After He Ghosted Me, I Left for Australia

Chapter 2

Georgia's face drained of all color so abruptly that Felix tensed up right away.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Let me take you to the hospital."

Georgia dodged his outstretched hand and answered offhand, "No need, just a little low blood sugar. I'm heading back to my dorm first."

Felix caught on immediately. He brushed his long, slender fingers against her cheek, his voice soft and warm. "Okay, go get some proper rest then. I'll come find you tomorrow afternoon once I'm done with work."

Only after she watched him get in his car and drive off did Georgia trudge back to her dorm, her chest tight with a bone-deep chill.

The second she stepped through the door, she sank numbly down in front of her desk, glancing around the single dorm room the school had granted her as a special exception.

On her bed sat the Steiff teddy bear Felix had bought her when they were kids, that he'd saved up all his holiday bonus money to buy her. In her closet hung a matching pair of pajamas she'd bought with Felix. And on the desk, a whole collection of watches he had gifted her over the years.

Eight out of ten things in this room were tied to him in some way.

Giving up Felix would feel like ripping half her own flesh and blood right out of her body.

A tight lump rose in Georgia's throat, and she almost choked up. But before any tears could fall, the cold, unshakable memory of the trap rooted in her mind flooded her first.

It was Felix's unflinching betrayal, the final straw that had pushed her to let go for good.

Just then, her phone buzzed once.

Georgia picked it up. The text was by Ophelia Pembroke.

Ophelia: You saw that surprise I left for you in Felix's car, right?

Georgia's breath caught in her throat instantly.

She and Ophelia had grown up in the same neighborhood, and they'd hated each other's guts since they were kids.

The main reason, of course, was that Ophelia had been pining after Felix for years, while Felix had only ever had eyes for Georgia.

Before Georgia could even process the first message, another ping came through from Ophelia.

Ophelia: I told you I'd get Felix for myself sooner or later. I owe you big for this, Georgia! If you hadn't rushed to get engaged to him, I never would've gotten this opening.

Georgia stared at her gloating, taunting words, and all she felt was cold, sharp scorn. She swiped her thumb across the screen, typing out only a single line in reply.

Georgia: Congratulations, then.

She set her phone down after that, ignoring every follow-up message Ophelia sent.

Felix called her right at noon the next day.

"Georgia, I booked that French restaurant you love. I'm almost at your school gate."

Listening to his familiar voice, Georgia answered dazedly, "Okay."

When she walked up to the school entrance, Felix's white Bentley was already parked there waiting.

Georgia pulled open the passenger door, but the moment she saw the sea of anime figurines filling the car, she froze dead in her tracks. The cutesy cartoon decor clashed horribly with the understated, luxurious interior of the Bentley.

Felix spoke casually, "Forgot to tell you. Do you remember Stephen Pembroke? He's a good friend of mine. At his request, Ophelia's working as an intern at my company now, specifically in the CEO's office. She suggested all these decorations, said anime characters are your favorite. Do you like them?"

Georgia pressed her lips together tightly and answered flatly, "They're fine."

Soon enough, she and Felix would be total strangers anyway.

So what did any of these lies and half-truths matter? She didn't have the energy to pick them apart anymore.

When the two of them arrived at the restaurant, the server at the entrance hurried over to greet them with a bright smile. "Mr. Stone, will you and Ms. Pembroke be taking your usual table today?"

Felix's face darkened instantly. He laced his fingers through Georgia's immediately, his tone sharp and clipped, "Get it straight. This is my girlfriend, not Ms. Pembroke!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he glanced over at Georgia instinctively.

Her face was completely calm, no flicker of anger or hurt to be seen. A strange, niggling unease settled in his chest.

"Georgia, I—"

Georgia cut him off before he could fumble out an explanation. "Let's go inside first. I'm hungry."

Felix watched her turn and walk ahead of him into the restaurant, huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head, chalking the odd feeling up to his own overactive imagination.

Once they were seated, Felix rattled off all Georgia's go-to favorite dishes without a second thought, then stood up to head to the bathroom.

He'd barely been gone a minute when his phone, left on the table, lit up with a new message notification.

Georgia glanced over. The sender was listed as "Ophelia".

Ophelia. That was Ophelia Pembroke.

Her chest squeezed tight. She picked up the phone, typed in her own birthday as the passcode, and unlocked it straight to the chat window.

The next second, her fingertips began trembling violently.

Ophelia had sent a mirror selfie of herself almost completely naked!

Ophelia: You said last time you wanted to try that b*****e game. You coming over tonight?