Chapter 3
I was stuffing the last sweater into my suitcase when a sudden knock rattled the door.
But I kept arranging my clothes, acting like I hadn't heard a thing.
"Evelyn." Colin's icy voice came from outside the door.
The next second, the click of a key turning in the lock made me tense up all over.
He just let himself in.
But what really caught me off guard was that he had Vivian clinging to his side.
Vivian was practically draped all over him, playing the damsel in distress for all it was worth.
"Evelyn, sorry to bother you so late, but my apartment's pipes burst. Colin said it'd be fine if I stayed at your place tonight," she said, her voice all soft and sweet.
Colin glanced at my open suitcase, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Vivian has high standards when it comes to accommodations. Give her the master bedroom—you can sleep on the floor tonight," he said, completely unfazed.
I was shaking with rage.
Why didn't they just move in together already? What was with all this fake modesty now?
"Colin, this is my room!" I snapped.
"So what? It's just one night. Can't you be a little more magnanimous? Don't be so petty," Colin replied, totally unfazed.
Magnanimous? Was he kidding me?
I almost burst out laughing.
He seriously wanted me to just suck it up and play nice about this?
Tears started streaming down my face before I could even try to hold them back.
Seven years, and this was the first time I'd ever let myself cry in front of him.
Colin froze, totally thrown off, stumbling over his words.
"If you really don't want to... I guess I can have someone take Vivian to a hotel," he muttered, sounding awkward and lost.
"Colin..." Vivian suddenly slumped against his shoulder, her voice soft and pitiful. "I feel so dizzy..."
As she was talking, the cup of hot water in her hand suddenly tilted, and the whole thing splashed straight onto my arm.
The scalding pain made me gasp, sucking in a sharp breath.
But before I could react, Vivian just let herself drop to the floor, her eyes brimming with tears as she stared up at me, looking all pitiful.
"Evelyn, why did you push me? Is it not enough that I'm leaving? Do you really have to treat me like this?" she whimpered, her voice shaky and full of fake innocence.
Colin instantly crouched down beside her, checking her over, then glared at me like I was the villain of the story.
"Evelyn! Vivian's so sweet—she'd never make up a story! When did you turn so nasty?" Colin barked, his voice full of disbelief and anger.
My arm was burning from the scald, but honestly, that sting was nothing compared to the chill in my heart.
"Vivian did it herself—" I muttered, my voice barely audible.
"That's enough!" Colin snapped, his voice sharp and full of rage.
He shot up from the floor and smacked me right across the face.
"Snap out of it! Apologize to Vivian!" Colin barked, his voice sharp and furious.
My cheek felt like it was on fire, but honestly, I was already numb to the pain.
"I was already planning to move out today," I said, my voice cold and steady.
Colin let out a mocking laugh, like I'd just told the world's biggest joke.
"Vivian's like this, and you're still being difficult? Evelyn, when did you get so damn unreasonable?" he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
Then he bent down, scooped up the still-sobbing Vivian, and turned to leave.
As Colin passed by me, Vivian leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper, just for me.
"Colin is mine this lifetime. Period," she said, her tone dripping with smugness.
Then she put on her helpless look again and nestled into Colin's arms.
The door slammed shut behind them.
I just stood there, dazed, my face hot and swollen, my arm still stinging with angry blisters.