Chapter 3

"Chloe..." Ryan seemed lost in a dream after getting drunk.

He reached out, as if trying to hold onto someone who wasn't there.

He pressed a hand to his chest and muttered, "I put out news about my wedding, and you came back. That means you still care about me, right?

"But you haven't said a thing. Whatever... I promised I wouldn't marry anyone else unless you completely turn me away."

Listening to Ryan's slurring words, I felt like a ton of bricks had slammed into my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as I drove.

My whole body started shaking, and I couldn't hold it together anymore.

I pulled over to the side of the road. After glancing at my own exhausted face in the rearview mirror, I broke down into silent sobs with my face buried on the steering wheel.

So it wasn't just carelessness. He never even meant to marry me at all.

No wonder I found it weird when he mentioned getting engaged first. I once asked him, "You aren't even planning to go public with this, so why not just get married directly?"

For a second, his eyes grew stormy, but he shook his head and said, "No way. I will not miss any important step for you."

Back then, those words warmed my heart for a little while.

Now I finally understand that I was just another piece in their tangled drama.

I rolled down the window, gulping in fresh air, desperate to push out the suffocating weight in my chest.

I decided to let it go. I didn't need a love that made me feel so small.

*****

When I got home, I shot off an email to the school, accepting their offer for the PhD program.

Even though Ryan was wasted and looked pitiful, I couldn't help but pour him a glass of water, and just as I was about to set it down, he grabbed my hand.

He said, "Chloe, is that you? You can't stand seeing me fall apart like this. Is this really what it takes for you to notice me?"

I ripped my hand away and splashed the entire glass of water right over his head.

"Open your eyes. I'm Jocelyn," I snapped.

The cold water snapped Ryan out of his stupor. He stared at me, dazed for a few seconds. Then he suddenly seemed wide awake and shoved me away with a roar.

"Who told you to drag me home, huh? The staff hasn't even left yet, and I'm the first one out? Does that even make sense?" Ryan ranted at me.

I knew it wasn't about me bringing him home at all. He was just bitter because the person taking care of him wasn't Chloe now.

I wasn't fazed by his usual blame games anymore. I just quietly stood up and went back to my room.

If he hated me this much, why bother sticking around where I was not wanted?

*****

The next morning, Ryan was immaculately put together and cold as ice again, back to his old, silent self, as if last night's drunken chaos was nothing but a bad dream.

I reminded him, "Hey, don't forget we're going to buy our engagement rings today."

"Yeah, I know. I won't forget," Ryan said flatly.

It was not that I still cared about that engagement ring. If he were so set on keeping up this little charade, then I would play my part until the bitter end.

During breakfast, Ryan glanced down at his phone, and for just a moment, I caught a gentle smile, one I hardly ever saw on him.

Without even bothering to look at me, he said, "We can go this morning. I'm free."

We were supposed to go in the afternoon, so this sudden change had to be because of Chloe. There was no doubt about it.

After breakfast, Ryan and I went straight to the jewelry store.

The designer was busy taking measurements of my finger, while Ryan was barely paying attention, his eyes glued to the entrance.

Then, with the sound of the glass door sliding open, Ryan almost jumped out of his seat, rushing over. "Chloe! Wow, what a coincidence."