Chapter 3

Jason had finally gotten what he wanted and was as deliriously happy as a mad dog. He posted endless sweet couple photos on social media.

Giselle made him look far better than he did in real life. It was a complete contrast to the old days with me, when he would boss me around to take his photos, always stuck in the same stiff, victorious poses.

Lately, his photos were filled with silly, relaxed smiles, seemingly influenced by Giselle's cheerful spirit. In each one, he grinned broadly, as if to say, "I've never been happier."

In his most recent post, Jason and Giselle were wearing matching rings. "Guys, don't invite me to hangouts anymore. I'm focusing on my career. I want to give Giselle the future she deserves."

After seeing that, I blocked him.

Jason had always struggled with commitment. After graduating, he flitted from one company to another. He couldn't handle the pressure of a big corporation, and the pay at smaller companies never impressed him. I had followed him through it all, changing jobs alongside him.

Last month, he quit without even telling me, leaving me alone at our small company. Now he was working at the big corporation he once despised, and the complaints were gone.

That was fine with me. I no longer had to wander from job to job, only to be scolded by my parents when I got home.

I decided to open a flower shop. Software engineering had never been what I wanted to study. When I hesitated back then, Jason simply took the mouse and made the choice for me.

"Winter, what's there to hesitate about? You can survive without me, can't you?" he said, smiling in a way that made my teeth itch. "I made the decision for you—same school, same major. I've got your back from now on."

Back then, I had gritted my teeth and studied a subject I didn't like, all for a crush I had carried for years. Fate had a way of turning the tables. Now, Jason was forcing himself into a class he didn't enjoy for love, and I was free.

In fact, I had quietly taken floral design classes alongside my job. If I couldn't be with the person I liked, at least I could do something I loved.

I rented a small shop in the old neighborhood. It was simply decorated and barely cost anything. Each day, I took photos of my arrangements, posted them online with clear prices, and slowly gained a small but steady following.

When orders picked up, I was so busy I forgot the smell of coffee that had once filled the company, or the tears that had fallen on the doorknob months ago.

One afternoon, Susan Pierce, a former colleague I barely spoke to, reached out to me to order flowers. She sounded thrilled. "I found a flower shop online called Bellefleur, and it was gorgeous. I went to add the owner as a friend, and that's when I realized it was you."

I hadn't expected such a coincidence. Though we had barely interacted before, we were reconnecting through flowers. It made me feel unexpectedly warm. "Since you're my first customer, I'll send you a bouquet," I replied.

Susan grew even more animated, as if a floodgate had burst open. "You're so nice. It's just that we always saw you with Jason before, so we didn't know how to get close to you. To be honest, we all assumed you were a couple. I never thought his social media post would be about another woman."

A beat later, she deleted her message and added an apology. "Sorry. You've already left the company, and we're still bringing this up."

Her words made me pause. "Why did you think…"

I chose my words carefully. "Why did you think Jason and I were a couple?"

Her response came right away. "Felicity Martin from the administrative office once confessed to Jason. When he turned her down, he said you were his girlfriend."