Chapter 2

Seeing how tired and so attached James was, I couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.

But if I stayed with him, I'd always be looking over my shoulder.

I felt so powerless again.

If I didn't end things now, things would spiral out of control.

I took off the ring and held it out to him. "James, we're not right for each other. Let's end it."

The exhaustion on James's face froze, replaced by a look of utter disbelief, like he'd been hit with a bucket of ice water.

He grabbed my hand. "Claire? What are you saying? What do you mean, 'let's end it'? Is this because I haven't been home these past few days? Let me explain, Emily—"

I yanked my hand back, and the ring nearly fell to the floor. "Stop. Don't mention Emily. Hearing her name makes me sick to my stomach, and I can't stand looking at you either."

I walked around him and headed straight for the walk-in closet, pulling out the biggest suitcase I could find. "This has nothing to do with your childhood sweetheart. Honestly, being with you is taking years off my life."

He blocked the closet door, his tall frame casting a shadow over me, his eyes red. "Taking years off your life? Claire!

"We spent four years in college and three years working together. Are you going to erase all of that because I was taking care of Emily?

"Don't you know how I feel about you? I love you, Claire."

I let out a cold laugh, shoving clothes into the suitcase without a care. "James, your love is too much. It comes with a childhood sweetheart who could drop dead in front of us any second.

"Is this what your love is? Making me live every day with the fear that if she dies, we'll be the ones blamed for it?

"Sorry, but I value my life. I'm not playing this life-or-death game with you."

I slammed the suitcase shut, the zipper screeching as it closed. "Here's your ring. Let's part ways without any hard feelings. As for the house, keep it if you want, or sell it, transferring half the money to my account."

He growled, grabbing the suitcase handle. "I don't agree.

"Why is it always you who gets to call the shots? Emily is on the edge. We grew up together, so how am I supposed to walk away from her?

"What did I do wrong? because I've been taking care of her these past few days? This is life and death, Claire. Do you have to be so heartless?"

I couldn't help but laugh in frustration, yanking hard on the suitcase, but he didn't budge an inch. "Fine, call me heartless. James, let me tell you. I'm done.

"I'm done with your childhood sweetheart who's always threatening to hurt herself. To keep her emotions in check, I've become someone you have to hide, someone you're ashamed to acknowledge.

"I'm sick of you acting like a firefighter, dropping everything and rushing to her side whenever there's the slightest drama, leaving me behind like I don't matter.

"I'm done with the way both your families look at me like I'm some homewrecker, as if I'm desperately clinging to you.

"And I'm so sick of living on edge, terrified that one day I'll open my phone and see the headline that she finally went through with it. And then everyone, including you, will give me that look like I'm the one to blame.

"James, your love is sweet on the outside but deadly underneath. I'm not risking my life for it anymore, alright?"

I gave up on the suitcase and turned to grab another bag, stuffing in the things that mattered most to me. "Let go. Don't make me call the cops and report you for holding me against my will."

He looked like my words had nailed him to the spot. His grip on the suitcase handle loosened and then tightened again, his eyes full of pain and confusion. "Claire, it's not like that. I love you.

"Emily...is sick, so she needs help. If you don't want me to, I promise, I'll stay out of her life from now on. Please, believe me."

"Stay out of her life? James, seriously, do you think that's possible? With you always giving in to her and your whole family bending over backwards for her, you'll never shake her off for the rest of your life.

"I've finally figured it out. Being with you triggers her. The best solution is for us to break up. That way, she won't have to pull the suicide card, you won't have to run yourself ragged, and I can finally live like a normal person."

I grabbed my bag and laptop. "I waited until now so we could settle things face to face and part ways without any hard feelings."

I clung tightly to my luggage. "Let go. I'm exhausted. Please, let me go."

He finally let go, his face written all over with heartbreak. "Claire, I know you're angry. I messed up. I didn't take care of your feelings.

"If you want to move out, that's fine. Take your time to calm down, I'll give you space. But breaking up? I can't do that."

I was too drained to look at him, picked up my luggage and walked out.