Chapter 4

Jonathan called me once I left the group chat. He ordered, “Ruth, get over here this instant.”

“Where?” I asked.

“You know where. Our usual spot.”

“Is something the matter?”

“I want you to apologize to Evelyn.”

“What do I have to apologize for?”

“Do you know what our friends will think of Evelyn now that you’ve suddenly left the group chat?” Jonathan sounded tense and assertive. “I don’t want others to speak ill of her. I’m the one who likes her and wants to make it known that she’s my girl.

“Evelyn is innocent. She shouldn’t have to bear the horrible title of ‘homewrecker’ because of your reckless and impulsive actions.”

I said I would never let his actions affect my emotions anymore. Yet, I still felt so upset by his words that my chest began to hurt. Even my fingers trembled as they held my phone up.

My voice shook too. “You can’t threaten me like that, Jonathan. What right do you have to threaten me? You betrayed me first! I didn’t try to settle the score with you. Instead, I even congratulated you. Is that still not enough?”

I held back my tears with all my might, but I couldn’t stop my voice from sounding tremulous and nasally.

Silence briefly hung between us before he said, “I can let it slide this once, Ruth. However, I hope you remember that Evelyn’s innocent in this. Don’t you dare upset or hurt her.”

He hung up after that.

I slumped onto the carpet. Every muscle in my body trembled. The framed photo of my late mother sat on my bedside, her loving gaze casting onto me.

Tears flooded my face all at once, and I ran over to hug the photo tightly.

I pressed my face against Mom’s, our faces separated by a thin glass. Tears wouldn’t stop flowing from my eyes to the photo. It made it seem like she was also crying because I was in despair.

By then, I no longer wanted to cry. I refused to let Mom, who was in heaven, know I was sad.

I planned to wait until Mom’s death anniversary passed. Then, I would take the inheritance Mom had left for me and leave Pinehelm City for good. I would never come back to this place again.