The Freebie Girlfriend

Chapter 2

It was only after dinner that I got a message from James.

James: Nina's father isn't feeling well, so I have to stay and take care of him for a few days.

James: Go home by yourself. Don't wait for me.

No concern. No explanation.

He hadn't even noticed I was gone all day.

I closed the chat window without replying.

From then on, what he did for Nina's family was none of my business.

The next day, I took my parents for a stroll around town and accompanied my father to get his leg checked. It had been hurting for two years.

Over the years, I had asked James several times to accompany my father to the hospital, but he always said he was busy.

"It's not an emergency. We can do it later."

And so it had been dragged out until now.

But for Nina's parents' checkups, he would arrange everything in advance and drive over before dawn to pick them up.

He was meticulous about everything.

This time, I wasn't going to wait for him anymore.

To my surprise, we ran into each other in line at the hospital.

When James saw me, he looked taken aback.

"Why are you here? Weren't you supposed to be at home spending the holiday with your parents?"

I turned away and didn't answer.

He frowned. Aware of the crowd around us, he suppressed his irritation and explained in a low voice, "Nina's father has a heart condition. I really couldn't walk away. A human life is more important than a holiday. You understand me, right?"

He said it so naturally.

As if he was certain I'd never hold a grudge, no matter what.

My heart ached. But I held it in and still asked, "My dad's leg has been hurting for two years. Why have you never cared?"

James sighed impatiently. "Can a sore leg compare to a heart condition? Nina's father's condition could be fatal. Your father's isn't that serious. Emma, stop comparing everything, will you?"

A sour ache stung my nose.

Before I could say anything, a nurse called Nina's father's name from the exam room.

James hurried off. "Wait here. I'll find you after the checkup and apologize to your parents."

As I watched him go, tears fell without warning.

My parents had warned me he might not be reliable, but I didn't believe them.

When I agreed to date him, he held my hand and swore, "I'll treat you well for the rest of my life. If I don't, may lightning strike me down."

Over the years, he had been thoughtful in every way.

He'd pick me up and drop me off at work on rainy days. He remembered my period and brewed ginger tea for me every time.

He'd prepare surprises on every anniversary to make each occasion feel special.

All my friends envied me, saying a boyfriend like him was hard to find.

But one Nina was enough to exhaust all my expectations.

My mother wiped my tears.

"Emma, dating is a process of trial and error. Making a mistake isn't scary. Just cut your losses in time."

My father patted my shoulder.

"If you're sad, just come home. Your parents will always be here."

I gripped the medical form and said softly, "I know. I contacted my aunt in Havenport last night. I'm planning to learn financial management from her. Once we break up, I'll leave."

My father nodded. "Whatever decision you make, we support you."

After accompanying my father to the outpatient clinic, I passed by the IV area on my way to get medicine.

Nina was nestled in James's arms, her eyes red. "Thank goodness you're here. Otherwise, if something happened to my dad, I really wouldn't know what to do."

James held the bowl of oatmeal, blowing on each spoonful before bringing it to her lips. "I'm here. But you haven't eaten a thing all morning—come on, get some of this in you first."

"I don't have an appetite," Nina murmured.

"Be good. Just one bite. I'll buy you a gift later," James coaxed.

Only then did Nina open her mouth.

Nina's mother smiled with relief. "James really knows how to handle her. No matter how we coax her, she refuses to eat."

James gently wiped the corner of Nina's mouth. "It's fine. She has me now. I'll take good care of her."

As I stood at the corner, my fingertips grew cold.

Throughout our five-year relationship, he always said he was a straightforward guy who didn't know how to say sweet things.

Every time I was too angry to eat, he'd just put down the gift and say coldly, "I tried to persuade you. You're the one choosing not to eat."

It turned out he didn't lack the ability to coax. He just wasn't willing to coax me.

After he finished the oatmeal, she reminded him quietly, "You've kept Emma waiting long enough, she's probably furious with you by now. Why don't you go pick out a bag to make it up to her?"

James didn't even think about it. "No need. She's easy to please. Just give her a freebie. Hasn't it always been that way?"

Nina smiled and gave him a gentle punch. "She's your girlfriend. What if she finds out?"

"She won't," he said with certainty. "Even if she finds out, she can't bear to leave me. Back then, she was so determined to be with me. How could she possibly break up with me?"

I froze.

My blood ran cold.

I had always thought our five-year relationship was a two-way street.

But in James's eyes, it was my desperate clinginess.

I hurriedly pulled out the scarf he'd given me for our last anniversary, took a picture, and posted it on i********: asking for help.

Replies came quickly.

A: [This is a free gift that comes with a certain brand's limited-edition bag. It's not sold separately.]

B: [The authentic bag costs tens of thousands of dollars, but yours isn't worth anything.]

C: [Hey bestie, have you been scammed?]

I stared at the last sentence, my fingers shaking so much I could barely hold my phone.

Then I found photos of the gifts I'd received over the years and looked them up one by one.

The perfume was a free gift with a minimum purchase.

The necklace was a gift that came with a haute couture dress.

Even the bracelet I had cherished for three years was a gift that came with a watch.

Except for the birthday jewelry he gave me in our first year together, everything else was a free gift.

To think I'd been reluctant to wear them, wiping them regularly and even keeping the packaging boxes intact.

It turned out he'd already given the best to Nina and tossed me the scraps.

My chest felt as if it had been torn open. The pain made it hard to breathe.

It turned out that in our five-year relationship, only the first year was real.

Fortunately, I had learned to cut my losses in time.

Never again.