Chapter 3

Staring into Chloe's face, I felt only pity and exhaustion.

When did she become so ugly inside?

I still remembered back in college, whenever I finished the 1,000-meter run, she would stand at the finish line holding a bottle of cold water, smiling softly.

That gentle breeze in early summer used to be the warmest memory in my heart.

I pulled my arm free from her grasp.

As soon as I tried to walk away, her friends cut me off again.

Chloe looked completely stunned. She never expected her loyal doormat to pull away from her!

"Julian! Haven't you pretended enough?"

"Give me the nuts and donuts right now. I'm starving!"

"Keep acting like this, and I swear I'll never speak to you again for the rest of my life!"

Chloe lifted her chin arrogantly, waiting for my usual panicked apology.

In the past, every time she made that threat, I folded instantly.

No matter how unreasonable her demands were, I complied.

Not anymore.

"I told you," I spoke each word clearly, shielding the paper bag, "these are for my pregnant wife."

Those donuts were a limited-batch flavor that sold out within minutes every morning.

I had placed an order twenty days in advance just to secure this box for Serena.

Chloe completely lost her temper. Her glare turned venomous.

"Wife? What wife?!"

"Enough with the fairy tales, it's pathetic! Hand it over!"

Her guy friends burst out laughing behind her.

"Look at him clutching that stupid bakery box! What's hidden in there, a dirty secret?"

"Probably a love letter for Chloe! Hahaha, once a simp, always a simp. Open it and show us!"

Encouraged by their cheers, Chloe grew bolder.

"Didn't you hear my friends? Open it! It's not like you haven't embarrassed yourself before. Entertaining my friends is an honor for you!"

She reached out and snatched the bag from my hands.

When I lunged forward to take it back, her male friend, Brock, shoved me hard against the wall.

"Back off! Trying to take back a gift? Are you even a man?"

Chloe sneered. "He's not a real man. He could never compare to you, Brock."

Brock grinned smugly, sliding his arm around Chloe's waist right in front of me. "A dog needs to know its place."

"See this, Julian? You simped for ten years and never even held her hand."

Chloe laughed. "He doesn't deserve to! He's just a dog. When I tell him to sit, he sits!"

With that, Chloe ripped the box open.

I rushed forward, but Brock kicked me hard in the knee.

"Don't touch my wife's food!" I yelled, dropping to one knee from the impact, my eyes blazing with fury.

The group erupted in laughter.

"It’s literally just a bunch of donuts! You acted like it was gold!"

Chloe deliberately dumped the entire box onto the dirty pavement.

I tried to scramble forward, but two men pinned my shoulders down.

Chloe stomped her designer heel directly into the frosted donuts, crushing them into messy mush.

"Trash like this isn't worthy of me! You're really failing as my simp lately, Julian."

She paused, as if struck by an amusing thought.

"Tell you what, Julian. I'll forgive you. But you have to get on your knees and lick every crumb off the ground. How about that?"

She gestured for the guys to release me. The rest of the boys cheered in excitement.

"Great idea! Let us step on it first, maybe it'll taste better!"

They took turns stomping on the pastries, howling with laughter.

"Come on, Julian! Don't you love serving Chloe? We made a special feast just for you!"

I pushed myself up from the ground, my chest aching. I had woken up at 5:00 a.m. and stood in line for hours just to buy Serena's favorite treat.

"Destruction of property. I'm calling the police."

I pulled out my phone, but Chloe rushed over, snatched it, and smashed it against the concrete.

The screen shattered.

"Oh, shut up! I gave you a way out, and you're still acting tough? First a imaginary wife, now the cops?"

She glared at me with pure disgust.

"Two choices: call your imaginary wife out here right now so we can all see her, or get on your knees and eat this mess! Otherwise... don't you dare ever text me again."

Chloe had absolute confidence in her eyes.

She had used this ultimatum countless times before, and it worked every single time.

Back then, I loved her too much, feared losing her too much, and dragged my own dignity through the mud.

"Julian, this is your last chance. Pick."

The boys pulled out their phones, filming the scene.

"Fifty bucks says he kneels and eats it! Where the hell is he going to find a 'wife' anyway?"

"Hurry up, Julian! Stop wasting our time, or you'll lose your license to be Chloe's dog!"

They were all waiting for me to hit the ground and beg.

I clenched my fists, about to speak, when a soft, delicate hand gently slipped into mine from behind.

"You wanted to see his wife? I'm right here. Any objections?"