Chapter 1

A snowstorm warning was issued, so I called Gavin to ask if he could pick me up from work. After waiting a long time, I finally received his message: "In this weather, it's too dangerous for Paloma to be alone. I'm going to get her. You should just grab a cab home."

I didn't make a fuss, just replied with a simple "Okay."

Late that night, Gavin's childhood friend posted something on Facebook, visible only to me. In the picture, Paloma was nestled in his arms, feeding him cheese and crackers while the storm raged outside. The caption read, "Cold winter nights are best spent at home with the one you love."

Calmly, I liked the post and then deleted Gavin from my WhatsApp contacts. Damn, I'm done with this man.

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Three days after the snowstorm, Gavin finally remembered to get in touch. When he saw he couldn’t send a message, he angrily called me.

"What are you playing at, Sophia?"

"I mean we're breaking up," I answered calmly, then hung up the phone.

Half an hour later, Gavin showed up at my door with his suitcase, looking irritated.

"I'm not even home yet, and you have the nerve to drink your coffee?"

I paused my sipping, looking at him, puzzled. Gavin impatiently shrugged off his coat. "Stop drinking and wash the clothes in my suitcase first. Paloma's water heater broke yesterday, and I didn't even get a shower."

He started toward the bathroom. "I'm busy. Just put them in the washing machine," I replied softly.

Gavin halted, looking at me with irritation. "Sophia, haven't you made enough of a fuss? It was dangerous with all that snow, and I only went because I was worried about Paloma being alone. Why do you always have to be so selfish and unnecessarily jealous?"

I swallowed the last of my coffee and took my mug to the kitchen, not wanting to argue. Gavin glared at me, took a few seconds, and then continued to lecture me. "Are you really still bothered by Paloma's post? It was just a joke. Her friends teased her about not having a boyfriend, so she did it as a prank. When she saw you liked it, she got scared and deleted it, asking me to explain. You're a grown woman; why are you so petty about a woman younger than you?"

I almost laughed. Paloma's twenty-eight, and still considered young? I'm only a year older, yet he calls me an "adult."

Not wanting to engage further, I washed the dishes and said calmly, "I really don't have time to do your laundry. I have to go out."

Gavin looked surprised. In the past, I would've argued with him. This time, I was so calm it seemed to unsettle him. His expression changed. As I was about to leave the living room, he suddenly walked over and kissed me on the forehead. "Now, you can't still be mad, right?"

Gavin glanced at me arrogantly, as if he had me figured out. But I instinctively pushed him away, feeling slightly nauseated.

In the past, Gavin made mistakes but never apologized, let alone used such gestures to win me over. Now, for Paloma's sake, he dared to kiss me. I suppose everything that could have happened between them happened over those three days.

I discreetly wiped my face and sat down to change my shoes.

Gavin stared at me, disbelief on his face. "Sophia, what do you mean by that? Are you disgusted by me?"

"I'm a clean freak," I said.

Gavin was about to explode with anger when my phone rang. The ride I booked was here. Seeing that I was about to leave, Gavin suddenly grabbed my arm, his expression a mix of panic and confusion. "What's gotten into you today? Where are you going?"

"To the office."

Gavin sighed in relief and said coldly, "Cancel it. I'll drive you."

I had paid the down payment for Gavin's car, yet he rarely let me ride in it. This time, he was unusually considerate. I wanted to refuse, but he grabbed the keys from the entrance and walked ahead as usual, acting all assertive.

With no other option, I canceled the ride-share and followed him downstairs.