The fourth time Devon broke up with me, his eyes were glued to another girl's tear-streaked Instagram story. "Just play along," he said, his voice low. "She has a weak heart. Can't handle any stress." I touched the faded mark on my ring finger where a promise once lived and watched him, my lips pressed into a thin line. He broke up with me every time he found a new target. That way, he said, it wasn't cheating. His friend snickered. "You really letting her go, Jules? Thea's been your little shadow since you were kids." Devon scoffed, cutting a piece of steak and holding it to my lips like I was a pet. "My Thea's the most obedient girl in the world, aren't you?" I swallowed the steak, along with the bitter taste in my mouth, and nodded. As I turned away, I heard him make a bet, his voice dripping with confidence. "Give it three days. She'll be back, hugging her pillow and begging me to take her back." My phone felt hot in my palm. A new message had just come in. 【Thea, can't you just let me be there for you?】 I wiped the corner of my mouth, erasing the last trace of pepper sauce, and typed a single word. 【Okay.】 1 The moment the message sent, my phone rang. Every head in the room, including Devon’s, turned to me. Before I could even answer, his friend let out a derisive laugh. "Whoa, I didn't even know she had a phone. I thought our little Thea, with her social anxiety and all, just stayed locked up in her tower." "No joke, man. If I hadn't heard that ringer, I would've sworn her only hobby was staring at the front door, waiting for Devon to come home." "Oh, shit. Then she must've seen my comment on Devon's post about Lana's ballet performance. The one where I said you two were soulmates. Hope we didn't hurt your feelings, Thea." The table erupted in laughter. I stood there, clutching my phone, feeling small and helpless. When he’d had his laugh, Devon tapped his wine glass with a silver fork. "Alright, that's enough. You keep bullying my Thea like that, and you'll have to deal with me." "Right, right. Devon loves his girl the most." "He may play the field, but Thea's the one who's always there." Their mocking eyes darted toward me, each glance a physical sting. A cold dread washed over me, and I turned to flee. Devon’s hand shot out, grabbing my arm. His other hand went to my neck, yanking off the silver chain I always wore. "Lana loves vintage things. You don't mind if I let her borrow this for a bit, do you?" His fingernail dug into the half-healed burn on my skin. I’d gotten it two days ago, making soup for him. He didn’t notice the slight wince of pain, just gave me a roguish, charming grin. I looked down at the locket in his palm. Tucked inside was a tiny, folded note he'd written for me on my eighteenth birthday. 【Thea is my life. I love Thea.】 He had given me the chain itself when I was fifteen, on a night of flash floods. He’d carried me on his back out of our collapsing apartment building, and later, he found the chain to soothe my frayed nerves. It was all his, really. What right did I have to say no? "Be my guest." His friend burst out laughing again. "She's always so agreeable. You're a lucky man, Devon." The air grew thick, suffocating. I wrenched my arm free and ran. I could still hear their booming laughter as the private dining room door swung shut behind me. The call had disconnected. A string of texts followed. 【Thea?】 【What happened? Why aren't you answering?】 I slid down the cool hallway wall, tears blurring my vision. But I bit my lip, hard. I refused to cry for him again. The "Lana" they were talking about was Lana Thorne, a dance major still in college. Three months ago, Devon had been an honored guest at his alma mater's centennial celebration. He’d seen her and been instantly captivated. He pursued her relentlessly, showering her with designer bags and luxury cars. He even gave her our promise token. It was a simple red cord bracelet I had braided myself, staying up for a week straight. I had even gone to a special retreat in the mountains to get the thread, hoping to imbue it with blessings. For years, even as it faded, he had never taken it off. But this time, he gave my heart away so easily. Last night, Lana had finally agreed to be with him, on one condition: she wouldn't be the other woman. So, Devon broke up with me. Again. He swore it was just to fool the girl, that his heart belonged only to me. I had tolerated his cheating, his distractions, a thousand times before. But this time, I was really letting go. My phone buzzed again. I pulled it out. 【Thea? Answer me, please. Don't make me worry.】 I took a deep breath, composing myself, and typed. 【Elias, I'm ready for a home now.】 Elias’s call came through instantly. I could imagine his excitement, and I knew that in the heat of the moment, people do impulsive things. So I let it ring and sent him a text instead. 【Focus on your business trip. Securing that new equipment for the hospital is too important. No mistakes.】 His reply was instantaneous. 【Yes, ma'am! Counting the seconds until I'm back. Wait for me!】 I let out a small, watery laugh, and the tears I’d been holding back fell like broken pearls. After the "breakup," I didn't go back to the house I shared with Devon. I checked into a hotel. Sleep didn't come easy. In my dreams, Devon flickered between an angel and a demon. We were childhood sweethearts, our families equals in business. Our parents had always planned for us to marry. We fell in love for real when we were older. But then, a cruel twist of fate—a car accident that stole my parents and sent my family's business into a nosedive. Even though Devon and I had already had our engagement party and set a wedding date, his parents suddenly refused to acknowledge me. But back then, Devon was completely devoted. He fought with his parents, determined to be with me. But after my parents' death, I shut down. I couldn't bear to be around anyone. A deep depression set in, and I developed a crippling social anxiety that often left me mute in front of strangers. Devon stayed by my side through it all, his constant presence a lifeline, always trying to make me smile. I was so moved. I thought I would follow him to the end of the earth. Halfway through the dream, the scene shifted violently. Devon had his arm around a new girl, a canary in a golden cage, and he was backing me into a corner, his words sharp and humiliating. His parents burst in, screaming at me, calling me shameless. I woke up with a gasp, heart pounding, drenched in sweat. Outside, a storm raged, thunder shaking the windows. I touched my forehead; it was burning. My phone’s notification light was blinking. It was Lana. A series of risqué selfies, taken in the bed I shared with Devon. I threw the phone aside and curled up under the covers. I don't know how long I was out, but the ringing of my phone woke me again. It was Elias. "Thea, I miss you so much. I still have another week here…" His voice was a deep, magnetic hum that made me smile. But when I tried to answer, a hoarse croak came out, startling us both. I didn't want him to worry. I lied and said I just had a small cold and had already made a doctor's appointment. He sighed in relief, then fussed over me for a few more minutes before hanging up. Worried he might call the hospital to check, I dragged myself out of bed and called a cab. By the time I ran into the emergency room, I was soaked. Before my number was even called, a group of immaculately dressed young women cornered me in the hallway. They held up their phones, live-streaming. "Hey everyone, we're Lana's girl squad, and you're not going to believe who we found! This is the home-wrecker who's trying to steal Lana's man!" "We're here today to pay our respects! Smash that like button, everyone! Let's get this home-wrecker trending!" They shoved and pushed me. I shrank against the wall, clutching my wet clothes, struggling to breathe. "Get a good look at her, people! Keep your men away from this viper!" One of them grabbed my chin, forcing my face into the camera. I tried to push them away, biting my lip in humiliation. "You bitch! How dare you fight back? We're not saying anything that isn't true!" "Lana's too nice to deal with you herself, so we'll teach you a lesson for her!" My shirt ripped. I tried desperately to cover myself, shaking my head wildly. I looked around for help, but the onlookers just watched, captivated by the drama. Just as despair set in, Devon appeared. He was backlit by the hospital lights, a savior striding toward me. A wave of relief and sorrow washed over me. "Devon..." I choked out, my voice thick with tears. "Help me..." He shot me a look of pure venom, then rushed past me to shield Lana, who was standing off to the side, silently crying. "Thea, did you have to follow her here? She just had heart surgery!" The taste of blood filled my mouth, sharper and more bitter than the day his mother had slapped me. I curled into a ball against the wall, my body shaking uncontrollably. "Devon, I don't feel well. Can you take me to see the doctor?" Lana murmured, leaning against him. Perhaps because I was so silent, Devon finally deigned to look at me. The moment his eyes met mine, Lana clutched her chest and collapsed into his arms. His attention snapped back to her. He scooped her up and strode toward the examination room, his face etched with worry. As he carried her away, Lana glanced over his shoulder and gave me a triumphant smirk. Her friends followed, chins held high. The show was over. The crowd dispersed. All I could hear was the drumming of the rain. Staring out at the storm, my mind drifted back to when I was eighteen. Devon, covered in blood, had carried me on his back to this very clinic. He was so exhausted his lips were white, and he stumbled several times, but he never loosened his grip, whispering softly in my ear. "Don't be afraid, Thea. I stabbed the guy who hurt you. I'm here. No one will ever hurt you again." His young back wasn't broad, but it was my entire world, my sanctuary. I had clung to him, my voice a faint whisper in reply. We made it to the clinic, and he collapsed before I did. The doctor checked me over. "You just have some scrapes. Your boyfriend, on the other hand… he has multiple stab wounds. The one on his side is serious. He's lucky you got here when you did." The boy who would have died for me was now protecting another woman, spewing poison at me. The image of him carrying her away shattered the memory of the boy who had once carried me. I lowered my head, no longer wanting to watch. In my heart, I said goodbye to him, and to the girl I used to be. My number was called. As I approached the examination room, I saw that the doctor on duty was a good friend of Elias's. The thought of my pathetic state getting back to Elias was unbearable. I covered my face and fled. Outside, the storm still raged. I took a cab back to the hotel, stripped off my wet clothes, and tried to bring my fever down with a cool cloth. The phone on the bathroom counter lit up. It was Devon. "Thea, where the hell are you? How did you even know Lana had a follow-up appointment today? If I hadn't gotten there in time, you would have bullied her into another heart attack!" I didn't argue. I just hung up. A second later, a notification popped up. A new post from Devon. 【A new beginning.】 The picture was of him and Lana kissing. Around her delicate, white neck was my silver chain. I liked the post. Then I unfollowed him. A message from Elias came through immediately. 【Thea, you lied to me. I called the hospital. My colleague said you never checked in. How are you feeling?】 A warmth spread through my chest. I typed and deleted several messages before finally settling on one. 【I'm fine now. Just took some fever reducer and feeling a little sleepy. Focus on your work. Don't worry about me.】 The phone went quiet. I smiled. Elias was always so considerate. The future head of the prestigious Thorne Medical Group, a man worth billions, yet he always listened to me. I had Devon to thank for meeting Elias. If it hadn't been for his constant cheating, his endless breakups for other women, the crushing weight of it all wouldn't have driven me to seek therapy. And I never would have met Dr. Elias Thorne. He was a top psychiatrist, yet he chose to see patients at his family’s private clinic out of a genuine desire to help. At first, it was just a professional relationship. He was my confidant, the one person I could talk to about the emptiness in my life. He was the only person I could talk to. As time went on, my visits became more frequent, my condition worse. Elias was baffled. In his entire career, he’d never had a patient who deteriorated under his care. It made him focus on me even more, and somewhere along the way, his professional concern blossomed into something deeper. I had rejected his advances at first. But after Devon's latest, most public betrayal, I finally saw things clearly. I accepted Elias. I waited until the sky cleared before I went back to the house. I just wanted to pack my things and leave, but when I put my key in the lock, it wouldn't turn. The lock had been changed. I stood there for a moment, stunned, and pulled out my phone to call Devon. But then the door swung open. Devon's mother stood in the entryway, flanked by a team of maids, looking at me with disdain. "Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. The trash my son finally threw out. What are you doing back here? Trying to steal something while he's not home?" My hands twisted the hem of my shirt. "Mrs. Vance, I just..." "Shut up!" She cut me off with a wave of her hand and gestured to the maids. "Throw her things out." My suitcases were tossed out onto the muddy lawn. My most prized possession, a sketchbook, landed in a puddle. Every page was filled with drawings of Devon. I had been learning to draw for ten years, all for him. But he was ashamed of my "pathetic little hobby," and he never let me tell anyone about it. Even when a well-known art critic saw some of my sketches online and offered to mentor me, Devon had belittled my talent until I gave up the opportunity. I bit my lip and knelt to rescue my drawings. As I picked up the soaked book, a piece of paper fell out from between the pages. A letter, in Elias's elegant script. "Thea's eyes are like shattered stars." I must have brought the sketchbook to one of my sessions. I had no idea when he’d slipped it in. The tears came, hot and fast. Devon's mother stood over me, her voice dripping with contempt. "What are you crying for? So unlucky! The Vance family took care of you for ten years. That's more than enough charity. Now get lost!" She shoved me, grabbing my arm and trying to drag me away. I clutched the letter, letting the mud stain my clothes, my skin, my everything. On the third day after our "breakup," Devon called. "Thea. Have you learned your lesson?" His voice was scolding. I said nothing. After a long, tense silence, he chuckled. "You're still the same. So jealous. You can't stand to see me with any other girl. I told you, I was just having a little fun. I would have come back to you when I was done. Did you have to be so vicious and go after Lana?" A lump formed in my throat. I wanted to scream, to defend myself, but the words wouldn't come. "Forget it. It's pointless trying to reason with you. Since you refuse to change, you can keep reflecting on your mistakes. When you finally realize you were wrong, I'll come back." The line went dead. I let out a bitter laugh and blocked his number. I had missed three days of work. I went to the Vance Corporation building during my lunch break to resign. But before I could even speak to my manager, the head of HR found me. She slapped a termination notice on my desk. "Mr. Vance said to give you this when you showed up," she sneered. My colleagues, who should have been at lunch, were all at their desks, watching the show. Their stares felt like physical blows, and I found it hard to breathe again. I scrambled to pack my things, desperate to escape. Just then, a delivery man walked in. "A Miss Thea Collins? I have a delivery for you." He placed a massive bouquet of fiery red roses in my arms. I found the small card tucked inside. 【Thea, a friend of mine needs an illustrator for her gallery. The job is yours whenever you're ready.】 It was from Elias. My boring clerical job had been Devon's idea. I hated it, but I did it to make him happy. None of my colleagues liked me, but I gritted my teeth and did my work. But Elias... he always told me to just be myself. With his encouragement, the contemptuous stares of my colleagues didn't seem to hurt so much. I put the flowers down and swept everything off my desk—pens, papers, pictures, everything—into the trash can. Including a framed photo of me and Devon. The HR manager’s jaw dropped. I picked up the roses and walked out without a backward glance. I was about to call Elias to thank him when my phone rang. It was Devon, from a new number. He was screaming. "Thea! Lana just collapsed and was rushed to the hospital! What did you do to her this time?!" Staring at the unfamiliar number, I found my voice. "Devon, if you have a problem with your eyes, go see a doctor. Stop using me as your punching bag. We are broken up."
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "385387", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel