Chapter 3

Chapter 3

In the old days, one small olive branch from Grant and I'd go right back to loving him. I never once counted the cost of Rosie's true intentions.

But today, I suddenly didn't feel like swallowing it anymore.

Grant lost his temper. Maybe my words had hit a nerve, or maybe he simply couldn't tolerate one word against his dream girl. His eyes went red with fury, and he flung the umbrella to the ground.

"What's that supposed to mean, Jenna? You're saying Rosie plays games with her own life? Not everyone is as petty as you, okay?"

Rain poured over me, cold down to the bone, washing through the freshly torn wound in my chest. I stared unblinking at the umbrella lying on the ground and suddenly found myself hilarious.

Ten years. Who exactly did those ten years imprison?

Grant could never bear to let Rosie get rained on, I was sure of that. But now, throwing his tantrum at me, he'd forgotten I'd just gotten over a fever the day before.

Or maybe Grant just never cared about my health at all.

"Grant, I'm leaving the country next week. Take care of yourself."

With that, I turned to head back inside. He seized my wrist. Ten years was long enough for me to read him like a book―and this wasn't reluctance on his face. It was irritation.

"Got yourself a new trick now, huh? Threatening me with the move abroad? I told you, I just need time to sort things out with Rosie. You've already waited ten years. What's a little longer?"

If he'd truly meant to sort things out, it wouldn't have dragged on for years. I lifted my eyes to him and said nothing. The man in front of me was almost comical―wanting her and keeping me, both at once. He'd spent a decade making me feel like the most pathetic person on earth.

Grant must have read the mockery in my face, because he raised a hand to stroke my cheek.

"Come on, don't be like this. I'll talk to Rosie soon, I promise."

I stepped back before I could think, dodging his touch.

Both of us froze. I knew my heart had gone cold―but I hadn't known my body had started rejecting him too.

I let out a cold laugh.

"If you'd ever truly meant to end it, you'd have ended it years ago. I've played the clown long enough, and I'm done. I'm not an idiot, Grant. You trampled all over my heart precisely because you knew I loved you."

Grant was proud to the bone. He would never allow me to be the one who walked away. He shot me a furious glare.

"Jenna, can you stop harping on this one little thing? You already have me―what more do you want? You'll never measure up to Rosie. She never puts any pressure on me!"

As if being with him was some supreme honor he had bestowed on me. The terrifying part was that everyone else could see Rosie for exactly what she was, while Grant stayed lost in his beautiful memories of her, blind by choice.

I laughed at myself.

"Then go to her. She's all yours."

I walked away without looking back, no matter how he called my name behind me.

Grant, I don't love you anymore.