Chapter 3

The next morning, I took my transfer form to school.

As the secretary stamped the seal, a sudden pang of emptiness washed over me. I was staring blankly at the fresh ink when someone blocked my path.

Julian's brows creased. "You changed the passcode on your house? I went back to check on you after dropping Lily off, but I couldn't get in."

"Yeah, I changed it," I said, cutting him off.

He swallowed his annoyance, easily slipping back into that familiar, warm tone. "What's the new code? That way I can swing by and look after you."

"No need," I replied flatly. "I'm moving out after the transfer."

He glanced at the folded form in my hand and slapped his forehead. "Oh, right, I forgot about that. Don't worry, I'll get mine stamped tomorrow."

Walking and talking with him felt like a faint echo of our past. Ever since Lily had entered the picture, these quiet moments between us had all but vanished.

I closed my eyes, letting nostalgia tug at me one last time before deciding to test him. "After everything we've been through, you don't need to worry about me."

He fell silent for a moment. "Actually, I..."

Lily suddenly appeared behind him, clutching a stack of notebooks. Her voice was sugary and whining. "Julian, you promised to help me study. Where did you run off to?"

She shoved the notes toward him, batting her eyelashes. "I saw your tutoring plan goes two months out, so I prepared some study materials. You're not mad I snooped, are you?"

"Not at all," Julian replied with a forced smile, shooting me a quick, guilty glance.

When I offered no reaction, his eyes dimmed slightly.

I knew exactly what was going on. While he was busy pushing me away, he had been planning a future with Lily—one that didn't include me.

I kept my expression perfectly neutral, though bitterness spread through my chest like slow-burning whiskey. I dug my nails into my palms to stay grounded. "I'll leave you two to it."

Lily gasped, acting as if she had only just noticed I was standing there. "C-Clara? Are you upset because I'm studying with Julian? I just don't have the money or connections that you do, so..."

Her voice cracked, and she broke into quiet sobs.

Unimpressed, I looked at her. "Get out of my way."

Julian's fleeting guilt vanished at my bluntness. He grabbed my wrist, his voice hot with sudden anger. "What is wrong with your attitude?"

He yanked me toward Lily and barked, "Apologize to her!"

The last shred of longing in my heart crumbled. My hand flew up, slapping him across the face. "You're the one who owes an apology. Not to Lily, but to me."