Chapter 3

3

What terrible crime did I commit?

To have my innocent childhood affection labeled as "freakish."

It wasn't until Chloe left the country that I learned the whole story.

In a private tea room, Chloe sat poised and proper, a far cry from the girl who sobbed at our wedding.

"I'm getting married, Miss Grant, can you delete those videos now?"

I was bewildered.

She smiled and handed me her phone.

It showed a chat log.

The profile picture and nickname were both "me."

"Leave Josh if you know what's good for you.

"He and I are childhood sweethearts, we have a childhood promise. Don't you have any shame?

"It doesn't matter if you don't leave, I'll post the video on the school forum and let everyone see who Josh is really with!

"Ruin myself? Does it matter? Nothing matters without him!"

I clicked on the video.

It was from that night.

Almost instinctively, I took out my phone.

Chloe was indeed in my contacts, but our chat history was empty.

Chloe smiled again:

"Actually, that night, I was kind enough to tell Mrs. Evans that Josh was drunk and needed someone to take care of him.

"I didn't expect Miss Grant to repay us like this."

She spoke words of condemnation, but her eyes held undisguised triumph:

"For Josh's reputation and future, I had to break up with him.

"Miss Grant, are you happy now?"

Her words and expression were so contradictory that I realized she was preventing me from recording.

But she couldn't resist gloating.

She twirled the large diamond ring on her finger.

Just as she was about to leave, she lowered her voice and revealed her true colors:

"Mrs. Evans opposed our relationship.

"She looked down on me and believed you and Josh were the perfect match.

"Too bad..."

Chloe stood up, leaning close to my ear:

"Ashley, you two will never have a good life!

"Josh will never forget me."

Chloe was right.

Josh and I didn't have a good life.

I finally understood why he hated me so much.

But it had been three years.

Three years of a broken marriage.

He didn't believe me then, and three years later, he didn't even want to hear my voice.

I told him to let it go, but he refused.

I wanted a divorce, but he wouldn't agree.

He threatened my parents' company, determined to keep me bound to him, to force me to endure his coldness for the rest of my life.

I thought that was it between us.

From childhood sweethearts to sworn enemies, it was both pathetic and ridiculous.