My Best Friend Stole My Cheating Boyfriend, I Called It Double Blessing Chapter 09
Her voice came out hoarse. “I got fired. MyÂ
reputation’s trashed. I pulled all–nighters workingÂ
beside Nathan. I schemed to push you out.”Â
“And still, in his eyes, I’m nothing. You didn’t lift aÂ
finger, and somehow you’re the innocent one. TheÂ
whole world sees it. You left. You moved on. AndÂ
I’m still the one who lost everything.”Â
I watched her quietly and shook my head. “I neverÂ
competed with you. I always knew you wereÂ
smarter and more capable than me. You wereÂ
always impressive.”Â
Hearing that, her rigid spine finally curved. The proud mask cracked. Her shoulders shook, andÂ
her voice turned wet. “How is that fair, Eve? How do you get to just float through life without trying? How do you get parents who actually believe in you–and a guy like Nathan, loving you for over aÂ
decade?”Â
“Me? I had to claw and scrape just to get myself through school. And now you’re gone, and Nathan still won’t look at me. I’m the one who can actually help him. I’m the one who belongs next to him.”Â
The tears streamed faster. She just kept repeating,Â
“It’s not fair. It’s so unfair.”Â
I let her finish. Then I spoke. “Chloe, your pain hasÂ
nothing to do with me.”Â
She lifted her head, stunned.Â
“But was it fair for you to use work as an excuse toÂ
pull Nathan closer and closer to you? If this is theÂ
only reason you came, please leave.”Â
She clenched her fists, her voice dropping toÂ
barely a whisper. “Then… can I ever come see yourÂ
again? Maybe if I’m in the area…”Â
“Don’t. It’s too far. There’s no need.”Â
She stood silent for a long time. Then she wipedÂ
her face with the back of her hand, straightenedÂ
her back, and turned away. Sunlight fell across her lonely, retreating figure. This time, she didn’t lookÂ
back.Â
She didn’t rattle me. A few days later, I came home to find my mom holding out a registration form. AÂ
dance competition.Â
“Eve, give it a shot. Your aunt won’t stop braggingÂ
that her daughter got first in piano. Get me aÂ
trophy too.”Â
was, her face went cold.Â
“Mrs. Thompson, I’m here to see Eve.” Nathan’s voice scraped low with humility.Â
My mom blocked the doorway, arms crossed.Â
“She doesn’t need to see you. Go home. Don’tÂ
come again.”Â
Nathan refused to budge. I got up, walked over, gently stopped my mom from arguing, and stepped outside, pulling the door shut behind me.Â
“Eve.” His eyes clung to me. He was holding a load of gift bags. “I fired Chloe. I got the bag I gave her back. I’ll spend every birthday with you from nowÂ
on.”Â
He spoke fast. “I watched you dance today. YouÂ
were breathtaking. You gave all of that up for meÂ
once. I forgot every promise I ever made you.”Â
He stepped closer, his gaze desperate and raw.Â
“I’ve regretted it every day for months. Eve, can youÂ
please give me one more chance? Can we startÂ
over?”Â
I shook my head. “No, Nathan. It’s too late.Â
Nobody is irreplaceable. You need to moveÂ
forward.”Â
His face went white. He started to say somethingÂ
else, but right then, the door opened behind me.Â
Owen stepped out and slid his arm around myÂ
shoulders.Â
“Eve, your mom says dinner’s ready.”Â
Nathan’s eyes locked onto Owen’s arm holdingÂ
- me. His voice shook.Â
“Eve… who is he?”Â
I looked up at Owen and took his hand. Then I turned back to Nathan and smiled, bright andÂ
sweet.Â
“My boyfriend. Owen.”
