On the first day we got back together, Julian posted a photo of me on his Instagram for the first time. He tossed the phone to me, acting like he was doing me a huge favor: "Satisfied now?" "Don't break up with me over such small things next time." I looked at the so-called "beautiful photo" that I used to beg him to post. My heart felt nothing. Suddenly, I realized... I don't think I love him anymore. Chapter 1 Seeing me stare at the post, Julian rubbed his brow irritably: "I hid it from Lila. You know her condition. If she finds out we're back together, she'll get worse." Only then did I notice the little icon below the post indicating specific people were blocked. So, he hid it from Lila. Rarely, I didn't feel sad or angry. Just a bit... speechless. "You and Lila aren't related by blood. She's just your stepsister." "If you really like her, I can let you go. Be together." The moment the words left my mouth, I startled myself. Ever since I discovered Lila had feelings for Julian beyond sibling love, I had been fighting her. I never gave her a break, let alone "blessed" them. Even this breakup was because Lila got sick and demanded Julian play her boyfriend for a day. She demanded he post her photo, or she wouldn't do the surgery. When I found out, Julian was as calm as ever, sure I wouldn't leave: "It's just a photo. We didn't do anything. Stop being unreasonable." I cried and broke up. He just said "Whatever." Because he knew I chased him for years and never gave up. He knew I'd come back. But I clearly felt it. This time, it was different. Maybe my tone was too calm. Julian stared at me for a while, frowning deeply. When he spoke again, his voice softened: "I didn't think it through. I ignored your feelings. I'll delete it and repost." "No need..." Ignoring my objection, he deleted the post blocking Lila and uploaded a photobooth picture of us. Openly visible to everyone. But instead of sweetness, I felt a strange annoyance rising in my chest. Sure enough, within half an hour, Lila stormed from her dorm to Julian's apartment. Chapter 2 It was freezing tonight, yet Lila wore a thin white dress. Opening the door, I saw her face, pale as paper. Julian immediately grabbed a coat and wrapped it around her: "Are you crazy? Wearing so little?" She didn't speak, just stood there, looking at Julian stubbornly. A moment later, she "fainted." I watched Julian carry her to the sofa in a panic, taking her temperature, wiping her face with a hot towel. The "unconscious" Lila opened her eyes slightly and gave me a provocative smirk. In the past, I would have screamed. But now, I just silently opened a game of League of Legends. The room was quiet, except for the game sounds: "Double Kill," "Triple Kill," "Ace." When I got a Pentakill with Jinx, I finally put down my phone. Lila "woke up." Both of them looked at me with complex expressions. Julian hesitated: "It's raining hard. I want Lila to stay the night." "Okay." I agreed readily. Julian's face looked bad. Until I added: "I'm going back to my dorm." He seemed relieved. "Chloe, don't throw a tantrum now. Lila can't get wet. She has surgery next week." He added: "You sleep with Lila in the bedroom. I'll take the couch." That was exactly what I feared. Last Christmas, Julian took me home. Short on rooms, I shared one with Lila. Lila talked in her sleep all night, calling Julian's name over and over. I didn't sleep a wink. That was when I discovered her feelings. But the rain was getting heavier. As soon as I stepped out, the wind blew my umbrella away. I returned to the apartment silently. Seeing my mess, Julian looked amused and pained. He grabbed a towel to dry my hair: "Told you not to be stubborn..." I dodged his hand gently: "I can do it myself." Julian's hand froze in mid-air. Chapter 3 I thought it would be another sleepless night, but Lila was quiet. I highly suspected she faked the sleep-talking last time just to disgust me. Midnight. I got up for water and found the person next to me gone. Light seeped from the living room door crack. Whispers. I walked to the door. "You said you never look back. Why get back with her? What am I?" Lila's voice carried a sob. "I only see you as a sister." "Sister?" Lila sneered. "You date your sister? Hug her? Kiss her?" Julian's reply was calm and cruel: "That's in the past." "Since Mom found out and died of a heart attack, we were over." My heart skipped a beat. No wonder they always had that weird intimacy. They dated. Lila sobbed, looking up and meeting my eyes through the crack. A strange light flashed in her eyes. "Julian." She lifted her chin: "Just tonight. Don't push me away. From tomorrow, you are just my brother." I saw Julian stiffen. As she leaned in to kiss him, I silently raised my phone. Intending to record it. But I forgot to turn off the flash and sound. Click. Julian turned sharply, meeting my eyes. Chapter 4 He pushed Lila away instantly and strode over: "Chloe, listen to me—" I didn't stop recording, pointing the camera at his eyes: "Explain. I'm listening." Confusion flashed in his eyes: "What is this?" I turned to leave. Julian grabbed my wrist. "When Mom found out about us, she had a heart attack and died. Her dying wish was for me to take care of Lila as a brother." He took a deep breath. His vow was recorded clearly: "Being with Lila is the biggest regret of my life. Chloe, the only one I like now is you." My gaze drifted to Lila, who sat on the floor, face pale. "Julian..." Her pleading whisper didn't get a glance from him. As if she couldn't hold on anymore, she ran out crying. This time, Julian didn't chase her. He said: "I was wrong before. Mom's wish made Lila push boundaries. I gave her the chance to hurt you. Sorry. Never again." Julian held my hand gently. The warmth I used to crave passed through his palm. But my heart was strangely calm. Even scornful. I didn't believe Julian would cut ties with Lila. As long as they contacted, as long as Lila loved him, it would be a mess. ... I guessed right. Lila bombarded me with harassment messages for days. She sent me a burner Twitter account. Full of records of their secret relationship three years ago. "See? We kissed watching Titanic. We prayed at the temple to be together forever. He worked part-time for a month to buy me this bag..." She sent a smug emoji: "Did he do any of this for you?" I sent her Julian's audio recording. [Being with Lila is the biggest regret of my life. Chloe, the only one I like now is you.] Lila broke down: "He's lying! He promised on the Ferris wheel he'd only love me!" I sent the audio again. Lila raged: "You are just his excuse to avoid me! Because you're an orphan and chased him for three years, he pitied you!" I copied the audio again. Lila: "..." Finally, she blocked me. I stared at the red exclamation mark, thoughts drifting. Two months ago, Titanic re-released. I bought tickets, excited to go with Julian. I waited all day. He never showed. Next day, I blocked him at his apartment: "Lila had a piano competition. I went with her." Seeing my red eyes, he scolded cold: "Don't call so much when you can't reach me. You almost distracted Lila." I remembered again. Maybe because I cried too hard that day. To make up for it, Julian agreed to go to the temple with me. On the way, Lila called, scared of a health checkup. Julian ditched me and took a taxi to the hospital: "Lila is afraid of needles. I have to go." Walking back alone, I saw Lila's Instagram. A photo of a diamond bracelet and medical report: "To coax me for the blood draw, Brother bought me the bracelet I wanted!" I had just reposted a lottery for that bracelet. Lila commented then: "I like it too. But I don't need luck for it." True. Whatever she wanted, Julian gave her.
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