Chapter 3
Around midnight, I got a friend request notification on Instagram.
I accepted it, and she immediately started messaging me:[]
[Hey there, big sister! Got your little apology loud and clear.
[Try to keep those hands to yourself next time, yeah?][]
[Still awake this late? Waiting up for your boyfriend?]]]
[Sweetie, at your age, staying up late is just gonna make you look even older. Stop waiting – he’s already asleep.)
I was seeing red but kept it simple with one warning text:[]
[Get my money back within 24 hours or I’m calling the cops!]]
She sent back a tongue–sticking–out emoji with “Oh. I’m sooo scared.
The next day, I went to the bar’s private room to get my card and money back from Damon.[]
Just as I grabbed the metal door handle, I could hear several guys talking inside.]]
“Dude, Damon, why do you keep dropping Seraphina’s score lower and lower? She’s down to 30 points now while Chloe’s at
100!
“What’s Chloe doing that’s got you so hooked? Sounds like she’s definitely gonna be your bride in two months.“]
“Don’t you think Seraphina might lose it if she finds out the truth? She’s been head–over–heels for you for seven years.”
Damon’s voice was casual, almost bored:
“Chloe deserves every one of those 100 points. She’s young, amazing in bed, knows how to keep me happy, and doesn’t nag“]
“If Seraphina had even half of what Chloe brings to the table, I wouldn’t be scoring her so low.”
Someone asked: “So when you marry Chloe, you’re really gonna cut things off with Seraphina?”
He chuckled darkly: “Cut things off? Why would I do that? Hook up with her every few days she’s easy to manipulate. Perfect mistress material.”
My heart felt like it was being ripped apart by wild animals. The pain was so intense I was literally shaking.
That’s when it hit me just how absolutely rotten the man I’d loved for seven years really was.]
I didn’t hesitate to dial 911:
“My ex–boyfriend stole a hundred thousand dollars from me. I need help getting it back!
The cops showed up pretty quickly. When I walked into that private room with them, Damon’s face looked like he’d swallowed a dead fly.
He glared at me for the longest time:]
“How far are you planning to take this tantrum? All because I didn’t
after you when you stormed out?”
I stared right back at him, my voice ice cold:
“I don’t need you to chase me. We’re done. Just give me my money back.“]
He laughed bitterly: “Your money? Fine, you want money?”
He then slammed a bank card down on the table: “There’s two hundred grand in there – take it!“]
His buddies tried smoothing things over with the cops, saying it was just a couple’s fight that didn’t need police intervention.[]
Feeling completely, humiliated, I grabbed the money and left.
Behind me, I heard one of his friends say in disbelief:
“Seraphina’s usually so sweet and gentle. What the hell happened to make her call the cops on Damon? This is crazy!“]
That evening, my mom called to lecture me:]
“Damon told me everything. You really need to get that temper under control and stop being so paranoid about him and that sales girl.“]
“And hitting people is completely unacceptable! Damon asked me to tell you once you’ve cooled off, just come home. You two are getting married soon. Stop this nonsense.”
Mom absolutely adored him and had already mentally locked him in as her son–in–law.
Over the years, Damon had been great to her holiday gifts, regular check–in calls, the whole nine yards.
She basically treated him like her own son, so whenever we had problems, she always took his side.
“We broke up.”
Mom didn’t believe me and launched into this whole speech, convinced I was just saying things in anger like I always did.
♡00
