Chapter 2

2.

I didn't want to argue, but his words were getting nastier by the second.

Anger flared in my chest. I stood up and smashed my beer bottle against the floor.

"Enough, Kian! Don't push your luck!"

A shard of glass grazed Felicia, who was standing nearby. Kian's eyes went wide with fury, and he lunged forward, shoving me hard.

I hit the floor with a thud.

"Ow―"

Pain seared through my hand. Blood began to pool in my palm, mixed with tiny glass splinters.

Seeing the blood, Kian panicked slightly and stepped closer to check the wound.

The moment he leaned in, I smelled it. A heavy, floral scent.

It was the perfume Felicia always wore. I could almost see them huddled together in the rain, his hands all over her.

I shoved him away with a look of pure disgust. My eyes caught a dark red mark on his neck.

Kian noticed my gaze and instinctively pulled up his collar.

"The office has been full of mosquitoes lately. You know I have sensitive skin."

Felicia smirked at me, her eyes filled with triumph. "It's true. Kian's skin is incredibly delicate."

In this relationship, Felicia got the love. All I got were the lies.

"Fine, let's not dwell on small things. I'll take you to the ER."

He looked at my hand with fake concern, but his movements were rough.

He grabbed my injured arm and tried to haul me up from the floor. He was trying so hard to play the part of the caring boyfriend now.

I yanked my arm back. "Forget it. If you keep pulling like that, I'll bleed out before we even get there."

Kian realized he was hurting me, but he still acted like the victim.

"Can't you speak like a normal person? Do you have to be so damn sarcastic?"

I ignored him and went to put on my shoes. I was going to the hospital alone.

But Kian wouldn't let it go. He insisted on driving me. When we reached the car, Felicia hopped into the front seat before I could even move.

"I get motion sick in the back, Zoey. You don't mind, right?" she asked with a plastic smile.

I didn't give her the satisfaction of a response. I just climbed into the back seat.

As we drove, I looked around the interior. There were so many new things that didn't belong.

A cute photo of them stuck to the dashboard. Her designer bag on the floor. Her coat tossed over the headrest.

When we first started dating, I left a small plushie on the dash. Kian threw it in the trash the very next day.

He told me he was a neat freak and hated having "clutter" in his car.

Apparently, his neatness, like his principles, was reserved only for me.

By the time the doctor finished stitching me up, it was two in the morning.

I looked around the waiting room, but Kian was nowhere to be found.

I didn't call him. I just walked to the hospital entrance to call a ride.

But it was late and pouring rain. I waited for an hour, and every driver canceled on me.

Frustrated and exhausted, I finally called Kian.

Felicia answered. She gave a soft "hello," then I heard the phone being snatched away.

"I'm going to go jump in the shower. Hurry up," Felicia whispered in the background.

Kian's voice came through, sounding like he had moved to another room. "What is it?"

"I'm at the hospital entrance. I can't get a ride. Can you come get me?"

There was a pause. He seemed to have forgotten he even brought me there.

"Wait there. I'll be there in five minutes."

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Then twenty. He never showed.

I laughed at my own stupidity. I should have known better than to trust him.

Finally, as if the universe finally took pity on me, a car accepted my request.

I got home and barely sat down before Kian walked through the front door.

He immediately started barking at me. "Why didn't you wait for me?"

"I'm starving. Make me something to eat."

"And make a pot of seafood chowder. Felicia wants some. I'm going to drop it off at her place in a bit."

"Hey! Are you deaf?"

I hadn't slept, I was damp from the rain, and my hand was throbbing. My patience snapped.

"Are you insane? We're broken up. Who do you think you're talking to?"

Kian looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "What did you say? You're breaking up with me?"

"I told you yesterday. Are your ears painted on?"

Kian started laughing. He laughed so hard he actually had tears in his eyes.

"Zoey, are you serious? You're dumping me?"

"How long is it going to last this time? A few hours? I hope you can at least make it twenty-four hours before you come crawling back and begging for my forgiveness."

I stared at him calmly. I couldn't even blame him for acting this way.

In the past, I had tried to break up with him because of Felicia several times. But I was always the one who broke down and begged him to take me back within hours.

Kian ignored me and went into the bedroom, slamming the door.

I pulled out my phone and searched for short-term rentals near my office.

Manager Lin told me the transfer would be finalized tomorrow, but it would take a month to move to Chicago.

I needed a place to stay for that month. I couldn't stay in this house another day.

I looked around the apartment. I had turned this place into a home. I had bought almost everything in it.

But looking at it now, I realized I didn't want any of it. I just wanted my personal belongings.

I messaged a realtor to see a place that afternoon and went to sleep in the guest room.