Chapter 10

Chloe's messages came even faster than Liam's attempts to reach me.

I had just finished class when my phone started vibrating wildly.

Unknown numbers flashed on the screen, followed by over a dozen unread message notifications.

"Audrey, what the hell did you say to Liam?!"

"He won't even pick up my calls now! He's just looking for you all the time!"

"Why are you acting so high and mighty? You think you've won?"

I emotionlessly swiped the screen open. The latest message was a voice note.

I tapped it, and Chloe's hysterical voice was piercingly loud in the quiet hallway:

"Do you know how many years Liam and I have known each other? Just because of a petty woman like you, he won't even invite me to buddies' gatherings anymore! Are you happy now?"

I scoffed, ready to block her, when the next message popped up:

"You think Julian Hayes is some good guy? He had a crush on you in college, and now he's just taking advantage! And you're just accepting it, aren't you?!"

My finger paused.

Chloe's message reminded me of that day in the restaurant when Liam had questioned my relationship with Julian with the same malicious tone.

I opened the reply box, typed a few words, then deleted them. Finally, I just replied:

"Liam and I have broken up. Your affairs have nothing to do with me."

After sending that message, I decisively blocked the number.

My phone finally fell silent.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of the academic building, watching the sycamore leaves drift outside.

When did the love I once fiercely defended turn into something so ugly?

Another small memory surfaced.

That time, Liam and I had planned to go to the movies.

Right before we left, Chloe called, saying her computer was broken and asking Liam to fix it.

Liam agreed without a second thought, not even asking me if we could reschedule our movie.

That day, I waited at the movie theater for two hours, and then watched the film alone.

When I got home, Liam still righteously said,

"Chloe had project files on her computer, it was really urgent."

With such a grandiose excuse, any further complaint from me would make me seem unthoughtful.

The most ridiculous part was that whenever I expressed dissatisfaction, Liam would say,

"Why are you so petty? Chloe just has a laid-back personality, she doesn't mean anything by it."

And now, he finally realized the problem? Too late, unfortunately.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Julian:

"Are you going to the alumni reunion?"

A little over a month into the semester, returning to academia felt like a sponge soaking in water, eagerly absorbing knowledge.

"No."

"I'm going back to the States next week; my advisor has a collaborative project that needs to be discussed in person." His next message popped up. "They're pushing me to attend the reunion."

I understood. "Then go ahead. Remember to say hi to our old professor for me."

"Okay." He paused, then sent another message. "Liam will probably be there."

"Doesn't concern me."

Walking into the lab, I pushed all trivial matters out of my mind.

I had more important things to do now: new data to analyze, a seminar to prepare for next week, and a paper from my advisor still waiting to be written.

My life had its own clear path forward.

I only regretted how much I let myself be constrained by love before.

10.

Two weeks later, I was organizing data in the lab when Julian's video call request suddenly popped up.

I wiped my hands and answered.

The background on the other end of the screen was a restaurant in the US.

"Alumni reunion?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he nodded, the camera shaking slightly. "

There's something I think you should know."

I put down the test tube in my hand. "What is it?"

"Chloe's here," his voice was very low. "She wasn't invited, but she managed to sneak in with someone else."

I frowned. "And?"

Julian's camera suddenly panned towards the main hall.

Through the screen, I saw Chloe grabbing Liam's arm, refusing to let go.

Liam's face was very grim, he tried to shake her off several times, but Chloe clung to him like superglue.

"Liam, what do you mean?"

Chloe's voice was sharp enough to be heard even through the screen.

"Just because of one word from Audrey, you're abandoning your friends?"

The surrounding classmates stopped their conversations, awkwardly watching the scene unfold.

Liam's face went from red to white. He violently shook off Chloe's hand.

"That's enough!"

Chloe stumbled, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You're yelling at me?"

"I should have yelled at you a long time ago!"

Liam's voice carried a suppressed fury.

"It's because you don't know your boundaries that Audrey left me!"

The entire hall fell silent instantly. Chloe's face paled.

"Liam, you bastard! How many years have we known each other? All for some woman—"

"She's not 'some woman'!" Liam almost roared. "She was my girlfriend for seven years! If it weren't for you constantly crossing lines, we never would have broken up!"

Chloe's tears suddenly welled up.

"Me crossing lines? We always used to interact like this, didn't we? Why didn't you say I was crossing lines then?"

"Because I was stupid!" Liam's voice suddenly dropped, filled with deep self-reproach. "I was stupid enough not to realize your intentions, stupid enough to hurt Audrey again and again..."

Chloe abruptly grabbed a wine glass from the table and splashed it at Liam.

"Screw you! Liam, do you think Audrey will ever come back? She's already with Julian—"

The scene descended into chaos.

Julian quickly turned the camera back to himself, his expression somewhat complex. "That's how it is."

I was surprisingly calm.

"I see. What a ridiculous farce." I paused, then asked, "What happened next?"

"Chloe ran off crying. Liam chased after her to apologize, saying he spoke too harshly, but he hoped she'd understand they really needed to keep their distance," Julian pushed up his glasses. "But judging by Chloe's reaction, their relationship is probably completely over."

I softly hummed, unsure how I felt.

"Audrey."

His gaze through the screen met mine directly.

"Liam has changed a lot these past few months you've been abroad."

I lowered my eyes. "People change."

Just like he suddenly fell out of love, and then suddenly fell deeply in love again.