to my senses, Stacy was standing in front of me. I didn't even know when she had walked over.

She snapped, "Jacob, why are you just standing there? Go get me a piece of cake. You're not even half as perceptive as Zack."

Zack was carrying a tray filled with fruit, cookies, and other small snacks.

He shot me a spiteful look and said in a sweet, almost childish tone, "Jacob is the model husband everyone wants, after all. It's only normal for him to be a little proud.

"I'll take care of these little chores."

Stacy frowned.

From the way things were going, I knew Stacy was about to show off how well she had trained me and see if I would obey her.

But this time, I didn't even spare her a glance. I turned and walked into the courtyard.

There weren't many people in the courtyard. Moonlight shone over the fountain in the middle, and the water glimmered.

With a click, I flicked open my lighter. I cupped my hand around the flame and lit a cigarette. The smoke curling around me slowly calmed me down.

Just then, several mocking laughs broke the silence.

Two other rich young men who had also come out to smoke looked at me with disdain.

"What the hell is that smell? Who even smokes this stuff? Well, well, if it isn't Ms. Levine's favorite little suck-up. Why don't you ask her to get you a better brand of cigarettes?"

"You didn't know? Jacob has spent years trying to please Ms. Levine. He couldn't do more to win her over if he tried.

"But after all those years, look where it got him. Some younger guy still got to her first!"

If this had happened in the past, I definitely would have been angry.

But now, I merely smiled and said calmly, "You make a fair point. Sometimes, you really should know when to let go."

Before I could finish, the two men went pale. They swallowed hard and looked behind me.

I turned to look too.

Stacy stood beneath the covered walkway, her slender figure still. I had no idea how long she had been there.

Her expression was icy.

Both men thought Stacy was angry. They didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.