Chapter 3

Josie.

Xander was sitting opposite her. Even with his back facing me, I could sense how tender he was with her.

He even carefully de-shelled a lobster for her before feeding her.

She opened her mouth to eat, as though it was all natural.

"My gosh! It still tastes the same as it did over ten years ago! Nothing has changed! I really like it!" She smiled in delight, looking at Xander.

Xander jokingly said while continuing to de-shell the lobster, "I didn't change either. Do you like it?"

Suddenly, he stiffened, showing his nervousness.

Josie blinked at him in bafflement before pouting, saying, "You liar! You've changed! You have Josephine!"

She added, "Be honest! The rotating restaurant, aquarium, and the cruise by the river–we've had so many memories here. Did you take her to any of them?"

She sounded smug, as if she already knew the answer. She cast a glance at me from the corner of her eye.

"I've never. Not once," answered Xander without any hesitation.

My nails dug into my palm. At that moment, I finally knew. Every time he turned me down citing work emergencies was just an excuse. He was protecting the memories they had made together.

I had never been part of them.

"That's more like it," said Josie haughtily. "You said you'd always treat me the best. If you go back on your word, I'll eat you just like this!" She took a chomp on the lobster as if she were someone one would not want to mess with.

Her coquettish behavior and tone annoyed me to no end, yet I could not shake it off.

Xander chuckled just as usual. "You're forever a little girl. Yes, my princess. Anything you say."

Josie smiled triumphantly before pretending to just notice me.

"What? Josephine, why are you here?"

Xander turned around to look at me with a nervousness I had never seen before in his eyes. Very quickly, though, it was replaced by rage.

"Were you stalking me? Josephine, you were the one who asked for a divorce, and now you're stalking me? Who on earth taught you such dirty tricks? No matter who it is, you need to give them space. You doing this will only push me further away from you. You…"

He trailed off when he saw my reddened eyes.

He paused for a while before pulling an empty chair next to him. He softened his tone and said, "Since you're here, join us."

This was the first time he had noticed how upset I was in front of Josie.

Josie's smug smile instantly froze.

I was upset, but not because he no longer loved me. I was upset that I wasted 10 years on someone who was not worthy at all.

"I wasn't stalking you. I came here for a meal. Besides, I have a table on my own," I replied calmly before walking past them to the other side to my table.

I sat where they could not see me.

The night skyline was stunning. Who knew that the world without Xander could be so thrilling?

That night, Xander did not come home, but he suddenly shot me a message.

[There's a gathering tonight with a group of people. Don't think too much of it.]

I stared blankly at the message I had once begged for but never received, just to tell me where he was so he could put my mind at ease.

It was too late, though. There was no joy left, only the irony of it all.

Josie sent me another video of the group of friends having a party. They were playing 'Never Have I Ever.'

They were all childhood friends, their life paths too similar. After several rounds, no one could gain the upper hand.

Josie suddenly grabbed Xander by the collar and pulled him in. She kissed him on the lips for five whole minutes before letting him go.

"Never have I ever kissed Xander! I bet none of you have, right?"

She happily hugged Xander's arm, thrilled.

"I was only kissing for the game. Don't be mistaken. We're just friends!"

I looked at Xander's reaction in the video. We were together for 10 years. He was always calm and collected. Never had I ever seen him react in such a flustered manner. He was blushing so hard that even his ears were red.

Turns out, he did have passionate emotions, just not for me.

I remembered Josie once boasting to me. They grew up together. He bought her breakfast, took her home, wrote poetry for her, got into fights because of her… All the passionate things imaginable.

What I did not understand was, if she truly did not love Xander, why did she keep messaging me to provoke me again and again? She even kissed him.