Chapter 3: Suicide
Jake snapped. “Who knows? Maybe she’s insane.”
Mark looked at him intently.“Riley’s letting you go.”
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Jake scoffed. “You believe that? She’s playing hard to get. You know, for three years, I couldn’t get rid of her.”
‘Mark said, “But she left the group chat.”
Jake paused, grabbing his phone to check. Riley had indeed left. So, she meant it. She was finally done with him. He leaned back on the sofa, but strangely, he didn’t feel relieved.
Others arrived, talking about Ava’s absence and Riley’s messages.
“Hey, Riley left the group. Is she really giving up on Jake?”
“Maybe. Jake having a new girlfriend probably hurt her.”
“But it’s happened before. She would be upset and come back to Jake after a few days.”
“Let’s make a bet. How long can she hold out this time?”
Someone guessed one day, someone two, another a week.
Jake, engrossed in his phone, suddenly looked up and smirked. “I throw her a bone, and she’ll be wagging her tail in under ten minutes.”
Everyone praised his dog–training skills.
Mark scoffed, lighting a cigarette.“Dude, just let it go. Ava is a million times better than Riley The door burst open.“Crap!”
Everyone looked
- up. It was Jake’s cousin, Ethan Perry.
Jake was annoyed.“What happened?”
“It’s Riley. She…” Ethan stammered, panicked.
Jake impatiently interrupted.“What did she do?”
Ethan shoved his phone at Jake.“I saw this on TikTok.”
Jake took the phone and saw a local video. It showed Riley sitting on the Harbor View Bridge, popular spot. She was staring blankly ahead.
The setting sun cast a golden halo around her, making her look like a fragile porcelain doll, abandoned and vulnerable. Her eyes were empty, devoid of hope and life. The wind ruffled her hair, but couldn’t take away the sadness and despair on her face. She sat silently, like a beautiful yet tragic picture, evoking pity.
Jake’s brow furrowed. He cursed under his breath. Damn it. He knew this crazy woman wouldn’t give up. Now she was using suicide to get his attention.
Someone said, “Is she trying to kill herself because Jake dumped her?”
“Damn, she’s terrifying.”
“She’s like a ghost you can’t get rid of.”
Jake angrily threw the phone back to Ethan, running a hand through his hair. He couldn’t shake the memory of his first encounter with Riley, which was also on the Harbor View Bridge. She’d
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Chapter 3: Suicide
been sitting just like this.
Unease gnawed at him. He stood abruptly, kicking the coffee table, and strode towards the door. Mark watched Jake leave, then glared at Ethan.“You idiot, why’d you show him that?”
Ethan looked confused.“Shouldn’t I?”
Mark ignored him and followed Jake.
When Jake arrived, Riley was already off the railing. She was leaning against it and gazing into the distance. Jake’s face hardened as he strode towards her. Then, he grabbed her arm and dragged her away.
In a small grove, Riley broke free.“What are you doing?”
Jake was furious.“Riley, are you crazy?”
Riley frowned.“You’re the crazy one! Your whole family is crazy!”
Jake stared at her in disbelief. He couldn’t believe the usually gentle girl would talk back like that. Then it hit him, a cynical smirk spreading across his face.
“Riley, this is just another manipulative tactic, right? You pretended to committed suicide to get my attention.”
Riley looked at him, puzzled.“Are
of you out
your mind?”
Jake laughed, his eyes filled with disdain.“Even if you died in front of me, I wouldn’t love you. Stop using suicide to threaten me.”
Riley understood. What an arrogant man…
She didn’t bother explaining, turning to leave. Jake reacted instantly, grabbing her hand.“What the hell do you want? If you do this again, I…”
Riley cut him off.“I’m letting you go and I mean it. I wish you happy with Ava.” Jake’s face was as cold as an iceberg.“Dare you say that again.”
Riley sighed, looking at his face. It was the same as the one she remembered. She thought she was strong enough to look him in the face and say something terrible, but she
was wrong.
“You know what? I’m leaving this city at the end of the year. I wish you and Ava
All he heard was that she was leaving.
No, it was impossible. Jake didn’t believe it. She loved him so much, and she was only saying that. because she was jealous of Ava. She was trying to make him dump Ava. Jake gnashed his teeth and glared at the girl in front of him.“Fine. Why don’t you get the fuck out of here now? You think I care about your ass? You’re just as cheap as a dog.”
Riley didn’t look sad or unhappy. She’d already grown immune to these words. Jake was right, and sometimes she would feel guilty.
“Whatever.” She turned to leave.
The next second, Jake pulled her back against a ginkgo tree and leaned in to kiss her. Before his lips touched hers, she pushed him away, slapping him hard across the face. Jake was stunned, his hand on his cheek. He was staring at her in disbelief.
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Chapter 3: Suicide
He gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing.“Riley, you’re asking for it.”
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Riley looked at the red mark on his cheek, her heart aching.“I’m sorry. Does it hurt?”
She reached out to touch his face, but he slapped her hand away.
“Riley, don’t regret this. I’m done with you.”
He turned and left.
‘Riley went back to her dorm. Her roommates were out. Riley sat at her desk, opening a drawer. At the bottom, she found a picture. It was a candid shot of a man in a white T–shirt and black pants, leaning against a ginkgo tree. He had caught her taking the photo and was looking up at the camera.
As Riley stared at the photo, tears streamed down her face. She gently touched the picture.“Liam, he doesn’t resemble you at all.”
She knew she’d never see Liam again. He died five years ago.
