chapter 4

Before I could speak, Olivia conveniently cried out in pain.

Gabriel paused for two seconds and then finally let go of me.

He turned and carried Olivia to the hospital.

After the place emptied out, I took one last look at the house I’d lived in for five years.

Every corner had been carefully decorated by me.

Even the tiny paintings on the staircase were ones I’d picked over and over at flea markets.

During those three poorest years, I survived on instant noodles with Gabriel, meal after meal.

I always thought I understood him better than anyone else in the world.

Sometimes, no words were even needed—just a glance, and I’d know what he meant.

Yet that same understanding made it impossible to accept how his feelings for me had changed.

I lied to myself, exhausting us both with fights and pleas, just to keep him tied to this relationship.

I never even realized that this desperate dependence of mine was what convinced him I’d never leave,

not in this lifetime.

And so he hurt me worse.

“Hey, you the homeowner?”

A guy stood at the door, hauling several giant photo frames on his back.

“Wedding photo delivery for this address?”

Then he checked the address again and just plopped them down.

There they were—Gabriel and Olivia’s wedding photos.

Olivia got the thing I’d craved for five years without even trying.

The difference between love and indifference was clear as day.

I snorted and turned to leave.

“Hey! Where are you going? Gotta sign for these.”

The competition was breathing down my neck.

I had no time to spare for this unrelated stuff.

I hadn’t worked a regular job in years, but freelance gigs kept me stacked.

Amber Harold, the senior who referred clients to me, even waived her cut after hearing my mess.

Every payday, I’d treat her to dinner, then sneak her share into her bag secretly.

Amber sounded surprised and said, “You entered that competition too?”

Next second, her tone shifted, sounding somewhat hesitant. “So...you’re not taking any jobs this month?”

I thought for a beat and said, “If the client’s not in a rush and can wait, I can send a draft by month’s end.”

“No rush at all. They said they only want your designs. They won’t even look at anyone else’s.”

“Good. I’ll try to finish early.”

Amber exhaled hard and continued, “Since when did you start putting contests before cash?

“By the way, was that Gabriel in the trending proposal video recently?”

I didn’t hold anything back.

Amber said, “What? The video only showed his profile. I thought I might have mistaken him for someone else. I can’t believe he’s that kind of guy.

“Sloane, you...”

My voice stayed flat. “We’re done for good.”

“Good riddance. That trash ain’t worth it. Focus on the contest. With your skills, You’ll bag the championship easy.”

I chuckled.

After some small talk, I hung up.

Then I turned my full attention to my design work.

The deadline came fast—just one day left.

Some random number called.

I blocked it without thinking.

During this period, Gabriel had been calling me this way.

Every time I blocked one number, he would call from a new one.

He bombarded my phone with calls like a madman.

I kept blocking, one by one.

This continued until a hotel staff member knocked on my door.