Chapter 3
Austin glanced at me briefly, then quickly looked at Emily and mumbled, “I’m sorry.”
The next moment, a strong force shoved me into Jason’s arms.
I stumbled, barely managing to stay upright thanks to Jason catching me in time.
In the commotion, my jacket slipped to the ground. The collar fell open, exposing the marks on my chest to everyone in the room.
anily Karson’s face darkened as she sneered, “Truly someone who’s for everyone to take.”
I hastily pulled my clothes tighter, my gaze landing on Austin Colson.
His brows furrowed, as if silently questioning why I hadn’t dressed properly and was now making
Emily upset.
These were all our friends. Being with him was impossible, but the blatant humiliation in front of everyone made me feel like I had fallen into an icy abyss.
It was as though something inside me shattered completely with that single push.
I stood up, humiliated, amidst the sympathetic or mocking gazes of those around me. I grabbed a glass of wine from the table, tears brimming in my eyes, and flung it straight at Austin’s face.
The wine drenched him, and he stood there, stunned, staring at me as if in disbelief.
I glared coldly at Emily. “Hold on to your trash and enjoy your life together!”
With that, I turned and strode out of the room.
The moment the door shut behind me, the tears I had been holding back finally streamed down my
face.
Footsteps followed quickly behind me, and a large hand grabbed my arm.
I hadn’t expected Austin to chase after me.
I struggled wildly, shaking off his hand and screaming at him to leave me alone.
How could he treat me like this? Was it because I loved him?
A Love Left Behind Embracing a Better
2.15
He held onto me as tears streaked down my face, his voice hesitant.
“Why are you crying? Don’t tell me… you actually love me?”
1 looked at his troubled expression, forcing down the pain in my heart.
With a bitter laugh, I said, “Don’t worry, I’m not that foolish!”
He seemed relieved, letting out a small sigh.
“Catherine, about the ring–you engraved names on it, why didn’t you tell me? Emily misunderstood. Come with me and apologize to her. Let’s just forget about everything that happened today.”
Booked at him, and suddenly, he felt so unfamiliar to me.
Where had the boy gone who used to protect me, who always stood in front of me no matter what?
I laughed through my tears, then raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. Without a second thought, I turned and ran.
I didn’t go home immediately, fearing my parents would notice something was wrong stayed at Lexi’s place for the night.
Instead, I
Lexi was a mutual friend of mine and Austin’s–a witness to what I once thought was love.
She used to say that I made her believe in love because of Austin and me..
Childhood sweethearts, growing up together over ten years, finally ending up together.
For the past year of living together, Austin and I had been the “perfect couple” in the eyes of our friends. Though Austin always smiled and said nothing, never once acknowledging our relationship,
But to everyone, I was always referred to as “Mrs. Colson.”
Austin celebrated every important holiday with me. We went to concerts together, took photo booth. pictures, watched movies, strolled through the streets, and shared the same cup of milk tea.
I had lost count of the times I put our birthdays together online to calculate the best wedding date.
I had even secretly saved countless baby photos, dreaming of the day we could have a healthy, adorable child together.
But……
- Behind:
Better Future
3
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It turned out that all of this was just my delusion.
After
hang my recount, Lexi was so furious she wanted to blow up in our shared group chat.
But when she opened it, she discovered the group owner had been changed–to Emily Karson.
The group’s original name, “Friends Forever,” had been changed to “Austin LOVE Emily.”
Austin was in the chat sending out red envelopes, asking everyone to add Emily as a contact.
He emphasized, “She’s your real sister–in–law now, don’t forget to update her name in your notes.”
Lexi searched around and realized I had been kicked out of the group.
Outraged, she exclaimed, “You were the one who created that group! Austin is going too far!”
I checked my phone
- sure enough, saw a message from Emily, sent using Austin’s account:
“Catherine, I removed you from the group. Please don’t message my boyfriend again.”
I let out a bitter laugh and, as she wished, deleted Austin from my contacts.
Life had to go on. After taking a day to rest, I returned home.
