Chapter 5

Elena's POV

Just as Mr. and Mrs. Vance were about to answer, I cut in quickly.

"Nothing important. You misheard."

They looked hesitant, but they didn't call me out.

Carter grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the door.

"Since you're done chatting, come with me."

He drove all the way to a luxury shopping mall, stopping outside a high-end designer boutique that had closed early for a private showing.

Carter gave a nod to the store manager, and the staff immediately unlocked the glass doors to welcome us inside.

The counters were piled high with this season’s latest apparel, shoes, and designer bags.

Carter shoved me toward the fitting room: "Try them on one by one. Come out and do a spin for each."

I frowned: "Why am I trying these on?"

Carter offered no explanation, simply piling the dresses handed over by the sales associates into my arms.

One outfit after another.

Every time I emerged in a new dress, Carter held up his phone, snapped a photo, and immediately rushed me to change into the next.

After trying on over eighty outfits, the stiff new designer heels rubbed the skin off my heels, drawing blood.

Every single step sent sharp, stinging pain shooting up my leg.

Pushed past my limit, I brushed past the clerk and limped up to Carter on tiptoes.

"You don't need to buy all these things just to apologize to me..."

Carter didn't even look up as he handed over his black credit card.

"Keep the burgundy gown. Box up everything else and deliver it to Miss Chloe Sterling’s apartment."

The rest of my words caught right in my throat.

My voice tightened: "You made me try on clothes all evening just to buy them for your girlfriend?"

Carter slipped his card back into his wallet, nodding as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Chloe just got back to the States. I was worried I'd buy things she didn't like."

"You two have almost the exact same build. Having you try them on first is the safest bet."

"Next, we’re heading upstairs to the jewelry store and the bakery. I need you to help me pick out the jewels and desserts. Everything I give her has to be the absolute best."

Months of accumulated humiliation completely detonated at that exact moment.

"Carter Vance!"

My eyes welled with red as I cut him off: "I am not a prop for you to win over your girlfriend!"

Carter froze, stunned.

"I never once treated you as a casual hookup!"

"Over these six years, every single hug, every kiss, every night in bed—I meant every bit of it!"

"You don't have to love me, but you don't get to humiliate me like this!"

With that, I shoved him hard, turned around, and bolted out of the store.

Carter stood frozen where he was. He didn't call my name, and he never chased after me.

Back home, I locked myself in my room, focusing entirely on packing my bags.

Over the next few days, news about Carter constantly reached our dinner table.

Word was, he rented out an entire amusement park for three days to celebrate Chloe's birthday, and dropped a fortune on an antique painting for her to give his parents to win their favor.

I ate quietly, never chiming in once.

Late at night, Carter would text me to pick him up when he was drunk; I left them on read.

Friends in our circle asked: "Carter, how come we haven't seen Elena around lately?"

Swirling his drink, Carter gave an indifferent laugh: "She's just throwing a tantrum. Leave her be. She'll come crawling back in a couple of days."

For a whole week, I didn't reach out once.

The day before Carter's birthday, an invitation popped up on my phone.

I tapped it open and replied with two words: "Not going."

The next morning, the moment I walked downstairs, I saw Carter slouched on our living room couch, his expression dark and stormy.

"Elena Vance."

Carter stood up, crossed the distance between us in three strides, and clamped his hand around my wrist.

I glanced at him: "Morning. I have plans. I don't have time to entertain you."

The grip on my wrist tightened painfully: "Plans with who?"

My tone was ice-cold: "Does that have anything to do with you?"

My mom came out of the kitchen and quickly stepped between us to pull us apart.

"What are you two arguing about first thing in the morning? Elena has been busy these days, she doesn't have time to date. You two grew up together, talk like adults."

Hearing Mom's words, Carter visibly relaxed, apparently reassured that I wasn't seeing someone new.

Wiping away his anger, he switched to an accusatory tone: "Why aren't you coming to my birthday party?"

I smoothed the wrinkles on my sleeve: "Busy."

Carter raised his voice: "You used to spend half a month planning my birthday every single year. Why are you suddenly too busy now?"

I walked over to the water dispenser and poured a glass of water.

"That was then, this is now. You have a girlfriend. Let Chloe handle it. It's not my place as an outsider."

The word "outsider" made Carter flinch.

He stared into my eyes.

"You promised to do three things for me, remember?"

"The first was knitting a scarf, the second was hiking up the snowy peaks. You did both."

"Today, I'm cashing in your third promise. You have to come to my birthday party."

My hand holding the glass froze in midair.

Four years ago, while hiking through a valley, a flash flood struck out of nowhere. Carter had fought with everything he had to shove me up onto a high ledge, while the raging waters swept him away.

By the time rescue pulled him out, he had severe hypothermia, fighting for his life in the ICU all night.

Once out of danger, his pale face had teased me for crying like a baby, and he demanded three promises as his rescue fee.

The living room fell quiet for a long time.

I set the glass down, speaking softly: "Fine. I accept your third request."

Carter’s phone began to ring right on cue.

Chloe was on the other end, nagging him to pick her up.

Answering the call, Carter headed toward the door. At the foyer, he tossed back over his shoulder: "Dress formally tonight. Don't be late."

I stood still, watching the door click shut.

In my heart, I finished the unspoken thought:

Once I pay back this life debt, there will be nothing left between us.