Chapter 4

Grayson snatched his phone back in defensive anger, his face livid.

"Blair! Can you stop being such a control freak? You checking my phone makes me feel completely suffocated!"

"Every guy in the league messes around. Other stars have cycled through countless models by now. Compared to them, I am basically a saint. The fact that I didn't dump you the second I got famous proves I love you, doesn't it?"

"I am just sick of you watching my every move. Cici is fun. Being with her helps me relax. What is the big deal?"

In the heat of the argument, his thumb accidentally hit the redial button on the screen.

The call went straight to Cici, and a familiar melody started playing.

Only, it wasn't the one he had set for me.

The song he gave me was his triumphant, youthful victory song.

But the song drifting from his phone right now was a trashy, trending TikTok song.

The cheap, sleazy rhythm echoed in the spacious penthouse. It slapped me across the face harder than a physical blow.

The air instantly froze. Grayson snapped his head toward me, the self-righteous look on his face finally cracking to reveal obvious panic.

A second later, Cici's sickeningly sweet voice came through the speaker.

"Grayson, didn't you say you were going to buy me that artisan pizza? What took you so long? I am starving to death over here."

Grayson lunged forward. He pressed his hand tightly over my mouth, terrified I would make a sound and upset his precious girl on the other end.

He pressed down so hard I could barely breathe. Yet his voice, when he replied to Cici, was dripping with tenderness. "The place was packed. Just watch some TV for a bit. I am heading back with the pizza right now."

Cici whined on the other end. "No way, I want that artisan black truffle pizza from downtown. If I don't get it, you are not getting into my bed tonight."

Grayson soothed her in a low voice. "Okay, wait for me."

When they finally finished talking, the call ended.

My tears were already soaking his palm.

The atmosphere felt suffocating. I pulled two tissues from the coffee table and handed them to him so he could wipe his hand.

The calluses on his palms from holding his stick felt exactly the same as they did when we were young. But the love that belonged solely to me had rotted away long ago.

Once, these hands used to wrap me in an embrace, carry my gym bag, and help me tie my hair back.

Now, they only covered my mouth, forcing me to stay silent for another woman.

Grayson finally seemed to notice something was wrong. He frowned and tried to step closer, as if he wanted to offer an excuse.

I beat him to it. "That artisan place closes in an hour. If you don't go buy it now, you won't make it in time."

Grayson lowered his head, staying silent for a long time before muttering, "Blair, just give me a little more time. I just don't know how to tell her it's over right now."

"Anyway, I have said it before. No matter how much I mess around, you are the only one who will ever wear that ring in the end."

After saying that, he turned and rushed out to buy his pizza, almost as if he were running away.

I sat quietly on the sofa in the empty living room and wiped the tears off my face for the very last time.

Then I grabbed the two suitcases I had already packed. I went downstairs without looking back, and drove straight to the airport.