Chapter 3
1015 Words
When I woke up the next morning, sunlight was already flooding through the window.
On the nightstand, Carlin had left me a note.
"Remember to eat breakfast. P.S. I got this handled."
My nose stung instantly. I quickly tilted my head back, blinking hard. My eyes were so swollen I probably looked like a mess. I really couldn't keep crying like this.
Last night, when I showed up at Carlin's place asking to crash, I had already prepared myself to be scolded. Instead, she only sighed and held me in her arms for half the night.
And this morning, she was already running around handling everything for me.
First, the tennis club transfer.
On paper, she was the one who had stepped in as the investor. Now that it was being transferred again, she would need to help me handle it one more time.
But unlike before, the club had already produced several rising star players. Finding a new buyer shouldn't be difficult.
If I wanted to cut things off with Eric cleanly, I would wait until this was settled before confronting him.
The second thing. My wedding to Ivan Clark.
Our families had been close for generations, with long-standing business ties. We knew each other's backgrounds inside and out.
For Ivan and me, an arranged marriage was actually a reasonable choice.
After a phone call last night, we reached an agreement smoothly. Ivan was a gentleman. He said every detail of the wedding would follow my wishes.
In that case, the banquet hall I had already reserved would be put to a new use.
Carlin supported me unconditionally and promised to personally oversee the wedding so I could walk in with full glory.
Thank God. Even if my love life was in ruins, my friendship still held strong.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated on the coffee table. I picked it up and answered calmly.
"Why didn't you come to the celebration last night? I called you, you didn't pick up. Everyone was waiting for you." Eric's voice carried a hint of concern.
Three calls and no messages. So this was his idea of concern.
I let out a quiet, humorless laugh.
"A friend had an emergency. I came over to help. I might need a few more days."
There was a pause on the other end. Then his tone softened, almost carefully.
"By the way, I heard you booked the hotel ballroom under the boss's company. Are you planning to... propose to me?"
I smiled coldly, though my voice stayed light. "What are you talking about? I'm still waiting for you to propose to me."
He immediately relaxed. "We're still young, and my career is just starting to pick up. I want to focus on it a few more years. You know how busy I am every day..."
"Mm, I understand." I cut him off casually before he could ramble further.
Eric seemed surprised that I let it go so easily. After a pause, he started talking about random things, laughing about the celebration, suggesting a new restaurant to "make it up" to me.
I stared at my reflection in the glass without expression. Like a spectator watching someone else act out a role called a loving boyfriend.
A week later, the club transfer was finally confirmed. I drove over to pack up my things.
At the entrance, I ran into Eric. He looked surprised at first, then quickly returned to normal and pulled me toward the car.
"I'm picking up an important friend. Come with me."
I wanted to refuse, but something in his unusually excited tone made me hesitate. So I got in.
Eric parked in a lot and didn't move. "We'll wait for her here. I'm kind of a public figure. Better not cause a scene."
"Who exactly is it that you're picking up personally?" I asked casually.
"A childhood friend." He smiled a little sheepishly, like a boy in his teenage years.
"She's coming now."
The words had barely fallen when he jumped out of the car. He ran toward a figure approaching quickly.
A beautiful girl with short hair, wearing a tank top and shorts, full of effortless confidence.
She wrapped her arms around his neck naturally and kissed him on the cheek.
I got out slowly and watched them embrace like a couple reunited after a long separation.
A thin, sharp pain spread through my chest, down into my limbs.
A relationship could be ended. But five years of emotion could not be severed so easily.
The car door slammed shut loudly behind me.
Eric stiffened for a moment, then smiled and patted her back.
"Stop it. Let me introduce you."
He pulled her toward me. "This is my coach and girlfriend, Barbara Collins. Barbara, this is Lena Ward."
My nails dug into my palm. I forced a polite smile. "Hi."
When Lena turned toward me, her bright smile carried something sharp beneath it.
Judgment and challenge.
She stepped closer and extended her hand.
"Sorry, Eric and I grew up together. We're really close. You don't mind, right?"
I shook her hand politely. "No."
'I don't want this man anymore. Even if you kiss him, sleep with him, it has nothing to do with me.'
"Wow, you're so understanding and mature. I like you." She smiled sweetly and walked back to Eric.
And then it happened.
A black car lost control and suddenly shot in from the right. All I had time to hear was Lena's sharp scream before I was knocked to the ground. My head slammed hard against the car beside me.
"Lena!" Eric roared.
I pressed a hand to my bleeding forehead. "Eric... help me..."
But his car was already gone. Like an arrow released from a bow.
Blood blurred my vision. Pain split through my skull. But it wasn't the injury that hurt the most.
It was the realization. Five years of love was finally over.
"Are you okay?" Someone waved in front of my face.
I blinked slowly, forced a polite smile, and with shaking fingers sent Eric a message.
Barbara: [Let's break up.]
- Writer
