Chapter 3

3.

"Summer, Chloe's just in a bad mood. She's just sharing her life."

"Delete that comment right now. We just made up, and I don't want to fight again."

I ignored him and dialed another number instead.

"Professor, I've decided to accept the position at the gallery in Paris."

A kind voice on the other end replied, filled with relief and happiness.

"That's wonderful, Summer. I'm so glad you finally came to your senses."

"This is a rare opportunity. With your talent, you're going to do great things."

I nodded, my eyes welling up at his words.

I heard praise like that so rarely.

Liam came from a wealthy family; he was a typical Seattle trust-fund baby, born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

Anything he wanted, he got.

I was different. My parents passed away when I was young, and my grandmother in rural Ohio raised me by working several odd jobs.

Painting was my only passion, the one thing I could be proud of.

Though in Liam's eyes, it was worthless.

"Summer, what's the point of painting? Just marry me and become Mrs. Anderson."

"Stop wasting your time on this stuff. It's meaningless."

I remember the first time I won an award at the National Young Artists Competition, I showed him the trophy, my heart bursting with joy.

He just glanced at it coldly and tossed it aside.

"This kind of competition? No one who actually matters cares about this stuff."

It was like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head, extinguishing all my enthusiasm.

But Chloe was different. For a community dance recital she was in, Liam would cancel an important business meeting and fly to another city just to watch her.

When I got angry, he would yell at me.

"I only see Chloe as a sister. Can you stop being so paranoid?"

So I had to comfort myself with that excuse, almost convincing myself it was true.

Before I started dating Liam, my friends warned me that he was just playing with me, that he would never be serious.

He only had room in his heart for one person: his childhood sweetheart, Chloe.

But at the time, Chloe was far away in Europe after her family went bankrupt, and they hadn't seen each other in years.

I naively thought I could win him over with my sincerity.

But everything changed when Chloe returned to Seattle a year ago.

It turned out I was still too naive.

I wiped away my tears and immediately booked a flight to Paris online.

And an Amtrak ticket to my old home in Ohio.

Before I left, I needed to see my grandmother. Her health hadn't been good lately, and I wanted to spend some time with her.

After taking care of everything, I went back to the apartment and was surprised to find the lights on.

I opened the door to see Liam and Chloe sitting on the sofa, nestled closely together.

When he saw me, Liam barely lifted his eyes.

"Chloe wasn't feeling well at home. I was worried, so I brought her over."

Chloe, on the other hand, looked fragile as she tentatively spoke.

"Summer, you don't mind, do you?"

Of course I didn't mind. Because I no longer cared.

I remained silent.

Seeing my silence, Chloe immediately seized the opportunity to play the victim, putting on a pitiful expression.

"Summer, you're obviously not happy. I should probably go."

She pretended to get up.

But Liam grabbed her arm. "Chloe, sit down. As long as I'm here, no one can upset you."

He then turned to me, his eyes filled with disgust.

"Summer, what is wrong with you?"

"Chloe was scared to be home alone. I'm just keeping her company. You don't have to look at me like that."

Liam didn't know that my face was pale only because my wrist was still hurting.

Meanwhile, Chloe was sobbing in his arms, looking as if she'd suffered a terrible injustice.

I stood there for a moment before speaking.

"Don't call me that."

He spoke my name with such intimacy, yet his actions were so disgusting.

With that, I turned and walked into the bedroom.

Liam wasn't going to let me go. He followed me and grabbed my arm.

He squeezed right over my injured wrist, and a sharp pain shot through me.

"Summer, have I been too lenient with you?"

The irony was suffocating.

His "leniency" was making me a public joke time and again, leaving me covered in wounds.

I didn't want that kind of kindness.

Before I could say anything, Chloe rushed over, pretending to break up the fight.

"It's okay, Liam. Summer lost her parents when she was young and was raised by her grandmother. She's probably just a bit sensitive. Don't be so hard on her."

"I'll feel terrible if you two fight because of me."

That sentence ignited my fury.

"Chloe, shut your mouth!"

She could humiliate me, but she would not humiliate my grandmother.

She was the only family I had left in this world.

Being yelled at, Chloe's eyes immediately reddened as she clutched Liam's sleeve, looking pitiful.

"Liam, she yelled at me."

Hearing that, Liam's expression immediately turned to one of heartache. He turned to me, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Was Chloe wrong? Your parents are gone, and your grandmother raised you. That's a fact. No wonder you have no manners!"

"Apologize to Chloe now, and maybe I'll forgive you."