Chapter 5

Noel, however, seemed to have sobered up at that moment. He hastily grasped the doorframe and instinctively shoved Delilah away.

Delilah fell hard onto the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she bellowed, "What the hell is wrong with you, Elio Price? How dare you push me?"

I gazed at her coldly. For a moment, I wasn't sure if I should laugh at her stupidity or at myself for being so blind.

Previously, whenever she teared up, my heart would ache, and I'd hurriedly apologize to her. I was afraid of upsetting her. It filled me with a deep sense of failure, making me feel like I hadn't taken good enough care of her.

But now, I realized just how fucking satisfying it felt to shove her. I used to be so damn pathetic.

Delilah was the one who was being unreasonable, yet I had been willing to throw away all my dignity just to accommodate and protect her.

I wasn't her boyfriend. I was nothing more than an ATM and a glorified servant she could order around at her beck and call.

In a way, I was grateful that Noel had made me see the truth before it was too late. Noel stood beside us and "earnestly" tried to reason with me.

"Elio, you're the one who's in the wrong here. Regardless of whether she's your girlfriend, Delilah's a woman. How could you lay your hands on a woman?

"I know you're jealous, but there's really nothing going on between us. We were just close when we were kids. If we'd had feelings for each other, we'd have become a thing ages ago. You wouldn't even have had a chance to enter the picture.

"Delilah speaks so highly of you to me all the time. You really shouldn't have treated her like this. Do you have any idea how much you're breaking her heart?"

After hearing that, Delilah felt even more hurt. Tears trickled down her face.

I watched them play off each other like a tag team and let out a derisive chuckle. "Oh, so you're sober now? In that case, stop loitering at my place. Since you're such a gentleman, why don't you comfort her?"

Noel was stumped. "She's your girl—"

"We've broken up." I cut him off without hesitation.

As soon as my words fell, I was slapped. I felt the rush of air followed by a sharp, burning pain across my cheek. I touched my face and found blood on my fingers.

Delilah hadn't even lowered her hand yet, and there was already a smear of blood on her freshly manicured nails. "Elio, you scumbag! I can't believe I ever thought you were a good guy! You want a breakup? Fine. We're over! However, don't ever expect me to forgive you!"

With that, she linked her arm through Noel's and turned to leave.

"Hold on," I called out.

Delilah came to a halt. When she turned back, she had a triumphant look on her face. "Do you regret it now? I hate to break it to you, but it's too late, Elio!"

Noel hastily chimed in, "That's enough, Delilah. I think you should give Elio another chance. Didn't you tell me he was soft-hearted? Every time you threatened to break up with him, he begged you to get back together, and you agreed. I can tell he didn't push you on purpose this time. Why don't you forgive him?"

Delilah took one look at me. "Fine. Since Noel's pleading your case, I'll give you another chance. So long as you apologize to Noel and me, I won't break up with—"

Before she could finish, I scoffed. "Oh, we are definitely breaking up. Not only are we breaking up, but I'm also going to settle all the accounts between us today!"