Chapter 3

2.

Clara hooked her arm through mine, acting like a sweet, submissive girl. How could that be? It is just that the company has grown, and there is a lot going on. Once the new interns get up to speed, I will have more breathing room.

With that, she pulled me into the bedroom, ready to turn off the lights.

Come on, stop overthinking. How about I stay home with you all day tomorrow?

It was rare for her to voluntarily set aside work to spend time with me.

But I couldn't bring myself to be happy about it.

Because she still hadn't come clean, and her offer sounded more like an act of guilt-ridden compensation.

Whatever, I thought. I will use tomorrow as an opportunity to lay everything out on the table.

If the love is truly gone, then we should part ways like adults. I, Noah, am not the type of person to beg for someone to stay.

Fine.

I nodded in agreement, forcing a look of compliance.

But the next morning, Clara had barely woken up when she took a phone call and rushed out the door in a panic.

I am so sorry, Noah! There is an issue with a company project, and I have to go. I will make it up to you later!

I had just opened my eyes and saw her frantically throwing on her trench coat, her beautiful brows furrowed tightly.

The lingering fogginess in my brain vanished instantly.

I had heard the phone call clearly while she was standing by the bed; it was a young man's voice on the other end, sounding like he was whimpering.

My mood plummeted to rock bottom, and the disappointment I had been suppressing crashed over me like a tidal wave.

Clara, you wouldn't even give me the decency of breaking up to my face?

I opened the tablet in our living room, where Clara had left her video account logged in.

She was always careful, appearing not to follow anyone publicly.

But in her hidden 'likes' folder, almost all the videos were from the same account.

I clicked on it. The most recent video had been posted two minutes ago.

The caption read: I have a fever and feel so terrible (crying emoji), but my boss came to check on me first thing this morning. Miss Clara is just so sweet!

The video panned from the boy in his hospital gown to the side, revealing a figure in a beige coat.

Though it only showed the body from the neck down, I recognized Clara instantly.

Soon, comments flooded the section.

Wow, I'm so jealous! Little Leo, Clara is so good to you!

It feels like I am watching a K-drama. Too sweet!

I clicked on their profiles, and their pages were filled with familiar faces.

I had assumed Clara would at least try to cover her tracks, but she had let everyone know, plain as day, just how much she doted on him.

I was the only one in the dark, the fool in the middle of a pathetic joke.

Fueled by bitterness, I kept scrolling. Every video was a log of their daily interactions.

Company team building: Clara snuck me out to grab some sushi. Our own little private date!

Heh, after finishing a project, Clara praised my work and rewarded me with a Swiss watch!

I stopped cold at one specific video.

In it, snow was falling heavily, and Clara was snuggled up close to him, both of them beaming.

The hashtag read: #HaveYouMetYourHeartSofteningGodThisWinter?

People say that if you watch the first snowfall with someone, you will be together forever!

The boy's features were shockingly similar to mine during my college years.

This video had been posted last December.

And on that day, I was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer from over-drinking at a company dinner.

When I messaged Clara, she replied: The company is way too busy; I have a huge deal I can't push back. Ask Liam to go keep you company.

I had believed her, yet she had been out watching the snow with another man.

In the end, it was Avery, a client from that dinner, who had registered me, paid my bills, and stayed to take care of me.

I took a deep breath, forcing back the sting of tears.

I sent Clara a message: I am done forcing this. Let's break up.

After sending it, I looked around. This house, bought just as my company started to take off, was filled with memories of her.

I packed my things quickly and drove away.

On the road, Clara must have seen the message, because she started calling me incessantly.

There were dozens of missed calls, enough to feel the weight of her panic.