Chapter 3

The moment the car door closed, I saw Samuel walk around to the other side and bend down to fasten Alenna’s seat belt.

His movements were gentle. When his fingers brushed past her hair, he even reminded her softly, “Sit properly.”

Alenna looked up at him with a smile, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek.

“Got it. Drive slowly then,” she said sweetly.

I sat in the back seat and looked around the car. It felt as if my heart was being tightly squeezed, so painful that I could barely breathe.

This passenger seat used to belong to me. The lucky cat charm hanging in the car was something I searched for across three streets to buy.

The photo on the dashboard was from our first trip to the amusement park. Even the car air freshener used to be my favorite citrus scent.

But now, the lucky cat was gone. The photo had been replaced with a picture of him and Alenna leaning close together.

The scent had changed to rose. Apparently, it was Alenna’s favorite. Even the cartoon seat cushion I had forced him to use was gone, replaced by a lace one that matched Alenna’s dress.

Only then did I realize, Samuel had already erased every trace of me from his life. I turned my head away and stared at the fast-moving scenery outside the window. My eyes burned badly, but I forced the tears back.

The whole ride was silent.

When the car stopped downstairs at my place, Samuel got out first and opened the back door for me. “I’ll walk you upstairs.”

He turned and smiled at Alenna in the passenger seat. “Lenne, wait in the car for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

Alenna nodded obediently and waved at me. I ignored her and walked straight into the residential area.

Samuel followed behind me in silence. The streetlights stretched our shadows long on the ground. It looked exactly like our relationship over the past year—hidden, unseen, and never in the light.

“I’ve packed up your things. They’re with the security guard.”

When we reached the building entrance, Samuel finally spoke, “That apartment… Lenne is going to live there. It wouldn’t be good if she found out.”

My hand tightened around my keys. My fingertips felt cold.

That apartment where we secretly lived for almost a year, with the wallpaper I chose, the fridge filled with his favorite food, and the matching pajamas hanging in the closet...

To him, it was just a place full of secrets that Alenna could never know about.

I didn’t speak. I didn’t turn around. I only lowered my head and stared at the keyhole.

After a few seconds of silence, Samuel spoke again, his voice low and uneasy. “Zee… I’m sorry.”

I finally turned to look at him. The hallway light fell on his face. I saw a flash of panic in his eyes.

I tugged at the corner of my lips and gave a faint, mocking smile. “No need to apologize. We were never really together anyway. We were just sleeping together.”

Those words hit him like a needle. Samuel’s expression changed instantly. He grabbed my hand hard, making me frown in pain.

“Zoe, do you really have to say it like that?”

I looked at him. Coldness slowly rose in my eyes.

Was it really that harsh?

Compared to how he lied to me on New Year’s Eve, saying he was working overtime, then turned around and kissed another woman.

Compared to how he erased every trace of me from his life and moved his new lover into our rented apartment.

Compared to how he casually told my parents that he only ever saw me as a sister.

What I said was nothing at all.

After Samuel left, the strength I had forced myself to hold onto all night finally collapsed. The tears I had been holding back for so long suddenly fell onto the back of my hand.

It was hot enough to hurt.