“Alright, don’t be mad anymore. I only see Brandon as a younger brother. Our professor personally called and asked me to look after him. How could I say no?”
I didn’t know if she truly meant it or was just feeding me another excuse; I’d heard that line too many times.
Every time she consoled me, she treated Brandon even better. She spent more time with him than with me. Her social media was flooded with photos of the two of them.
She’d often get messages from him late at night and rush out, not returning until the next morning.
Though she always gave me plausible explanations, the shadow in my heart only grew deeper. Still, I loved her too much; I swallowed the growing cracks inside me.
It wasn’t until Mom passed away that the illusion finally shattered.
Just because she couldn’t reject a professor’s request, did that mean she had to treat him better than her fiancé?
It was never a reason. Just a lie I kept choosing to believe.
Since her heart had already changed, why should I keep clinging to her?
The next time I saw Ellie was half a month later.
She greeted me downstairs at the company with a smile.
“I told you the wedding wouldn’t be delayed. I didn’t break my promise, did I?”
“Hmm.”
I gave a casual response, my gaze shifting to Brandon beside her and the vicious dog at his side.
Brandon shot me a provocative glance, then crouched down to stroke the dog. The beast bared its teeth at me, hostility written all over its face.
Ellie giggled and scolded me playfully, “Honey, you scared it.”
Then she crouched beside Brandon, petting the dog together with him.
That scene dimmed something in my eyes.
“Oh, right!” Ellie suddenly stood up, her voice sweet and composed.
“I’ve been thinking about what happened before. Whether or not Mom provoked the dog, the fact remains that she was bitten and ended up in the hospital. Since Brandon owns the dog, he owes her an apology.”
“So, you waited for me downstairs just to have him apologize to Mom?” I asked calmly.
“Not just him, me too. What I said at the hospital that day was a bit harsh.”
I lowered my eyes to the vicious dog crouched beside Brandon, still baring its teeth at me.
“This beast is coming too?”
Brandon’s expression darkened immediately.
“Mr. Presley, you’d better watch your mouth. Ali is not a beast—she’s my best friend.”
I nodded with a calm smile.
“You’re right. Dogs are, indeed, a dog’s best friend.”
“You—!”
Brandon’s finger jabbed the air as his face flushed with anger.
“Kairi, that was uncalled for,” Ellie said, her expression turning cold. “Brandon already realized his mistake and was willing to apologize, all thanks to my persuasion. If you don’t accept it, fine. But why twist the knife like this?”
Her words pierced straight through me.
Even if Mom hadn’t died, even if she had only ended up in the hospital from a dog bite, couldn’t I, at the very least, show a bit of anger toward the dog’s owner?
Why did I suddenly become the villain in her eyes?
Was Brandon that important to her, so untouchable he couldn’t bear even the slightest grievance?
Brandon put on a pitiful face.
“Senior, since Mr. Presley won’t forgive me, let’s just forget the apology. I don’t want to make things harder for you.”
“I’m leaving.”
Ellie called after him, then turned to face me. Her gaze felt unfamiliar, as if I were a stranger.
“Apologize to Brandon.”
“In your dreams.”
“Kairi Presley!”
She yelled my full name for the first time, her voice sharp with fury. It was the first time she had ever raised her voice at me.
“Why have you become like this? If you said something wrong, shouldn’t you apologize?”
“Then what about taking a life? Shouldn’t a life be repaid with another?”
Ellie froze, her expression shaken. “What did you just say?”
