8
Time passed quickly. I settled into my new job.
Sometimes, during a break, I would find myself looking at the corner where he used to sit. Many people
came and went, but that quiet figure never reappeared.
Mandy posted frequently on her social media. Steve often made an appearance. Sometimes I would run into our mutual friends. At first, they would tell me that Steve had been asking about me. But I ignored them, and eventually, they stopped.
Just before the big case was set to go to trial, Steve returned.
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16:02
He came to find me immediately, laden with expensive gifts.
“Merrin, I brought these back for you from my trip.”
He offered them to me, a rare hint of caution in his excited expression.
“And don’t listen to the rumors. There’s nothing going on between me and Mandy.”
“My parents just like her, so they invited her to stay for a few days.”
“Merrin, you’re not mad anymore, are you?”
For a moment, I was dazed. I had almost forgotten that Steve could be like this. In the beginning, he had been so passionate. But as the love faded, he had grown arrogant, always holding the upper hand.
But if I no longer loved him, what power did he have?
“I’ll pick you up for the trial tomorrow,” he said, as if it were a done deal. I just smiled and let him talk.
“Merrin? You smiled. You’re not mad anymore, right?”
That familiar, smug smile returned to his handsome face. He stepped forward to hug me, but I stepped back.
“I’m sorry, I’ve already resigned. You can have Mandy handle the case.”
“You’re still mad? I never even saw that resignation letter, so it doesn’t count.”
He frowned, clearly displeased. “I’ve already backed down twice. I…”
“No,” I said slowly. “I’m not mad anymore. I just don’t love you.”
Steve was stunned. It was the first time I had ever seen that expression on his face. Shock, followed by a wave of panic and unease, and finally, a pale, disbelieving horror.
“You’re lying, aren’t you? If this is about Mandy, I’ll call her right now and make it clear.”
“I’ll tell her to never bother me again.”
He pulled out his phone, his hand trembling. But I stopped him.
‘Don’t. It doesn’t matter. Steve, your life has nothing to do with me anymore.”
gave him a genuine smile. “Let’s not see each other again.”
1…”
His voice, carried on the evening wind, sounded desolate and shaky.
didn’t stop. I didn’t look back.
Steve was truly nothing more than a stranger to me now.
Later, I would occasionally see Leo in court. He had passed the bar exam. His presence in the courtroom
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Chapter 2
always caused a stir. Many women were interested in him, and my colleagues often talked about him, I lear- ned a lot about him from their chatter. He was hardworking, had given up a life of privilege to move to our city. Everyone assumed he was just slumming it for the experience. He was polite and kind, but he gently turned down every advance.
I never joined in the conversation. Some people are just like that, I thought. They dazzle you for a moment and then leave an indelible mark. But that’s all.
Autumn arrived, and with it, my birthday.
Steve showed up at my door again. And to my surprise, Mandy was with him.
The moment she saw me, her eyes, red and puffy, shot daggers at me. But she quickly looked down and started sobbing quietly.
Steve looked thinner, more haggard. He was holding a large bouquet of my favorite flowers.
“Merrin, it’s your birthday. I don’t mean anything by it, I just wanted to celebrate with you.”
He offered me the flowers, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
“You should go. My friends will be celebrating with me. And please, don’t come back. You could come a hundred times, and it wouldn’t make a difference.”
“Steve, I’ll say it again. I don’t love you anymore.”
“I don’t believe you. Merrin, you said you were a one-man woman. That you would love someone for a lifeti-
me.”
The flowers fell from his hands, but he grabbed my sleeve and wouldn’t let go.
“Stop harassing me. Let go!”
“I won’t. You can’t do this to me.”
“You can’t sentence me to death over one little thing. It’s not fair.”
I struggled to pull away, but he only held on tighter.
Just as I was about to panic, someone came over and pushed Steve away.
“She told you to let go. Didn’t you hear her?”
I clutched my bruised wrist and looked up. It was Leo. He glanced at me and then stood in front of me, shie-
Iding me.
Steve’s gaze fell on Leo’s face. After a few seconds, he let out a sneer.
“I knew it. Merrin, you liar. You fraud.”
“You just wanted to be with him, that’s why you were so determined to break up with me.”
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16.02 3
Chapter 2
“You were cheating on me, weren’t you…”
“So why pretend to be the victim? You slut…”
Before he could finish, a fist connected with his face.
The hazy glow of the streetlamp fell on Leo’s face. It was as cold as frost as he stared at Steve. “Say one
more word.”
Steve, never one to back down, immediately fought back. Leo, who looked so slender and refined, was surpr- isingly strong. After a few exchanges, Steve was clearly losing. But Leo had also taken a few hits. I was so
scared I froze.
It wasn’t until a few security guards rushed over that I snapped out of it.
Leo was pulled away. Steve wiped the blood from his face, his eyes burning with hatred as he stared at Leo. “Hit a nerve, did I? You like her, don’t you?”
“What kind of man goes after someone else’s girlfriend? You act all high and mighty, but you’re just a scum-
bag.”
“You and Merrin, a couple of liars. You’re perfect for each other…”
“Steve!” I stepped forward and raised my hand. The sharp slap echoed in the night air. Tears streamed down my face.
“I truly regret ever loving a scumbag like you.”
