Chapter 3

Lily shrieked, "What! Why does Simon have to leave?"

"Because the apartment is under my name. Simon is nothing more than a guest staying here." I said coldly, crossing my arms. "I let him live at my place all these years because he was my boyfriend.

"Now he isn't. Of course, he has to leave."

Simon was stunned. "What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I blinked. "I'm breaking up with you. I don't want this dirty mess you've become. Get the hell out of my place, both of you. Is that clear enough?"

"I don't agree!" Simon's eyes were bloodshot. "I didn't cheat. Lily and I are merely colleagues. How can you break up with me over a fuse bead craft?"

"Breaking up isn't getting divorced. I don't need your permission. It's decided." I glanced at Lily and Simon, their faces showing various emotions, and felt utterly fed up. "You're still making excuses, acting like it's only about a trinket.

"But you know better than anyone else what's really bothering me.

"We've been together for seven years. I know you as well as you know yourself. When that craft showed up in your car, I was giving you a chance, waiting for you to be honest with me.

"But what did you do? You refused to tell the truth and got so defensive you lashed out. You even tried to leave me stranded alone on that suburban road in the middle of the night.

"Maybe you two haven't hooked up yet. But is sleeping together the only way to cheat? The moment you lied to me, it proved you were hiding something. Deep down, you've crossed the line."

I shoved the suitcase in front of me. "I've made myself clear. Please get out."

Simon's neck veins bulged. He didn't glance at the suitcase on the floor. His tone turned harsh, and he wouldn't listen to Lily. "I'm not agreeing to break up.

"We've been together for seven years. How can you bring this up so casually? Jessica, you're the most heartless person alive.

"Do you know why I fell for Lily? It's all on you. You're always so domineering and calm, acting like you're above everyone else and never back down once you think you're right.

"You're nowhere near as gentle and thoughtful as Lily.

"She knows how to take care of me better than you do. She'll spend a whole morning cooking soup for me and stay up nights making a fuse bead craft as a gift.

"I don't care how much the gift costs. What matters is how much effort she puts in for me."

It clicked for me. "Oh. Why didn't you say so earlier? You don't need a girlfriend. Hire a maid instead."

I was done wasting my breath on Simon, so I pulled out my phone and called the community security team.

The security guards showed up fast. Several young, burly guys stood at the door, their voices booming. "How can we help you?"

I lifted my chin. "There are trespassers in my place. Please get them out."

The lead security guy seemed to recognize Simon and hesitated.

Simon's face darkened. "I've lived here for years. I'm her boyfriend. We quarreled earlier. You don't need to get involved."

I kept my expression serious. "We've broken up. This scumbag cheated on me. See for yourself—"

I pointed at Lily, who looked clueless. "His mistress has shown up at my home, and I'm kicking them both out. This apartment is under my name only. I'm the owner.

"For the owner's safety, please throw this cheating guy and homewrecker out of my place."

After struggling for a while, Simon couldn't hold out against the security guards. Reluctantly, he finally grabbed his luggage and left.

Before stepping out, he turned his head. "Jessica, you'll regret what you've done."

I shut the door, and the place went quiet. I glanced at the clock on the wall. After all that drama, it was already 3 AM.

I quickly washed up and crashed into bed, catching a few more hours of sleep.

Maybe it was because I hadn't changed the sheets; I dreamed about the old days with Simon.

Simon and I both came from small towns, and our families weren't well-off. If we wanted a comfortable life, we had to work for it ourselves.

Compared with his family, mine was a bit better off.

My parents worked their fingers to the bone for decades, scrimping and saving to buy this less-than-600-square-foot apartment in the city. They said it would be my safety net and give me confidence to stand on my own.