Chapter 2
Alex's brows knitted together. "Why are you carrying something like that? You think everyone is as open as you? Emily is pure. I don't want her seeing things like this."
"No, it's for me," I replied, fighting back tears. "Sorry, I'll take my things and go."
Emily let out a long sigh of relief. "You really freaked me out. I thought you were one of Alex's other girlfriends.
"At first, I thought Alex was some smooth-talking player, but it turns out he's genuine. And I don't know anyone from Alex's company. You're literally the first person I've met."
She hugged Alex again. "Good thing you always make me feel safe."
I lowered my head and stayed silent.
"By the way, is this any good?" Emily asked, her cheeks turning pink. "I don't really have any experience. Can I ask you for some advice?"
I instinctively glanced at Alex.
He remained calm while his current girlfriend and his ex were chatting about protection.
We had been giving each other the silent treatment for half a month, yet we still hadn't used it.
Alex's brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
"You like it?" he asked Emily.
"Yeah, why don't we buy it from her? It's your size anyway," Emily said, her voice soft and sweet.
"Alright, how much?" Alex asked, turning to me. He kept a straight face and was about to transfer the money.
I lowered my head and carelessly shoved the box into his arms. "No need. Consider it a gift."
"Thank you, but we can't take it for free. Alex, hurry up and pay her," Emily said.
"Something big came up at work. I gotta go." I bolted toward the door, not wanting to stick around for a second.
"It's raining outside. Why don't you let Alex give you a ride?" Emily said.
Alex let out a cold snort and grabbed his jacket.
"No need, Mr. Foster." I took a step back, keeping my distance.
Calling him Mr. Foster made him pause. "Fine."
He grabbed an umbrella from the living room. "You left this here last time you dropped off some files. Take it with you."
I stood there, staring at the floral umbrella.
It was the one Alex and I brought here from our dorm right after we graduated.
"I don't want it," I said quietly, my eyes rimmed with red.
"Don't want what?" Alex asked.
I looked up and met his eyes. "I don't want them anymore."
By the time I stumbled out of our place, the rain was coming down in sheets.
It wasn't our home anymore. It was Alex and Emily's now.
I curled up under the awning of the delivery station to shelter from the rain, squatting low to the ground.
A week ago, it was our third anniversary.
Business was slow at the company.
I asked Alex if we could celebrate together.
Three years of building a business together had left almost no room for leisure.
He never cared for leisure or fun. I was always the one dragging him out.
Once, a client showed up to our meeting with a luxury Black Swan cake, as it was his wife's birthday.
He smiled sheepishly. "It's my wife's birthday today. I was planning to bring it to her myself after we wrap things up.
"I don't really get what young girls like about these cakes. Ms. Summers, do you like this, too?"
Alex glanced back at me and asked, "Do you like it, too?"
I felt a bit shy and nodded.
Alex smiled. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind."
Yet on the day of our anniversary, after wrapping up all my work, I was so drained that I fell asleep right there in the lobby.
When I woke up, night had already fallen. Alex had already gone home.
When I walked through the door, Alex looked at me in surprise. "You just got back? I thought you were back hours ago."
"I had a last-minute meeting with a big client, but didn't manage to close the deal," I replied.
"Alright, get some rest," he said.
"Did you forget something?" Brushing aside the fact that he hadn't waited for me, I looked at him with eager eyes.
I wondered if Alex had something special planned for me.
"What?" Alex looked at me in confusion. "I already ate at the office. What about you?"
Only then did I realize he had completely forgotten about it.