Chapter 1 On the day the SAT results were released, Caleb Thorne’s name broke the internet. A perfect 1600. Every news outlet was scrambling to interview the valedictorian, and Twitter was in a meltdown. Caleb himself posted a screenshot of his score on Instagram, accompanied by a picture of him kissing me on the cheek. The caption read: "My girl deserves the best. @ChloeVance" The class group chat was going insane. "Holy crap, a perfect score?! Is Caleb even human?" "Help, genius + prom king + loyal boyfriend... this man is too perfect!" "Chloe must have saved the galaxy in her past life! Your man is on fire!" "Power couple alert! Locking it down!" Amidst the flood of congratulations, a message popped up that felt painfully out of place: "I envy Chloe so much. I'll never deserve a boyfriend this amazing." It was Grace Miller. The transfer student on financial aid. Her message silenced the chat for a few awkward seconds. Just as I was about to reply, I saw a notification. Caleb had Venmo’d Grace $999.99 with the note: "You will." I used to think Caleb was just too kind. Like when he’d lend his umbrella to a soaked Grace on rainy days, or sneak breakfast into her locker, or send her a thousand dollars because she said she was "envious." Then came the call from Harvard admissions. They told him that if he committed, they could offer a "partner admission" spot. He gave it to Grace. Afterward, he coaxed me with explanations: "Chloe, Grace's family is struggling. If she doesn't get into a top school, they'll force her to marry some random guy back home. She needs this more than you." "Your grades are great too. You can apply to other schools in Boston. We'll still be together." He thought he had everything figured out. What he didn't know was that moments before the application portal closed, Grace had logged into my account and changed my choices to a community college thousands of miles away. My Ivy League dreams were shattered. Community college wasn't even on my radar. Since his love was no longer pure, I decided to let go. ... "Chloe, the application for the university in London is done. You can start in the fall," my mom's voice came through the phone. "But are you sure about studying abroad? Caleb has been attached to your hip since you were babies. Long distance isn't easy." I gripped my phone, a memory of Caleb’s first birthday flashing in my mind. He was barely walking, surrounded by toys for the "grab ceremony," but he ignored them all, stumbling toward me and hugging my leg tight. Our families laughed, joking that the boy had picked his wife early. And he really did stick to me. In kindergarten, he demanded to sit next to me. In elementary school, he waited for me every day. In middle school, he studied to stay in the top class with me. In high school, he declared his territory for everyone to see. Our parents, seeing how close we were, basically arranged our engagement. Everyone knew we were a package deal. Until Grace appeared. The poor transfer student who ate plain bread for lunch and wore a faded uniform. When classmates mocked her, Caleb was the first to defend her. I never joined in the bullying; I even stood up for her sometimes. But gradually, Grace started clinging to Caleb. Walking behind him after school, bringing him breakfast, handing him water at basketball games. Then came the accident. A ceiling fan fell in the classroom, and she pushed Caleb out of the way, breaking two ribs. She was hospitalized for a month. From that moment, Caleb’s attitude toward her changed completely. His concern grew, his gaze softened, and now, he had even given her the Harvard partner spot. I couldn't tell if it was gratitude or love. But having experienced his 100% devotion, I didn't want this diluted version. "It won't be long distance," I said softly into the phone. "Mom, our paths are different now. Let's call off the engagement." "Are you serious?" Mom asked, surprised. "Yeah. I've thought it through." Silence on the other end, then a sigh. "Alright. You're young; you'll meet plenty of people. Once you leave, we'll go to the Thorne family and break it off." "Break what off?" A clear male voice came from behind me. I turned to see Caleb standing in the entryway, the front door open behind him. He was wearing a black windbreaker, tall and lean, effortlessly handsome. Sunlight framed his silhouette. The sight of this spirited boy used to make my heart race. Now, looking at his face, I felt nothing but calm. "Nothing," I said, hanging up the phone casually. Caleb didn't press. He walked over, smiling, and handed me an exquisite garment bag. "Chloe, get changed. We're going to the Teacher Appreciation Banquet." He leaned in, lowering his voice. "I picked the best dress for you." I took the bag. The banquet was already scheduled, and since I was leaving the country, I wouldn't see these teachers and classmates much anymore. Consider it a final farewell. I went upstairs, changed, and came back down, only to find Grace already sitting in Caleb's car. "Ch-Chloe..." Grace greeted timidly, twisting the hem of her skirt. What stung most was that her dress was from the same designer collection as mine, just a different color. Caleb walked over to explain. "When I was buying your dress, I realized Grace probably didn't have anything to wear, so I grabbed one for her too." He paused, reaching out to ruffle my hair, his tone cajoling. "Chloe, don't overthink it." I tilted my head, dodging his hand, and gave a self-deprecating smile. Once upon a time, girls tried every trick to get Caleb's attention, but he only had eyes for me. He never even looked at other girls, let alone worried about whether they had a dress to wear. At the hotel, Grace played her usual role: insecure and fragile. Caleb revolved around her, serving her food, pouring her drinks, even laughing indulgently when her eyes lit up at a tasty dish. That smile pricked my heart. "Chloe! Let's have a toast!" A few classmates surrounded me. I wasn't a big drinker, but I didn't want to be a killjoy. Just as I raised the glass, a large hand snatched it away. "She can't drink. I'll take it for her." Caleb downed it in one gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing, drawing cheers from the crowd. "Whoa, Caleb! Everyone wants to toast the Prom Queen. Are you gonna drink every single one?" the class president teased. "You'll pass out!" Caleb smiled, eyes crinkling, shielding me behind him. "So what if I pass out? As long as my wife doesn't touch a drop." More hooting and hollering. The room was thick with the restless energy of youth. After the teachers left, things got wilder. Someone suggested Truth or Dare. Caleb lost the first few rounds. First punishment: Show his pinned contact. "Chloe" was right there at the top, followed by a red heart emoji. Second punishment: Show his photo gallery. It was full of me. My side profile sleeping on a desk, my hair flying while running on the track, my satisfied smile holding a bubble tea. Third punishment: Show his notes app. It was packed with details about me. Hates cilantro stems, loves strawberry flavor, cramps on day 1 of period, allergic to mangoes... There was even a note titled "How to handle Chloe when she's mad: Hug first, talk later." "That is so sweet!" The girls squealed, stomping their feet in envy. "But you guys aren't going to the same college. Chloe is so pretty; what if someone steals her?" Caleb grinned confidently. "Who would dare? Besides, I already helped Chloe apply to a school near Harvard. She'll be right under my nose. Right, wifey?" I forced a bitter smile. That was the plan. But now, thanks to Grace, my application was for a community college in the middle of nowhere. I glanced at Grace in the corner. Her face was pale, fingers knotted together in panic. I almost laughed. If she was so scared of getting caught, why did she do it? Just as I was about to speak, a distracted Grace lost the next round. Her punishment: Kiss the boy to her left. Unfortunately, the guy on her left was the class clown, known for... not being a looker. Grace's eyes reddened instantly. She whispered, asking for a different punishment, but the crowd shouted her down. "Nope! Rules are rules!" Grace closed her eyes, trembling as she leaned in. Just as she was about to make contact, Caleb suddenly stood up, yanked the guy away, and kissed Grace himself. "Breathe," he whispered. Chapter 2 The room went dead silent. I felt like an invisible hand was squeezing my heart, choking the life out of me. The kiss ended. Grace’s face was beet red. Caleb finally explained, "I just remembered, that was my seat earlier. I was on Grace's left. Punishment complete." The atmosphere was heavy with awkward silence. Everyone looked at me, their eyes filled with pity and secondhand embarrassment. I didn't want to be a spectacle. The party was winding down anyway, so I stood up to leave. Walking out of the hotel, the night breeze hit my face, and I realized my cheeks were ice cold. "Chloe!" Caleb chased after me, grabbing my wrist. "I'm sorry. Are you mad?" His cautious expression made me want to laugh. "Why would I be mad?" "Just now..." he rushed to explain, sounding unusually panicked. "Grace didn't want to kiss that guy. I was just helping her out. It was just a kiss, it doesn't mean anything. Please don't be mad." "I'm not mad." I pulled my hand back, smiling calmly. "From now on, you can kiss her however you want, for as long as you want. It has nothing to do with me." Caleb froze, his face draining of color. "What... what does that mean?" I looked at him calmly. What else could it mean? It just meant I didn't like him anymore. Whatever he did was no longer my concern. Just as I was about to say "let's break up," Grace ran out, eyes red and teary. "Chloe, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault..." She bowed repeatedly, looking frail and pathetic in the wind, acting like I was some kind of monster. "Don't be mad at Caleb. If you want to blame someone, blame me!" Caleb immediately supported her. "What are you doing? I already explained it to Chloe. She's not mad." I smiled, nodding along. "Right. I'm not mad." Grace let out a breath, looking timid. "Th... then I'll head out first." Caleb grabbed her wrist. "Wait. It's late. It's not safe for you to go alone. I'll drive you." Grace's eyes lit up, then she looked at me with feigned hesitation. "But... what about Chloe? We're going in different directions." "Don't worry about her," Caleb said naturally. "Her family driver will pick her up." With that, he pulled Grace into his car. Before driving off, he rolled down the window. "Chloe, stay safe. Call me when you get home." I stood there, watching his taillights disappear into the night. He forgot. My driver had a family emergency and took leave days ago. I told Caleb that. He used to remember every tiny detail about me. Now, he couldn't even remember this. Rain started to fall. I stood at the hotel entrance, unable to get a cab. Eventually, I had to walk home in the rain. The night was dark, the road slippery. An electric scooter knocked me down halfway. My knee slammed into the pavement, blood mixing with rain. The rider fled without looking back. I limped the rest of the way. Three hours later, I finally got home. I cleaned and bandaged the wound myself. My phone lit up with a text from Caleb: [Home yet?] I didn't reply. I turned off my phone, showered, and fell into a deep sleep. The next day, the doorbell wouldn't stop ringing. I dragged my exhausted body to open it. Caleb stood there, looking anxious. "You're home? Why didn't you text back last night?" I turned and walked inside. "Got hurt. Slept early. Didn't see it." Caleb finally noticed the bandage on my leg. His brow furrowed. "How did that happen?" "Driver was on leave. Got hit by a scooter walking home." Caleb froze. He remembered the driver now. Guilt washed over him. "Chloe, why didn't you call me?" I looked up at him. "If I called, would you have come back for me?" "Of course." "What if Grace had an issue at the same time? Would I still be your first choice?" Caleb hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Of course." I smirked slightly and said nothing. Before, he wouldn't have hesitated. Back then, I was his entire world. He noticed if I even frowned. Now, that single second of hesitation said everything. Caleb couldn't tell if I was angry. Usually, I’d give him the silent treatment for days or demand to be coaxed. But now that I was still talking to him, he felt even more panicked. "Chloe, let's go to the aquarium," Caleb blurted out, his tone ingratiating, desperate to make amends. I shook my head. "Don't want to." "I already bought tickets." He grabbed my hand, rubbing my wrist with his thumb like he used to when soothing me. "Come on. You've always wanted to see the orca show." He half-coaxed, half-dragged me into the car. But when the door opened, I saw Grace in the back seat. "Chloe..." Grace greeted me timidly, twisting her skirt, looking like she was terrified of upsetting me. Caleb instinctively stepped in front of her, explaining, "I saw on her story that she wanted to go too, so I invited her." I watched him shielding Grace and suddenly felt it was all a ridiculous joke. I said nothing and sat in the passenger seat. Chapter 3 All day, Caleb used the excuse that "Grace has never done this" to take her on every ride. He rode the carousel with her, buckled her in, and held her hand when she was scared. Tourists looked on with envy. "That couple is so sweet." I followed behind them like a ghost, silent. The boy who once had eyes only for me was gone. Finally, we went to the orca show. The host selected random audience members for interaction. Originally, the camera landed on Caleb and me. But Grace looked at him with puppy eyes, so Caleb whispered to me, "Chloe, it's Grace's first time. Let her try, okay?" I didn't speak, which he took as a yes. Caleb and Grace went up. One of the interactions was to kiss at the highest point of the orca's jump for a photo. The host announced it, and Grace blushed. The crowd cheered. Caleb glanced at me, then didn't hesitate. He grabbed the back of Grace's head and kissed her. "Wow!" The crowd erupted. Sitting in the stands, I felt like an invisible hand was crushing my heart. If the first kiss was to save her from embarrassment, what was this one? After the show, Caleb tried to explain, but I cut him off. "I know. You didn't want to waste everyone's time." Caleb froze, a wave of panic hitting him. At dusk, we went to the central stairs to watch the fireworks. Caleb wanted to use the fireworks—my favorite—to make it up to me. But an accident happened. A nearby firework launcher exploded, spraying sparks everywhere! Chaos erupted. In the shoving, I stumbled and was about to fall down the stairs! Caleb instinctively reached for me, but behind him, Grace screamed in terror. "Caleb! Help me!" He looked back once, then turned and ran to Grace without hesitation! I watched his retreating back as my heart tore in two. I tumbled down the stairs, trampled by the panicking crowd. A kind stranger helped me up. When Caleb returned, shielding Grace, I was covered in bruises and scrapes. "Chloe!" Caleb looked distressed, reaching to hug me. I dodged his hand. My voice was terrifyingly calm. "I'm fine. Take Grace home." How could he be at ease? He told Grace to take a cab and insisted on taking me to the hospital. The doctor said I might have a concussion and needed observation. Caleb stayed by my side, refusing to leave. But as soon as I was admitted, Grace called. "Caleb... the power went out at my place... I'm scared..." Caleb frowned, looking at me hesitantly. I spoke calmly. "Go." "Chloe, I..." "I'm fine. The nurse is here." Caleb stood up. "I'll be back soon." He rushed out. Watching his back, I suddenly called out, "Caleb." He turned. "Yeah?" I looked at him, remembering a long time ago. He was at a competition out of town. He heard my raspy voice on the phone, realized I had a fever, and forfeited the competition to fly back that night just to watch over me. Now, he was leaving me, injured, for another girl. For a second, I wanted to ask, "Do you still love me?" But the words felt meaningless. "Nothing. Go." Whether he loved me or not, I didn't care anymore. I was letting him go completely. Chapter 4 I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, I saw seventeen posts from Grace. [Caleb took me for hot pot! (Photo: Caleb's hand putting beef in her bowl)] [First time bungee jumping, so nervous~ (Photo: Caleb watching her tenderly, looking just like he used to look at me)] [Caleb says he'll take good care of me since I have a cold (Photo: Caleb sitting by a bed, stirring porridge)] I scrolled past calmly. Maybe after hurting so many times, the heart just goes numb. The day I was discharged, I went to my usual high-end spa for a treatment. As I pushed the glass door open, a familiar voice called out, "Chloe?" Caleb stood at the front desk with a fidgety Grace. He looked flustered. "You're out? Does it still hurt?" "I'm fine," I said flatly, looking at Grace. Caleb sighed in relief and explained, "Grace has never been to a spa, so I brought her to try it out." He paused. "Since you're here, and I don't know anything about this stuff, can you show her the ropes?" I didn't want to make a scene in public, so I nodded. We went into a treatment room. The esthetician brought out my custom skincare set and started my facial. Grace watched enviously. "This stuff must be expensive. It's nice being a rich girl. Unlike me, I've only ever used water to wash my face..." Caleb frowned. "Don't be envious. I'll buy it for you." Grace waved her hands. "No, no, I don't deserve such nice things..." "Nonsense," Caleb said firmly. "You deserve the best." I closed my eyes. "Give them another room," I told the esthetician. "I want some quiet." Caleb blinked. "I'll pay for these products..." "No need. I'll tell them to get her a set just like mine," I said wearily. Finally, they left. After the treatment, I changed and went straight home without waiting for them. As soon as I got home, the door slammed open. "Chloe!" Caleb stormed in, face cold, grabbing my wrist. "What was in those products? Why is Grace's face having an allergic reaction?!" His grip hurt. I was confused. "What?" "I told you I'm only taking care of her because she saved me!" Caleb suppressed his rage. "The person I love is you. If you have a problem, come at me. Why hurt her?" I looked at him in disbelief. "I didn't hurt her. We used the same products. Why am I fine?" "That spa is owned by your family!" Caleb sneered. "It would take one word from you to tamper with her stuff." My heart trembled violently. Is that the kind of person he thinks I am? I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Caleb took my silence for guilt and dragged me out. "What are you doing?!" I struggled. He didn't speak, speeding until we reached Grace's hospital room. Grace lay there, face covered in ointment, looking pitiful. "Apologize," Caleb ordered. I looked at my red wrist, eyes stinging. Before, he'd be heartbroken if I lost a single hair. Now he treated me like this? "I did nothing wrong. I won't apologize." Grace quickly tried to smooth things over. "If Chloe doesn't want to apologize, it's fine... I'll just be here for a few days..." Caleb got angrier. "Look at Grace, then look at yourself! How can you bully her over and over?" His gaze landed on my necklace. "Since you won't apologize, give her that necklace as compensation." I froze, touching the pendant. "...Do you remember what this is?" It was a token he gave me, promising to be "locked" to me forever. Now he wanted me to take it off and give it to her? Caleb had forgotten. "It's just a necklace. I'll buy you a better one." "Grace is being generous not asking for an apology. You won't even give up a gift?" I took a deep breath, ripped the necklace off, and threw it at Grace. "Take it." Caleb, I'm giving you away too. I turned and left, never looking back.
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