Chapter 3

3.

Sutton had a faint smile on her face, and her eyes were full of provocation.

I looked away and went to grab the first aid kit.

"Rainie, why are you ignoring me？ Am I not welcome here？"

Seeing that I didn't respond, Sutton spoke in a pitiful, shaky voice.

The manipulative tone made me want to scream.

Before I could say anything, Ronan strode over to me.

He grabbed my arm and dragged me in front of Sutton.

"Rainie Sterling, Sutton is talking to you. Are you deaf？"

When he pushed me earlier, I had fallen and hit my lower back against the coffee table.

Now, with him pulling me like this, the pain flared up. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

"Ronan, let go of me!" My voice was sharp with anger.

In the three years we were together, I had never yelled at him. I had always been submissive.

In Ronan's eyes, I was an easy target, a perfect little housewife with no temper.

The fact that I was actually angry caught him off guard. He froze.

However, he didn't let go of my arm. In fact, he gripped it even harder.

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Just as Ronan was about to snap at me again, Sutton grabbed his sleeve.

She shook his arm gently and pouted. "Ronan, I made a cake for you guys. Go to my place and bring it over, okay？"

Hearing her sweet voice, Ronan's anger vanished instantly.

He gave me a disgusted look, shoved me away, and walked out the door.

I looked down and let out a bitter, hollow laugh.

Once Ronan was gone, Sutton dropped her act. She circled me with a smirk.

"Rainie, did you hurt your back just now？ Tsk, tsk. How pathetic."

I looked at her warily. "Sutton Joy, what do you really want？"

I didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about me.

Sure enough, Sutton laughed when she saw my defensive posture.

"Nothing. I just feel bad for you, honestly."

"Yesterday, I burned my finger just a tiny bit with some hot water. Ronan was so worried he rushed me to the ER."

"He is so attentive to a mere neighbor. Why is he so cold to his actual girlfriend？"

Her words were like poison, designed to trigger my anger.

I knew she was doing it on purpose. I knew Ronan didn't care about me anymore.

But my heart still felt tight and heavy.

I forced myself to stay calm. "I don't need your fake sympathy. I can take care of myself."

Sutton acted surprised.

"Rainie, you are so... tough. No wonder Ronan says you don't even seem like a woman."

I looked up at her. Her eyes were dancing with joy.

The pain in my chest felt like a physical wound.

I never knew that was how Ronan saw me.

Was that why he gave all the kindness that belonged to me to this woman instead？

In truth, I had known about Sutton Joy for six months.

I knew she was his first love who had returned from abroad.

Since she came back, Ronan started coming home later and later.

Whenever I asked, he would use work as an excuse.

Even his assistant was in on the lie.

In reality, Ronan was spending his time with Sutton, living out some romantic fantasy.

I had endured all of it.

I brainwashed myself, thinking that as long as he came home, I could win him back.

But reality is a cruel teacher.

Now, Ronan had bought the house next door just to see her every day and bring her into our lives.

The dream of saving our relationship was officially dead.

I was exhausted. I was finally ready to give up.