Chapter 8

Alexander's explanation didn't even make me blink. I glanced at my phone, checked the time, and said flatly, "Who you think Olivia is to you? That's your problem. Honestly, with or without her, I was breaking up with you anyway."

I stood up, but before I could take more than a few steps, Alexander grabbed my wrist. His grip was tight, like he wasn't going to let me go.

"Rachel, we've been together for seven years… Do you remember what you said the night we got together? You told me you liked me so much, you'd always love me. You said as long as we held hands one more day, your love for me would grow by one more degree," he said, his voice shaky with panic.

I stared at him, unimpressed. Slowly, I peeled his fingers off my wrist, one by one. "Alexander, even if it were seventy years, I'd still dump you today without a second thought. From now on, don't take a woman's sweet words too seriously."

His hand dropped like it was nothing. His eyes reddened, and he forced a smile, though it was clear he was struggling. "Rachel, don't worry. You're really not as important as you think you are."

With that, he booked a flight to the earliest destination he could find, walking out of the restaurant without another word. I watched him go, letting out a long, relieved sigh.

The following Monday, I started my new job at my new company. A fresh chapter began, and everything felt different. The disappointment, the heartbreak, the betrayal, it all started to fade away, softened by time, my family, and the friends who had my back.

If I had to nitpick about my new life, it'd probably be how crazy busy I was. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd had a free moment. And on top of that, sometimes it felt like someone was watching me from the shadows.

About a month later, I found myself at a KTV bar, hanging out with my besties and their friends on a weekend night. After a few rounds of singing and partying, I started to feel the alcohol kick in, so I volunteered to run to the front desk and grab more snacks.

I didn't expect Jason to follow me. He was Emma's cousin, and I'd known him forever. Back in high school, I used to go to Emma's house to study, and Jason lived next door. For a while, I even helped him with middle school math.

Before I could say anything, Jason, tall, handsome, and as confident as ever, spoke up. "I heard you're not leaving this time. You're sticking around, right?"

I blinked at him and playfully tapped his forehead, like I used to do when we were younger. "Hmm, I haven't heard you call me 'sister' in a while. You better watch out. Next time I'm at your parents' house, I might just spill the beans on you."

Jason smiled, his eyes lighting up with some old, familiar memories. He looked down at me, and the look he gave me felt… different. Intense, even. "Rachel, you…"

Before he could finish, I felt a sharp tug on my wrist, and suddenly I was pulled backward. I didn't fall, though. Instead, I ended up in the arms of someone I recognized all too well.

"Alexander? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, stunned.

By now, he should have been living it up in Paris with Olivia, enjoying their romantic getaway. But there he was, standing in front of me with that familiar cold expression.

"Rachel, I gave you a whole month to calm down. No matter how angry you were, no matter how hurt you felt, by now you should be over it," he said, his voice detached.

He looked over at Jason with an air of superiority, like he was claiming some kind of ownership over me. His body language was all "this is mine," even though it had been a while since that was true.

Before I could snap at him or tell him off, Olivia appeared in the doorway.