Chapter 4

Delilah always returned the favor with my hard-earned money. She squandered my money without the slightest hint of gratitude, yet she treated all the junk Noel casually tossed her like it was a priceless treasure.

Noel had more things than I did in this apartment. I found it amusing.

Delilah's heart was just like this apartment. There was no room left for me in it.

No, that wasn't entirely true. There was still a place for me—the place of an ATM that always gave her whatever she wanted.

Unbeknownst to her, even an ATM would grow disillusioned after having its heart beaten down too many times.

I went back to my room and started packing my belongings. Once I was done, I realized that everything I owned couldn't even fill a single suitcase.

I had a handful of clothes and basic toiletries. Then, there was the only gift Delilah had ever given me—a suit she'd casually given me after realizing the seller had sent the wrong size. It was originally a gift for Noel.

I scoffed and tossed the suit straight into the trash before getting ready to leave. Yet, the moment I pushed open my bedroom door, I heard a commotion outside.

The front door swung open, and Delilah walked in, supporting half of Noel's weight. He looked like he'd had a bit too much to drink, judging from the way he stumbled along. The two of them were so close that I honestly couldn't believe they weren't a thing.

"Oh, you're home." Delilah's eyes darted around when she spotted me. "I texted you, but you didn't reply. Noel just returned to the country, and he came straight to our city. He hasn't found a place yet, so he's going to stay with us for now. Why don't you go find a hotel to stay in?"

I was so infuriated I couldn't help but chuckle. "You're asking me to stay in a hotel for his sake?"

Before she could respond, Noel slurred, "Delilah, you don't need to go out of your way to take care of me. I'll just crash at a hotel. I don't want to come between you and Elio."

Right after saying that, he staggered as he tried to rise to his feet.

Delilah hurriedly caught him, her eyes filled with concern. "Absolutely not. You just flew back, and you don't even know your way around here. You'll get taken advantage of.

"Besides, you've had way too much to drink. What if something happens to you?" she fretted.

Her voice was gentler than I'd ever heard it when she spoke to me.

"Elio, you stay at hotels all the time anyway, and you're familiar with the area. You know which ones are reliable."

Whenever Delilah and I fought in the past, she would kick me out of the apartment.

Even though I was the one who paid the rent and covered all the expenses, I didn't want Delilah to feel like she owed me anything. So, I would humor her and spend the night in a nearby hotel.

Back then, she had never once worried about whether something might happen to me.

When I remained silent, she tried to coax me gently, "Elio, please, just this once. You've stayed at hotels plenty of times before. Tell you what, I'll pay for your room this time."

Having said her piece, she pulled out her phone and transferred 200 dollars to me.

My heart was eerily still, and I almost laughed out loud.

I'd seen the bills for the rooms she'd booked for Noel before. Every single time, it was an executive suite at a five-star hotel, costing one grand a night. Yet, here she was, attempting to get rid of me with a measly 200 dollars.

Her love was wherever her money was. Now, the last bit of hope I'd been holding onto was completely snuffed out.

"That won't be necessary. I was planning to stay at a hotel tonight, but now, I've changed my mind."

Before she could process what I'd said, I seized her and Noel and shoved them both out the door. "I pay the rent, and everything in this apartment was bought with my card. If anyone's getting the hell out, it's you two!"

Delilah staggered a couple of steps. Before she had even regained her balance, she hurriedly supported Noel.