Chapter 2
By the time I finished packing up all my stuff at home, it was already past midnight.
Then, a message from Drake popped up on my phone.
Drake: [Gail, cut it out. I told you, I really can't stand it when you talk about breaking up.]
Drake: [Lynn's just a university kid. Honestly, are you really jealous of some kid? All I did was buy her a dress, that's it.]
Drake: [Be good, okay? We're going to check out the wedding venue tomorrow.]
Suddenly, I was hit by a wave of nausea. I rushed to the bathroom, scrubbing my hands again and again.
I made sure to use antibacterial soap, carefully washing between every finger—leaving no spot untouched.
But even then, I still felt dirty inside.
Drake didn't come home that night.
I found out where he was from Lynn's Moments feed.
My hands, raw and torn, stung as I swiped at the screen.
Lynn had posted a photo: two silhouettes under the moon by the lakeside—Drake was giving her a piggyback ride as they strolled through the park.
The caption read: [With you by my side, I can endure anything.]
I tried to keep scrolling, but my eyes went blurry. Tears kept falling, splashing onto my phone.
With the screen soaked, I couldn't swipe any further.
Drake and I had picked Lynn to help out.
When I first met Lynn, she was a scrappy kid—skinny, messy hair and clothes, but her eyes just shone.
In just a couple years, she grew up so fast—now she was all grace and charm, pretty and full of life.
She got everything anyone could ask for—money and love.
But it took her posting those photos, basically taunting me, for it all to finally click.
Back then, I really thought that even if the whole world betrayed me, Drake would be the one person who never would.
Drake and I met when we were just kids, young and full of life.
He'd always "accidentally" buy an extra breakfast, so after morning study, there'd be something warm waiting on my desk.
He would ditch his own car and hop on the bus like it was no big deal, just so we could sit together on the way to school.
We'd share the same earphones, listening to love songs, both of us blushing with our ears burning, too shy to ever say what was in our hearts.
He couldn't bear to see me suffer, or hear anyone talk me down—even one bad word, and he'd get furious.
Everyone knew exactly how he felt about me.
Everyone knew he'd fight like hell for me.
The people who hurt me? Drake went so far, they nearly ended up beaten half to death.
But what no one realized was that, in just two years, someone else could take my place as if I was never special at all.
I put in my resignation at work.
Drake's company wouldn't have gotten anywhere without me. I had spent eight years chasing down investors, breaking my back for him.
Now that we were splitting up, it was better to make a clean cut—money matters should be crystal clear.
*****
The next morning, after I'd finished packing all my things, a coworker came over and said, "Mr. Norton's throwing a farewell party for you, Gail. Seriously, you have to come—none of us want to see you go."
I couldn't help feeling a little weird about it. After all, I'd sent my resignation straight to HR—Drake hadn't even been involved.
But with my coworkers practically dragging me along, I went to the party with them anyway.
"Thanks so much for coming to my welcome party. I promise I'll do my best." Lynn stood right in the center of the table, her cheeks all flushed as she raised her glass of juice to everyone.
My coworkers exchanged awkward glances, not a single one willing to look at me as I walked in.
I managed an apologetic smile, just about ready to slip out the door.
Lynn blinked her big innocent eyes at me. "Gail, don't you want me here?"
She looked so hurt, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears—as if she were the victim.
Some coworkers rolled their eyes, others wore forced smiles, but underneath it all was contempt for Lynn.
Drake's expression soured with impatience. "Miss Stokes, just have a seat, okay? Don't embarrass Lynn."
He addressed me formally, like I was an outsider. But with Lynn, it was all sweetness and first names.
A big shot CEO throwing a welcome party for an intern. What a joke.
It felt absurd.
Pain clawed at my chest in waves, but I forced myself to smile and said to Gail, "Welcome."
Once the drinks were flowing, the vibe started to loosen up and the younger staff were laughing, piling their plates high and having a great time.
"Hey, how about we hit an escape room after this? Nobody better bail—especially you, Gail," Lynn said.
She was smiling at me with that sly, venomous look—like a snake sizing up its prey.
And Drake? He was looking at her doting.
Since the accident eight years ago, I'd got claustrophobia.
I refused repeatedly.
With my coworkers all eager to go, Lynn paused and said, a little troubled, "If Gail's not joining, then I'm not playing either."
Drake sighed from across the room, looking at me.
His eyes practically screamed, "You're always the buzzkill."