When the Stars Betrayed Us

My whole body went cold, and then thunderous laughter came from inside. "Eve, remember what you told him back then? You said it was a test. You were afraid Zack's feelings wouldn't last, and that his addiction might make him hurt you someday. And he actually treated your words like a divine command!"

Another person added, "Exactly. Eve never fights for anything, but Zack spent the last five years trying every possible method to control himself. And even then, he only kept one little bird by his side—the one who happened to look like you. If that isn't devotion, what is?"

"Didn't you see the videos he sent to the group? He tortured that bird every single time, and even when she passed out, she couldn't get away from his lust."

"He did everything to prove he's normal and can love you for life. You have to admit, that's pretty convincing."

I knew these people. I used to see them at the mall, but Zack never introduced them to me. He only brought them up when he came back home to torture me in 100 different positions, citing that they were his best friends.

Zack only loved me when night fell, but when it was daytime, he pretended he did not know me, even when we ran into each other. I used to believe that he only did it to protect me, but the truth made it sound like a joke.

And these people talked about those videos. That made me uneasy. I wondered if they were sex videos. Zack told me it was just for fun and something only the two of us knew. So what exactly had he shown them?

I stumbled backwards and covered my mouth with one hand. Hot tears slid over my fingers.

Through the crack in the door, I saw the girl, Yvonne Chaucer, putting her pen down, and she smiled.

"Kiss me, Zack."

My breathing stopped. Zack only paused for a moment, then he kissed her, still half-kneeling on the ground. The crowd whooped.

"Date him! Date him!"

Everyone's faces were filled with sweet smiles. I stood outside like a filthy secret, unable to breathe as I watched them celebrate. The kiss lasted long and hard. Zack's arm was around Yvonne's back, and he brought her to the bed in the room.

Yvonne moaned, and his kiss moved down to her neck. His hand moved downward too.

Someone finally muttered awkwardly, "Guys… this is still a monastery."

Another snickered. "You buzzkill! Zack built this whole place for Ms. Chaucer. This is his turf! And he knows what he's doing. He's not that gentle when it comes to sex. Did you forget those videos?"

I leaned against the door, my nails sinking into my flesh, yet I felt no pain. My heart was already screaming out in agony so much I could not breathe.

This answered every question I had. There was no love at first sight. He spent five hundred million buying me five years ago because I looked like Yvonne. The name in his heart and the name he called out whenever we were going at it belonged to this woman, his childhood friend who ran away from their wedding.

I let my nails claw at my face until they drew blood, but I did not let go. I cursed myself for my stupidity. I cursed myself for plunging too deeply into the role Zack gave me while he used me.

I could not stand the conversation any longer, so I turned to run, but I staggered and toppled the porcelain pot in the corridor.

"Who's there?"

I did not turn back, and I ran as fast as my legs could take me. It was a long descent down the mountain, and every step nearly killed me.

I lost my path within the downpour, and a long, long time later, Zack's car zoomed past me. Sludge splashed all over me, and I crumpled to the ground. Crying, I signed the termination contract in my inbox.