“I—”
Her fake-sweet tone left me speechless with rage. Just then, Ryan walked over.
I shouted at him,
“Ryan, what the hell is going on with those photos? You promised me they’d never leave your phone!”
Ryan blinked in confusion.
“Huh? What photos? Sophia, what kind of crazy tantrum are you throwing first thing in the morning?”
Even now, he dared to play dumb. Fury boiled in me as I shoved my phone in his face, showing the trending topic.
His eyes widened in shock.
“That’s impossible! Those photos were—”
He didn’t finish, because Emily suddenly dropped a glass.
Her face was pale, stricken.
“What do you mean, Ryan? Those photos of Sophia… you took them? What exactly is your relationship with her?”
Instantly, I was forgotten. Ryan clutched Emily’s hand, panicked.
“No way! Sophia and I have nothing at all! Those photos—she must’ve taken them herself, being reckless. Don’t be upset, Emily!”
She frowned, suspicious.
“Really?”
“Of course! Sophia’s always been wild, playing around. That’s why I hate being associated with her!”
“Emily, you’re the only one in my heart. These past seven years while you were away, I never even dated anyone else. Isn’t that proof enough of how I feel about you?”
Emily finally softened, but I stood there stunned, as if struck by lightning.
Reckless?
Self-taken?
Promiscuous?
I never imagined such words would come out of Ryan’s mouth.
My eyes burned red as I glared at him.
“Ryan, say it again. Are you really claiming I took those pictures myself?”
Of course, he didn’t dare.
He looked away, trying to sound firm.
“Enough, Sophia. Stop dragging this out. It’s getting pathetic.”
Pathetic?
I staggered back, then laughed bitterly. Like a madwoman, I grabbed his collar, demanding he admit the truth.
In the struggle, Emily suddenly shrieked and fell to the floor.
“Sophia, why did you push me?”
“When did I—”
Before I could finish, a burning pain struck my face.
Ryan had slapped me.
“Enough! Sophia, will you ever stop?!”
I froze.
So did Ryan, staring at his own hand as if in shock.
“Sophia, I didn’t mean to—”
But he stopped short. Because I had ripped off the family heirloom pendant from my neck—the birthday gift he gave me ten years ago—and hurled it to the floor.
I had treasured it, never once taking it off.
Now it lay shattered in two.
“Ryan, I’m done. This ends here.”
I turned and walked away, my face drained of all strength.
Faintly, I heard Emily asking if he wanted to chase after me.
Ryan said no.
“It’s her fault. She’ll come back begging soon enough. No point wasting time on someone who doesn’t matter.”
But Ryan was wrong.
This time, I would never return.
When I got home, my parents called.
They asked about the photos online, and I had no choice but to tell them everything about the past seven years with Ryan.
My father was furious, ready to storm to the Carter family to demand justice, but I stopped him.
