Chapter 4

"Let go." I said sarcastically.

"I told you that day— If you walk out that door, don't ever come back.

"Patrick, there's a saying: love that arrives too late is worthless."

His face turned ugly. He said coldly, "Hannah, you'd better not regret this."

He left looking defeated. Travis rubbed my reddened wrist where Patrick had grabbed me and muttered, "What bad luck."

Word about what happened at the bar that night spread quickly. What I didn't expect was that Lily would actually have the nerve to come looking for me.

We arranged to meet at the cafe outside our old high school. I showed up on time.

After all these years, she looked much more polished than the poor, pale girl from high school who still had light in her eyes. She was prettier now, and clearly well-off.

The bag on the table was the latest Hermès, and every piece of clothing she wore was designer.

She smiled warmly at me. "You're still as beautiful as ever."

I sat down and said bluntly, "You, on the other hand, are nothing special. I'm disappointed."

I was telling the truth. Back then, she'd been this fragile but radiant girl who was determined to change her fate through education. She had this resilience about her.

After high school graduation, she left for the best university without a second thought. That kind of independence and grit was genuinely attractive, which is why she became the one who got away for Patrick.

Patrick used to say she had this wild, untamed energy, a vitality that was different from the pampered girls in our circle.

He said she was special.

What you can't have always seems the best. They'd developed feelings during their youth and then separated—it was that adolescent heartbreak.

So when they reunited, it was like a spark hitting dry kindling.

Lily smiled bitterly. "You know, I've always envied you. You're beautiful, your family's wealthy, everyone's nice to you, you never lack for anything."

I shot back, "So you stole Patrick."

"I didn't steal him." Lily protested defensively. "You two may have grown up together, but we fell for each other first."

I felt sick to my stomach. "You seduced him while I was his girlfriend."

"That's such an ugly way to put it." Her face went pale. "I know you still love him, but forcing something never ends well."

I flashed the expensive diamond ring on my finger. "My husband is charming and treats me wonderfully. I'm not going to pine over a piece of trash.

"I don't want to get involved in whatever's between you two. If you're so capable, get him to marry you."

I picked up my bag to leave, but Lily panicked and grabbed my hand. "I can't live without him."

"Not my problem."

Her eyes reddened. ”You're as formidable as ever. Because you've distanced yourself from him, he can't stop thinking about you. He feels guilty about you."

I suspected she had serious mental issues—she was so calculating herself that she assumed everyone else was too.

"Ha, sounds like he's a glutton for punishment."

She suddenly stood up and dropped to her knees with a loud thud, grabbing at my pants and begging desperately, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have coveted what was yours. I shouldn't have fought you for Patrick.

"I just love him too much. I want to stay by his side forever. Please forgive me."

I was completely baffled by her over-the-top performance when Patrick, who'd apparently been watching from the doorway, strode over and pulled her up from the ground.