Chapter 3

3 I sent Lynnea a breakup text.

At two in the morning, I was still packing my bags.

Over the years, I had slowly turned this cold penthouse into a warm home.

There were too many memories attached to every little corner.

As I hesitated over whether to pack a ceramic figurine, Lynnea's text finally arrived.

She completely ignored my breakup message.

"Heath, did you get home safely?"

"I'm staying out tonight, so don't wait up. Go to sleep early and make sure to lock the front door."

I did not reply.

If she had truly cared about my safety, she would not have waited seven hours to check in.

What had she been doing during those seven hours?

The answer was painfully obvious.

Two hours ago, Preston had updated his Instagram feed.

"My princess told me she would wait for me forever."

The photo showed their intertwined hands against a backdrop of rumpled hotel sheets.

It made it unmistakably clear what kind of passionate encounter had just taken place.

A suffocating sensation washed over me, far worse than when Lynnea had choked me earlier.

I had always believed that broadcasting intimate encounters online was utterly tasteless.

Yet Preston specifically wanted me to see that Lynnea had chosen him over me.

In the past, I had doubted Lynnea's love countless times.

She rarely spoke words of affection.

She knew very little about my inner world.

Until one New Year's Eve, when my chronic stomach ulcer flared up into agonizing pain.

On a freezing night with empty streets and no cabs available, her slender frame carried me on her back for miles to the hospital.

When I woke up, Lynnea was slumped beside my bed with bloodshot eyes.

The moment she saw me open my eyes, tears streamed down her cheeks, and she held my hand tightly. "Heath, please don't ever leave me."

The nurse teased gently, "You have no idea how worried your girlfriend was. She cried the entire night."

Back then, I truly believed she loved me.

When she had delirium from mushroom poisoning, doubt crept back in.

Now, looking at Preston's post, all my illusions shattered.

Preston had achieved his goal.

The comment section was filled with congratulatory messages from their mutual friends.

Especially Chad.

Chad commented: "Now that the real man is back, that cheap counterfeit Heath should know his place and get lost."

Indeed, I was leaving.

So I liked the post and left a comment.

"Wishing you two a lifetime of misery together, locked in forever with an army of brats."

The moment my comment posted, Lynnea's messages flooded my screen like a blizzard.

I did not open a single one.

Then came one phone call after another.

Annoyed by the relentless buzzing, I muted my phone and tossed it onto the sofa.

I didn't even realize she kept calling until the battery died completely.

Half an hour later, my luggage was finally packed.

Just as I stood up to leave, the front door swung open.

Lynnea walked in.

Seeing my packed suitcase, she frowned in irritation. "Heath, how long are you going to keep throwing this childish tantrum?"

The classic gaslighting line from a cheater.

"Trash belongs in the dumpster. You two deserve each other."

I pulled off the silver engagement ring, tossed it straight into the trash can, grabbed my suitcase, and walked toward the door.

Behind me, she gritted her teeth in fury. "Heath, if you walk out that door, you will regret this for the rest of your life!"

%%%