I Crossed the World for Him, But He Chose Her Chapter 03
When he asked me to bring his workout clothes in later, I caught him hurriedly flipping his phone screen-side down.
He gave me a thin, slightly bitter smile. “Thanks.”
Then he slammed the door shut.
I stood there.
From inside, Mia’s laughter carried through. “God, why are we sneaking around like we’re having an affair?”
Dante drawled lazily, “You know how she is. Keeps score over every little thing.”
Mia giggled, lowering her voice. “Dante, show me your abs again. I didn’t get a good look.”
Dante pretended to be offended. “Pervert.”
I walked away before I could hear more.
An hour passed before Dante emerged, cheeks flushed, eyes glazed.
Clearly riding some kind of high.
Before the lights went out, he reached for me.
I pushed him away. My voice was flat.
“There aren’t any condoms here.”
Dante blinked, then blurted out:
“Mia said you’re safe this week…”
I stared at him. Nausea crawled up my throat.
“You discussed our sex life with her?”
“No, that’s not…” He realized what he’d said and raked a hand through his hair. “She’s not a stranger, Jo.”
I looked at him. His defensiveness, his excuses, the way he placed her comfort above mine.
In this relationship, I was the outsider.
“You’re sleeping in the guest room.”
He gaped. “Over this? I flew across an ocean, cleared three problems off my plate just to carve out time…”
“To sleep with me? That’s why you came?”
His stare went blank, jaw clenched, anger kindling behind his eyes.
It felt like the perfect moment to end things. I opened my mouth to finish it.
But he turned and slammed the bedroom door shut.
I closed my mouth, turned off the light, and went to sleep.
I slept deeply.
When I woke, Mr. Solentino had already sent the flight details: [Arriving tomorrow at noon. Don’t be late.]
I replied with a quick [Understood], got up, and started my morning routine.
The instant I pushed open the bathroom door…
A sharp scream.
I stumbled backward.
A blurred figure scrambled past me. Mia, wrapped in nothing but a towel, hair still dripping.
Dante yanked the door open, glaring at me like I was the one trespassing.
“Ever heard of knocking?!”
For a split second, I felt like an undercover agent who’d walked into a mob sit-down uninvited.
“Why is Mia here?” I asked coldly, my gaze sweeping over Mia’s bare shoulder, where a fresh scratch mark stood out against her skin.
Dante shrugged, his tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather. “She said she missed you. I figured since you’re always so busy, she could keep you company.”
I’d rented this house for two years. Mia had never once visited.
The moment Dante arrived, she suddenly “missed” me.
I said nothing.
Mia drifted out, passing me without so much as a glance, and slid onto a stool at the kitchen island with the lazy confidence of someone who owned the place.
Dante set a plate in front of her. A perfect soft-boiled egg, the yolk trembling like some kind of coy invitation.
Mia took a bite and let out a satisfied moan. “God, you remembered. Runny, just how I like it. Unlike some people, who are so picky about everything.”
A smug little smile tugged at the corner of Dante’s mouth. He was clearly enjoying being worshipped.
Then he pushed a second plate toward me. Another soft-boiled egg.
“I’m not playing favorites. But you’re one of them too.”
My fork hovered in midair. Six years, and he’d never once remembered that I didn’t eat runny eggs.
“Dante! Carry me in ranked later!” Mia playfully kicked his shin, her thigh pressed tight against his.
As she leaned in, her loose shirt fell open. Nothing underneath.
Dante’s expression stiffened for a fraction of a second, and he shifted away without a sound.
I set my fork down silently, turned, and looked straight at Mia.
“Did I mention? We’re not friends anymore.”