Chapter 3

Daniel didn't reply, and the awkward vibe just lingered between us.

Anna's face kept changing, and she finally forced a smile with her pride barely holding up. "Guess I'm just not as skilled, Daniel. Don't hold it against Emily."

She added, "Come on. Let's go get some late-night snacks. My treat."

Her words were met with cheers from the group.

As everyone poured out of the pool hall, Anna was still right in the middle, with everyone crowding around her.

I trailed behind the group and watched as Anna slid into the shotgun seat next to Daniel.

Daniel's buddies piled into the back seats, leaving me out completely. Seriously? Not even one spot for me?

Anna rolled down the window and gave me an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Emily, no room. Why don't you grab a cab?"

She added, "Let's exchange WhatsApp numbers, and I'll send you the address."

I scanned the QR code on her phone and added her on WhatsApp. I watched them drive off into the night, standing there for what felt like ages before finally flagging down a cab.

As I slumped in the back seat, my thoughts were all tangled up.

A sour, numb ache gripped my heart. I guess this was where things ended between me and Daniel.

I dug out my phone and found Lily's number, hitting call.

"Lily, can you book me a flight to Ravesburg? I need to go over there and see if I can grow the business," I said.

Lily sounded puzzled. "Wait. Aren't you about to get married?"

I forced a smile, trying to sound as casual as I could. "Turns out cash is way more useful than romance. Honestly, love is pretty much meaningless to me now."

*****

By the time I showed up at the restaurant, they'd already gone through more than a dozen bottles of liquor.

Nobody had more empty bottles stacked up than Anna.

Her cheeks were rosy, and she practically melted into Daniel's arms, clearly more than a little tipsy.

She reached out with those soft hands and pinched Daniel's cheek, just like what she did back at the pool hall. Then she pouted her lips. "Daniel, you've really grown up these past ten years. Has life been rough on you?"

She asked, "Is it because I left? Did I make you miserable?"

Daniel's eyes were rimmed red, his tears threatening to spill over.

I hovered at the doorway for a beat, watching them in their own little world. Then, without hesitation, I pushed the door open, cutting straight through the touching scene.

All eyes swung toward me. Daniel frantically wiped the tears at the corners of his eyes.

But Anna was really wasted.

She clung to Daniel's hand, tears streaming down her face. "I feel so awful. Can you take me home, please?"

She sobbed, "Daniel, I regret it."

I didn't stick around to hear what exactly she regretted.

Daniel was already on his feet, cradling Anna in his arms and striding straight past me toward the door.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. My throat bobbed as I struggled just to say Daniel's name.

But the moment I tried to speak, a sob broke free. "Daniel, I'm giving you one last chance. Come home with me."

Daniel stopped in his tracks, unable to hide the fury in his voice. "Emily, you've been going after Anna all night. Don't you have anything better to do? Stop making a fool of yourself out here. I've had enough of your drama."

With that, he walked right past me, carrying Anna in his arms.

I stood there watching their backs disappear, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

Seeing me cry, everyone else started nervously fussing around me. Someone tried to comfort me, saying, "Emily, don't cry. They're just friends."

Friends, huh? That was all I ever was to Daniel, too.

I wiped my face roughly, forcing myself to put on a brave face. "Yeah, he's got so many friends. Guess it's only natural for him to take care of yet another one."

I shot to my feet and ran off in a blind panic, stumbling and barely holding it together as I made my way back to the place Daniel and I once called home.

No matter where I looked, every single piece of furniture and decoration was a painful reminder.

I curled up on the bed, hugging my knees and crying my eyes out until the sun finally rose.