Chapter 2
5
I stood there, for a long, long time.
A chill spread from my feet, creeping up my
body.
Swallowing felt like choking on knives.
Then came the tremors.”
Uncontrollable, subtle tremors.
I glanced at Zane, the furthest away.
My lips trembled, opening and closing.
I wanted to ask if it was real.
When I’d asked why he was so good to me,
he’d avoided the question.
He’d been waiting for this.
But the past month, hadn’t he felt even a
sliver of remorse?
Zane met my gaze for three seconds, his
smile fading.
Then, he calmly looked away.
I closed my mouth.
No need to ask, no need to humiliate myself
further.
I understood.
I thought I’d cry.
Sob uncontrollably, drowning them in tears.
Watching their panic.
But I couldn’t cry.
My throat, was tight, my heart ached, and I
was freezing.
My eyes were dry and dull, unable to shed a
tear.
I couldn’t speak.
I stood silently among them, surrounded by
their cruel laughter.
When they finished laughing, puzzled by my
stillness, I exhaled.
In a raspy voice, I said, “…Let’s break up.
After that day, I took a leave of absence from
school.
My dad’s reputation and business plummeted.
He refused to give up, believing he could
bounce back.
Our situation worsened.
If my mom hadn’t held onto some money, we
wouldn’t have been able to afford school.
We moved out of the affluent neighborhood.
I sold my luxury items my motorcycle,
piano, and watches.
Seeing the increased amount in my account
eased my anxiety.
I also had my boyfriend, Ling Xiao, talk to my
dad.
He was an excellent student who’d started his
own business in high school.
He handled business better than I ever could.
I didn’t hesitate to use him.
On my first day back at school, Ling Xiao’s
driver picked me up from my new suburban
home.
I’d sold my car, but my quality of life hadn’t
dropped.
At the school gates, Ling Xiao opened the car
door and reached for my hand.
A roar echoed from afar.
A screech of tires followed.
Shawn swerved in his cool black motorcycle,
removed his helmet, and strode towards us,
his face grim.
He stared at Ling Xiao’s hand holding mine.
Then he threw his helmet at us.
Ling Xiao and I moved apart.
Before I could get angry, Shawn smirked,
く
“This is your new boyfriend? Poor choice.”
“When did you start seeing him behind our
backs?”