Chapter 2

I'd never said anything this harsh before, and Harris's expression went cold in an instant.

Janet was already sobbing uncontrollably. "Faye, how could you say something like that to me? I know I'm poor and have no money, but I still have my dignity. Even if I drink myself to death tonight, I'll never beg anyone for help!"

As she spoke, Janet snatched up the bottle and was about to start chugging, but Harris grabbed her hand to stop her. He called out my full name, "Faye Maxwell, what's up with you?"

He snapped, "I was just trying to help her out. Did you really have to make such a big deal? We're all classmates here, so what's wrong with lending a hand? I'm going to help her tonight, whether you like it or not!"

Seeing our argument escalate, some classmates tried to play peacemaker, telling us to just let it go.

But Harris wrapped Janet in his arms and declared, "Faye, I'm making it clear. I'll help Janet!"

With Harris siding against me for Janet, Janet, still sniffling, flashed me a satisfied smirk through her tears.

I was literally shaking with rage and didn't want to waste more words. "Harris, if you help her tonight, we're breaking up!"

"Fine! Let's break up!" Harris said, and right after that, he cupped Janet's face and kissed her.

The entire room went silent. Everyone was stunned by what he did.

I stared directly at them, my heart feeling like it was being ripped apart.

Their kiss wasn't just a quick touch. It lingered, slow and deep.

The silence was so intense I could've heard a pin drop. No one said a word. Their eyes moved between the kissing pair and me, still standing at the doorway.

I had no clue what was going through Harris's or Janet's minds. All I knew was that right now, I felt like the world's biggest joke. I felt like a clown. A pathetic, humiliated clown.

Not wanting to be watched like some joke in a circus, I turned around and walked out of the room as fast as I could.

As soon as I stepped outside, the tears just came pouring down.

Harris and I had been together for more than ten years, ever since we were kids. We'd argued plenty, but through all those years, never once had I been so heartbroken, so disappointed, so completely crushed.

I wandered the streets alone, my heart aching so much it felt like it might shatter. My eyes were so puffy and red from crying nonstop, I must've looked absolutely pathetic.

I couldn't even tell how far I'd walked, only that my painstakingly applied makeup was totally ruined, smeared all over my face.

My high heels were killing me. Each step sent stabbing pain through my raw, blistered feet.

My high heels had rubbed my feet raw. It hurt so, so much.

Just then, a notification popped up. I opened it. It was a video.

Harris was slouched on the sofa, looking like he owned the place, with Janet snuggled right up against him.

Someone piped up anxiously, "Harris, aren't you gonna go after Faye? She looked seriously pissed. She even dropped the breakup card."

"Not a chance." Harris shrugged, totally indifferent.

He said, "Faye and I go way back. I've even saved her life before, and she's head over heels for me. There's no way she'd ever really leave me. She just wants my attention, that's all."

"But what you did just now was kind of too much…" someone said.

He replied, "Too much? Come on, it's all just a joke. Faye's so touchy. She really thought threatening to break up would scare me? Please. I bet if I ignore her for a couple of days, she'll be running right back, begging me to make up. And even if she doesn't, I just have to shoot her a text and give her a way out, and she'll act like nothing happened!"

So this was what he thought of me. Because he once saved my life, I had to be tied to him forever.

Because I loved him, I had to tolerate him crossing every boundary with other girls.

My heart hurt so bad, but deep down, I knew it was over between Harris and me.

Harris and I were true childhood sweethearts. Our parents were both businesspeople, and by pure coincidence, they bought houses right next door to each other. That was how Harris and I grew up together.

Harris had actually saved my life once. When I was five, the babysitter had to step out for a bit, and I ended up falling into the pool and nearly drowned.

Harris was the one who spotted me, grabbed a life ring, and pulled me out just in time.

After that, our families grew even closer than before.

We had dinners together all the time, exchanged gifts, and went on trips and vacations as a group.

From kindergarten all the way to high school, we attended the same schools. We were inseparable.