Chapter 3

After breakfast, Vivian took me to complete the transfer of ownership.

Seeing my name on the property deed, I breathed a sigh of relief.

I put the deed into my bag, finished packing my luggage, and then glanced at the ornaments on the bookshelf.

They were all gifts from Caleb.

I collected them one by one, put them in a box, sealed it, and prepared to take them to the storage room.

As I came out, I ran into Caleb.

Seeing the box in my hands, he frowned. "What's that?"

"Just some unused things I'm taking to the storage room!"

"I'll help you."

Without a word, he snatched it and walked towards the storage room.

I had no choice but to follow.

"Harper, why aren't you going to the reunion? Are you still holding onto those old grudges? That's all in the past!"

"Chloe's back. Let's all get together!"

At that, I stopped.

So, Chloe was back. No wonder Caleb was so insistent on me coming.

"I told you, I'm not going. Caleb, if you like her, that's your business. Don't use me as a shield!"

"I'm not just *anyone* to you, and I certainly won't emotionally manipulate you!"

"Come to think of it, you don't owe me anything either!"

Caleb's face instantly turned ashen. "You!"

I snatched the box from his hands, put it inside, and turned to leave.

Caleb, fuming, kicked the box violently, then stormed away.

For two days straight, I was decluttering. Caleb didn't come back, and Richard was away on a business trip.

Vivian saw I was serious about leaving and packed me several bags, which I mailed off.

On the day I left, Vivian was reluctant. She looked upstairs. "What's that boy always so busy with?"

"It's fine, Vivian. He's busy with work, don't disturb him. I can manage on my own. Please take care!"

I dragged my luggage away. Before I left, I sent Caleb a SnapChat message: "Caleb, goodbye."

He didn't reply, and I didn't think much of it. I left Caleb's house and headed straight to the station, embarking on a long journey.

That night, as I sat on a sleeper train, he added me to a group chat. The moment I joined, Chloe and the others posted many photos.

She and Caleb were sitting together, fingers intertwined.

"Going in circles and meeting again! Everyone's still so great!"

The classmates in the group chat congratulated them.

"Are they together? Congrats!"

"You two are the perfect couple! When's the wedding? Let us know!"

"Harper didn't come today, is she mad? If you two are together, what about Harper?" Someone tagged Caleb.

After a long pause, Caleb replied, "Whatever. She means nothing to me anyway!"

Reading that, I could almost see Caleb's cynical, impatient face. I thought back to high school, when he'd fought for me, chased away those bullies, and gently ruffled my hair.

"Harper, you're mine. I'll protect you for life!"

"Harper, you've lived in my house for so long, you'll stay here forever!"

I'd been so naive then. "How can I live here forever? I'll have my own little family someday."

But Caleb had clutched my wrist possessively. "No way. Everyone says a life-saving kindness must be repaid in marriage. I'm yours. You can only marry me and have our own little family!"

Caleb's words back then had made me blush furiously. I thought it was a promise. Now, I realize it was just a whimsical joke.

Only I took it seriously.

The group chat was still lining up to congratulate them. When someone brought me up, Caleb only bad-mouthed me.

"Don't mention her. I don't owe her anything. She's lived and eaten in my house for so many years; any debt of kindness has been repaid in full!"

Chloe even posted an emoji. "Yeah, Caleb has his own life. You can't emotionally manipulate him, can you?"

I let out a cold laugh and typed out a message: "I wouldn't have had to live dependent on others in the first place. It was you, Caleb, who made me lose my family."

"If I could turn back time, go back to the past, I'd definitely pull my dad back and tell him not to save you!"

I sent it, then left the group and blocked all of them.

Caleb, goodbye forever!

The group chat fell silent at my message.

"Harper's words are so nasty. She's cursing you!"

Chloe said, ready to argue in the group, but Caleb stopped her. "Forget her. Let's drink!"