Chapter 3

3.

Liam blocked the elevator door, refusing to let me leave.

"Eva, can you stop being so aggressive all the time? I admit I neglected you last night, but didn't I apologize?"

His apologies always had that condescending tone.

Like he was doing me a huge favor by even speaking to me.

I looked at him, and for a moment, his face seemed like a stranger's.

"Apologize? Liam, what was in that apology besides 'I didn't mean it'?"

I pointed to the mirror next to the elevator.

"Look at yourself. When you were defending her in that meeting, did you even remember I was your girlfriend?"

Chloe spoke up from the side, her voice soft.

"Liam was just being professional, Eva. Don't you think you're being a little too sensitive?"

"Professional?"

I sneered.

"Since you want to talk about being professional, Ms. Vance, let me ask you something. In the draft contract, your legal interpretation of the liability waiver in clause three clearly favors your client. As a legal counsel, where the fuck is your professional integrity?"

Chloe's face went white.

She never expected me to call her out on a technicality.

Liam frowned, instinctively moving to shield her.

"Eva, you don't have to target her."

"I'm targeting a professional error."

I pressed the down button for the elevator.

"And by the way, Liam, we're broken up. From now on, call me Eva. Or Ms. Miller."

The elevator doors slowly closed, and I saw the flash of anger and shock on Liam's face.

He probably thought I'd come crawling back, just like all the other times, if he just said a few sweet words.

Back to that apartment filled with his takeout dinners but empty of any real affection.

After leaving the office building, I went straight to a real estate agency nearby.

I had already found a studio apartment in Manhattan online the night before.

It was expensive, but it was close to the office, and more importantly, it didn't have the stench of Liam all over it.

I signed the long-term lease, paid the deposit and first month's rent, and got the keys. By the time I was done, it was eight p.m.

I sat on the floor of the empty apartment, looking out at the city lights.

My phone lit up with messages from my best friend, Maya.

"Eva, you really did it? I just saw Chloe’s Instagram. Is that Liam cooking her pasta?"

I opened the screenshot Maya sent.

In the photo, under warm lighting, Liam was in the kitchen wearing an apron, busy at the stove.

The caption read: "It feels so good to take care of you. #homecooking #cozy"

I stared at the familiar figure in the picture.

That apron. I had bought it last month at Williams Sonoma. It was part of a matching set.

And that pasta… he had promised to make it for me countless times but never had.

"Good for them,"

I texted Maya back.

My heart didn't even ache.

Maybe I was past the point of pain. My nerves were just numb.

"Good for them? My ass! You're burning up with a fever while he's playing house with his old flame. That man is a walking piece of trash."

Maya sent a string of angry emojis.

"Just wait, I'll set you up with some hotties from Wall Street. We'll make him sick with jealousy."

I put my phone down without replying.

I didn't want a hot guy right now.

I wanted money. Lots and lots of money.

Only money could give me security, a real foundation in this city, instead of just drifting like a weed.

For the next week, I buried myself in work.

The medical device project was in a critical phase, and I worked past midnight every day.

Liam, who was on the technical side, had to work with me.

He sent me a few personal messages.

"Eva, I packed up all your stuff. When are you coming to get it?"

"Eva, stop sulking and come home. I've already cleared things up with Chloe."

"It's not safe for you in a motel. Listen to me."

My reply was always the same: "Ship it to the office."

On the ninth day, a huge box arrived.

Inside were my clothes, skincare products, and other small things.

He even sent back the matching watches I had bought for us.

I tossed my watch into the trash without a second thought.

My coworker, Sam, walked by and gasped.

"Eva, that watch is worth hundreds of dollars! Why did you throw it away?"

"It's broken. Can't be fixed," I said flatly.

Just then, Liam walked in.

He was probably there to go over some data with me.

He heard what I said and saw the watch in the trash can.

His face turned ugly.

"Eva, do you have to be like this?"

He stood in front of my desk, his voice tight with anger.

I looked up and smiled politely.

"Liam, if it's work, let's talk. If not, please move. I have a report to finish."

"You saved up for two months to buy me that!" he hissed.

"You said it yourself. I bought it."

I stared him straight in the eye.

"And now I don't want it anymore. Is it illegal to throw away my own things?"

Liam's fists were clenched, a vein throbbing in his forehead.

Our coworkers were stealing glances at us.

Chloe appeared out of nowhere, holding two Starbucks cups.

"Oh my, Liam, what's all the shouting about? Eva, don't be mad. Liam just thinks it's a shame to throw away the watch."

She placed a coffee on my desk.

"This one's for you. A skinny vanilla latte with one pump of syrup. I asked Liam what you like."

I looked at the coffee, a smirk playing on my lips.

"Ms. Vance, your intelligence sources are a little outdated."

I poured the coffee into the planter next to my desk.

"I'm not just allergic to seafood. I gave up sweets a long time ago."

I stood up, looking directly at Liam.

"And Liam, stop parading your little 'sister' around me. It's fucking disgusting."