Chapter 3

"Alright, I’ll stay."

Vincent looked genuinely surprised. He reached over and ruffled my hair.

"That’s my girl. Everything's fine as long as you know how to be reasonable."

"Come on. We're going out to eat."

Before I could refuse, he grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door.

In the elevator, he kept his head down, smiling happily as he tapped on his phone.

I didn't complain or pick a fight. I simply pulled out my phone and contacted a moving company.

Once I'd set up a time, I stepped out of the elevator.

Chloe was sitting in the car already, touching up her lipstick.

The moment she spotted me, she greeted me with a bright smile.

"Soph, there you are."

"Honestly, Vince is too much. He was so worried I'd be upset that he insisted on bringing you along to apologize."

"It's not like I'm that fragile, you know? I've practically starved waiting for you two."

I froze for a second.

The numbness I'd been feeling melted away, replaced by a surge of pain and anger.

"You brought me here to apologize to Chloe?"

Vincent chuckled as if I'd asked the most ridiculous question in the world. He opened the back door and ushered me inside.

"Chloe's our best friend. Of course she's going to be upset when you suddenly cancel your train ticket and leave her hanging."

"Just apologize, and we can put this whole thing behind us."

I sat rigidly in the back seat, refusing to move.

He frowned and drummed his fingers against the steering wheel.

"Don't waste time. Don't drag this out."

I blinked slowly, and finally forced the words out.

"Sorry."

Chloe covered her mouth and giggled, then waved a hand in an exaggerated gesture of forgiveness.

"Forget it. You're the one missing out by not taking the train with us."

"Actually, the timing couldn't be better. My mom's been wanting to meet Vince for ages, so now that you're not coming, we can finally make it happen."

My fingers curled hard into my palm.

I could feel my heart slowly growing cold.

Three years together, and Vincent had never once met my parents.

Every time I'd brought it up, he'd claimed he was too busy and told me to wait.

Yet somehow, he had time to meet Chloe's mother.

Vincent didn't deny it.

Instead, he tapped Chloe's nose fondly and handed her a bag of snacks.

Then he buckled her seatbelt for her and said gently,

"You can have some snacks. We'll be at the restaurant soon."

Watching them sit so close that they seemed to have forgotten I was even there, I turned toward the window.

My phone buzzed.

My mother had texted.

[Soph, did you get your ticket?]

[Is Vincent coming with you this year? What does he like to eat? I'll go buy it.]

My eyes burned. I had to swallow hard to keep from crying.

In the end, I typed it out word by word.

[Don't bother about him. We're breaking up.]

[Mom, I'm coming home on my own.]

By the time Vincent parked, Chloe was already out of the car.

The two of them walked ahead together without even looking back.

I trailed behind them, struggling to keep up.

Vincent used to tease me about my small steps.

He'd always slow down to match my pace, telling me he wouldn't mind walking behind me for the rest of his life.

I believed him back then. Now I knew it had been nothing more than an empty promise.

Just like when we'd first met, and he'd always given up his seat for me on the train.

He'd promised to save the best of everything for me.

But people change overnight. The man who once wouldn't let me tire myself for anything was now, just to win a smile out of Chloe, making me wear myself out on purpose.

Maybe it was because I'd stayed quiet, Vincent kept sneaking glances at me.

He even handed me the menu and told me to order first.

Chloe shot him an irritated glare.

"Are we seriously doing this again? Weren't you supposed to take me out to dinner?"

"Vince, you're really letting me down!"

He chuckled, then immediately turned the menu toward her and handed it over, eager to placate her.

"How could I ever let you down? Order whatever you want."

Chloe gave a pleased little sniff.

"That's more like it."

I drew back the hand I'd just reached out and quietly sipped my water.