Chapter 3

Every inch of this place screamed — the present he was someone I could no longer reach.

"What are you standing there for?" Felix tossed his car keys onto the entryway table and glanced back at me. "Come on in."

I changed into slippers and stepped into the living room.

Felix was already sprawled on the sofa, legs crossed, fingers tapping the armrest, giving off that boss vibe, like he owned the place and I was just some intruder.

"Why are you standing way over there?" Felix arched an eyebrow. "What, afraid of me?"

I kept quiet, took a couple of steps forward, and stopped next to the table.

"Sit," he said.

I sat down.

He stared at me for a while, then suddenly broke into a smile.

"Sophie," Felix drawled, stretching out my name, "how'd you wind up like this?"

I knew exactly what he was getting at.

Compared to four years ago—back when I drove a BMW, lived in a mansion, and could hand over 65 thousand dollars for his mom's medical bills without batting an eye—I was a completely different person.

I was thinner, older, my eyes sunken, my skin sallow.

The clothes I wore were old-fashioned, from two years ago, so faded they looked almost white.

But I still said, "I'm alright."

"Alright?" Felix stood up, walked over, and looked down at me. "Do you think I'm blind?"

I looked up at him.

The light shone from behind him, throwing his face into shadow.

I knew his face so well, I could trace every detail with my eyes closed—the shape of his brows, the line of his nose, the curve of his lips.

But his eyes were different now.

Back then, when he looked at me, there was a light in his eyes.

Like a puppy looking at its owner—dependent, trusting, with a love he couldn't hide.

Now, his eyes were completely empty.

Hollow.

"Felix," I said, my throat feeling parched, "just spit it out. No need for games."

He leaned over, bracing his hands on the sofa on either side of me, trapping me between his arms.

He was right in my face.

He was so close, I could see the curl of his lashes.

"Two years ago," Felix said, enunciating each word, "why did you break up with me?"

My heart gave a jolt.

But I didn't let it show.

"I got bored," I said. "Took care of you for a year, dated you for another. That was more than enough."

His eyes narrowed.

"Bored, huh?" he fumed.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Sophie," Felix said, his voice cold and low, "say that again. I fucking dare you."

I locked eyes with him, spitting out each word: "I'm bored. Had my fun. Ready for something new. Got it?"

He stared at me, his jaw clenched so hard it looked like he might snap.

The next second, he straightened up and let out a cold, sarcastic laugh.

"Fine," Felix said. "You were bored, huh? So what about now?"

I didn't understand what he meant.

He went on, "Aren't you broke now? Aren't you down and out? So, where are all those 'new guys' you wanted? Why aren't they lining up to take care of you?"

My chest felt tight, like I couldn't breathe.

He was right.

Those "new guys" never existed.

Back then, I only broke up with him because I got diagnosed.

Cancer. Stage two. The doctor said the odds weren't great.

At that time, I thought I couldn't drag him down.

He was blowing up, just getting started, and everything ahead looked golden.

He needed someone who could strut down the red carpet with him, not some dead weight wasting away in a hospital bed.

So I ended things.

I never told him why.

Explain what? So he would pity me? So he would stay out of sympathy?

I wanted none of that.

In this life, I, Sophie, had hated being pitied more than anything.

"Say something," Felix pushed, his voice dripping with revenge. "Weren't you so tough back then? Dumped me like it was nothing. So what, nobody wants you now?"

I took a deep breath and stood up.

"Felix," I said, locking eyes with him, "if your goal was to humiliate me, congratulations. You got what you wanted. Can I leave now?"

I walked toward the door.

As I walked past him, he grabbed my wrist.

"Leave?" Felix yanked me back. "Where are you going? Do you even have anywhere to go?"

I pulled my hand free.

"That's not your problem," I snapped.

"Oh, but I'm making it my problem," Felix said, stepping in front of me. "Sophie, weren't you always so fond of picking up strays? You loved playing caretaker for me back then. Now it's my turn—how about I take you in?"

I looked at him, utterly in disbelief.

"What are you getting at?" I demanded.

"Simple," Felix leaned in, his voice low and mocking. "You stay here and be my maid."

I just froze.

"Aren't you broke? Got no money? I'll give you room and board, plus a paycheck every month," Felix said, stepping back and crossing his arms, watching me. "Not up for it?"

I stared into his eyes.

They were ice cold.

He was dead serious.

He really wanted revenge on me.

This was how he planned to do it.

"Felix," I said, my voice trembling, "do you really hate me?"