Chapter 3
5
Back when Jace first started his company, it was my mom who gave him his first investment.
He literally got down on his knees and swore,
“If I ever hurt Sloane, may I never know peace.”
To be fair, there was a time when he truly loved me.
But that was all before he made it big.
Maybe it was from cleaning out everything that once had my name on it,
But I passed out on the couch.
In my dream, we were back on campus, the day we first met.
But when I woke up, the big house was empty.
Just me.
I looked at the clock–6 a.m.
My flight was early the next morning, so I’d have to leave around the same time.
Which meant…
24 hours left before I said goodbye to Jace for good.
But he still hadn’t come home.
Not once, since returning from his trip, had he stepped foot back in our place.
I decided it was time to just call him.
End it directly.
‘Sloane, what’s up?”
15:02
Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
1.79
Chapter 3
Him answering this early? That was rare.
Right before I could say anything, I heard another voice–an older woman’s.
“You again?”
“Getting breakfast for your girl? You’re such a sweetheart!”
6 a.m. breakfast.
He never once bought that for me.
The rest of the call was a blur.
He hung up fast.
Then came the text:
[Sorry, just got out of a meeting. I’ll be home this afternoon.]
A breakfast meeting at a food truck? Sure.
By 8 a.m., Zoey had posted again.
.
The one who gives you a diamond might not love you.
But the one who gets up at 6 a.m. to bring you breakfast definitely does.]
Perfect.
She had the diamond and the breakfast.
wish them well.
got up and started packing.
Didn’t take long–I’d already thrown out everything I didn’t want.
There’d be no trace of me left in this house.
At 6 p.m., Jace actually showed up.
15:03
Nine Years Wasted- Now I’m Marrving Your Rival
Chapter 3
One of the rare times he actually kept his word.
But by now, I had just 12 hours left before my flight home.
He was carrying a gift box.
“Sloane, I’ve been slammed lately. I’m sorry.
I got this for you–it’s for our anniversary.”
It was the designer bag I’d mentioned liking once.
Sure, I loved it.
But anyone with a credit card can buy a luxury handbag.
Not everyone gets up at dawn for breakfast runs.
And I knew the difference.
“Thanks.” I said, flat and cool.
[ace let out a relieved laugh.
‘I knew you’d love it.”
He pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead.
‘Sloane, once this craziness dies down, I’ll take you to Scandinavia.
You always said you wanted to see the Northern Lights.”
‘Mm.”
I whispered back.
But I didn’t believe him.
Not anymore.
15:03
