All Chapters of When the Joke Went Too Far, I Was Done Playing Along: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Once the prank was over, they followed their usual ritual of taking a group photo to remember it by.My older brother, Adrian Bennett, gave me a disgusted look. "Look at the state of you. Hurry up and fix your clothes."My younger brother, Caleb Bennett took a drag from his cigarette. "Just look at her. She's ugly and has no figure to speak of. No one would give her a second glance even if she's naked."Their laughter rang out around me as I gritted my teeth and fumbled to pull my disheveled clothes back into place.A sudden weight settled over my shoulders as a suit jacket was draped around me. Blake frowned slightly and said, "Put it on."The evening breeze stirred the fabric, carrying a faint trace of perfume toward me. It was exactly the same scent Jenna wore.I averted my gaze and wrapped the jacket tightly around myself, but the cold had already seeped into my bones.By the time we finished taking the photo, it was already ten at night. Perhaps my unusual silence had dampened the

Two suitcases and Pudding were all I had to show for my time in that home.When Jenna saw me emerge from the bedroom with my luggage, she could not help asking, "Blake, are you really going to let her leave?"Blake answered irritably, "She's a coward. She won't be able to manage without me."I stopped in my tracks, then walked over to Pudding and picked her up."Pudding, do you want to come with Mommy?"She licked my palm, as sweet and affectionate as ever. Without warning, a large, well-defined hand seized her by the scruff and yanked her out of my arms. Blake handled her so roughly that her fur instantly stood on end and a piercing cry tore from her throat."No. I bought her, so you have no right to take her away."Three years ago, Blake had been away on business all the time. Knowing how frightened I was of living alone, he had brought home a ragdoll cat to keep me company.Now he was telling me I had no right to take her.Suppressing the ache in my chest and the tremor in my voice

"We will be arriving at Jadenborough Station shortly. Passengers, please prepare to disembark."As the announcement echoed over the speakers, I gathered my suitcase and prepared to get off. Once the train pulled into the station, I stepped onto the platform and made my way toward the exit, where I spotted a familiar figure waiting for me.A smile tugged at my lips. "Well, what did I do to deserve this? Mr. Shaw himself came all this way to pick me up."Julian Shaw chuckled and shook his head. "There you go teasing me again. Just call me Julian."Julian had been ahead of me at university. After graduating, he had moved to the company's headquarters to further his career and eventually became my boss. He was also the one who had taken the initiative to arrange my transfer.His eyes settled on my noticeably thinner face, and his brow immediately furrowed. "You look pale, and you've lost so much weight. Has Blake been treating you badly?"Embarrassed that he had seen through me so easily,

After that day, Blake stopped going to work and shut himself in his room for days. He kept the volume on his phone turned up around the clock, answering every call the moment it came in, only to hang up in disappointment each time it turned out not to be from me.He remained in that dazed, listless state for a long time. At his worst, he saw my face whether his eyes were open or closed, while every memory of our years together replayed endlessly in his mind.One day, he finally emerged from the bedroom and found Jenna in the living room. It was as though he had suddenly awakened from a long dream."Why are you still in my house?"Jenna's expression stiffened. "Don't you remember? My place flooded a few days ago, and you're the one who asked me to stay here for a while."Blake showed no sign of relenting. "Has it been repaired? If it has, you should leave. My girlfriend doesn't like having other people in the house.""What is that supposed to mean?" Jenna snapped. "You're the one who

"I have a new life now. I'm busy, and I don't have the energy to spare on any of this."Blake lowered his gaze. "All right, I understand... I hope you find happiness.""I will."Holding Pudding in my arms, I headed toward the elevator. Just as I reached it, a group of my friends and family came hurrying toward me. They froze when they saw me, all of them looking flustered and disheveled from the rush.After a long silence, Adrian finally spoke."Nina, what we did before... We were wrong, and we're sorry."Caleb's voice trembled with tears. "Nina, could you please unblock me? I miss you so much."I took a step back, putting more distance between us, and answered without hesitation, "I'd rather not."Silence descended over the hallway just as the elevator arrived on our floor."If there's nothing else, I'll be going."Maya forced a smile as she met my eyes. "Nina, I hope life treats you well from now on.""It will."The elevator doors slid shut, seeming to seal away everything I had lef