Kieran looked stunned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I smiled and lied: “They’re traveling out of state. Haven’t come back yet.”
He stared at me intently, like he wanted to say more, but thankfully his phone rang.
With that, he couldn’t slam the door fast enough.
Friday, my last day.
I’d just left the office when Kieran dragged me into his car without explanation.
At some fancy restaurant, he cut my steak while asking:
“What wine do you want?”
I scrolled through my phone boredly. “You pick.”
My indifference made his jaw tighten. “Who are you texting?”
“No one.”
Even after my answer, he snatched my phone away. After scrolling through it for a while, his expression grew dark. “When did you change your wallpaper?”
For all these years, my wallpaper had been a photo of us together. But now it was a picture of my parents‘ dog.
Too lazy to answer, I got up to use the bathroom.
When I came back, Kieran was gone.
Suddenly, all the lights went out.
Servers wheeled out flowers and cake, slowly approaching me.
The cake stopped at the table next to mine, and my phone lit up–a birthday text from my carrier.
Walking out of the restaurant, I heard a familiar, sickeningly sweet voice:
“Ooh, Kieran, you’re so strong! Push me higher…”
It was Ivy on the outdoor swing set, squealing with delight as Kieran pushed her.
Being too greedy backfired–she tumbled right into his arms. They gazed into each other’s eyes, holding each other
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A
Chapter 3
for way too long before noticing me standing there.
Kieran’s eyes flashed with obvious annoyance as he looked at me expressionlessly.
“Chloe! This swing is so fun, you should try it…”
Halfway through her sentence, Ivy’s face turned bright red. She shyly let her arms drop from around Kieran’s
shoulders.
“Don’t get the wrong idea, Chloe! Kieran only caught me because I was falling…”
Kieran lovingly ruffled her hair, gazing at her with pure adoration:
“Silly girl, what’s there to explain? I’m just glad you’re okay.”
After comforting Ivy, he dropped all tenderness and looked at me coldly:
“Done eating already?”
I ignored him and walked toward the nearby Ferris wheel. They say if you make a wish on a Ferris wheel on your birthday, it’ll come true.
Seeing me walk away, Ivy’s eyes flashed with mockery before she quickly pulled Kieran along:
“Ooh, a Ferris wheel! Kieran, I want to ride that too…”
When the attendant said there were only two seats left, Kieran didn’t even glance at me. He took Ivy’s hand and
then got on first.
Twenty minutes later, when they came down, Kieran searched the entire mall but couldn’t find me anywhere.
3 PM that night.
I was dragging my suitcase out of the bedroom when I placed a note that said [We’re done] under my keys and left without looking back.
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Nine Years Wasted–Now I’m Marrying Your Rival
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
