Chapter 3

I couldn't hear whatever came next.

A high-pitched ringing roared in my ears.

I wanted to scream, to kick the door down, to grab Logan by the throat and demand:

Give it back!

Give me back the five best years of my youth!

Instead, I took a slow, silent breath, turned around, and walked back to my cot.

I lay there staring at the ceiling until dawn broke.

The next morning, Tiffany knocked on my door.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Chloe, are you awake? Chloe!"

When there was no answer, Tiffany reached for the doorknob, ready to barge in.

Right then, I walked in through the front door.

"Sorry, it’s been so long since I could walk freely. I went out for some fresh air," I said evenly. "Did you need something?"

Tiffany smiled warmly and looped her arm through mine, pulling me toward the sofa.

"It’s Saturday! I thought we could go shopping together."

She sighed, acting all guilty. "When Logan moved me in, we had so much stuff. A lot of your old clothes got tossed or misplaced over the years. To make it up to you, I want to buy you some nice new outfits. You can't say no! Remember how much fun we used to have shopping together?"

Logan stepped out of the bedroom, smiling warmly. He even reached out, trying to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

"Chloe, go with her," he said gently. "We really owe you. Put everything on my card today. Think of it as an apology."

The same face. The same tender tone.

He looked exactly like the boy who used to swear he loved me more than his own life.

Yet all I could hear was his cold whisper from last night: I tricked her into doing five years in prison for me!

I couldn't smile. I subtly leaned away, dodging his hand.

It made my stomach churn with pure disgust.

"Thanks. That’s very generous of you."

Before walking out, I glanced back at Logan.

He was leaning against my bedroom door frame, clearly waiting for the front door to click shut so he could ransack my belongings.

I didn't hold back at the mall.

Designer clothes, high-end bags, luxury shoes—I picked the most expensive items on the racks.

Tiffany’s smile turned stiffer and uglier with every swipe of the card.

The second Logan’s credit card hit its daily limit with a loud declined beep, Tiffany practically dragged me out of the store to head home.

When we opened the front door, Logan was already sitting on the sofa, waiting.

Seeing us return, Logan shot Tiffany a subtle nod and a triumphant grin.

Then, he picked up a document from the coffee table and walked toward me.

"Chloe, Tiffany and I talked it over last night. Even though you’re letting us stay for another month, we can't just freeload. Here’s a formal rental agreement."

Logan handed me a pen and flipped the document straight to the signature line on the last page.

"Sign this, and I’ll Venmo you ten thousand dollars right now for rent."

I took the pen, keeping my expression blank.

As I started to flip the pages back to read the terms, Logan’s hand clamped down firmly over the paper.

He gave me an innocent, boyish smile.

"It’s just a standard standard lease agreement, Chloe. There’s nothing crazy in there. Don't you trust me? Even though Tiffany and I are married now, you know I still care about you. And I know you still care about me."

He pressed the pen into my fingers. "Just sign it, okay?"

That innocent, pleading face.

It was the exact same face he had made five years ago, showing up on my doorstep bruised and sobbing.

My dad found me! He’s drunk out of his mind and he’s going to beat me to death! Help me, Chloe, please save me!

I stared at Logan for a long time—so long that his smile began to strain.

Finally, I bent down and signed my name.

Logan grabbed the paper, checked the signature, and practically sighed with relief.

He pulled out his phone and immediately transferred ten thousand dollars to my account.

The moment the notification popped up on my screen, every trace of warmth and affection vanished from his face.

The mask dropped entirely.

I looked at him quietly. "Logan, the letters I wrote you from prison... did you ever read them?"

Logan let out a harsh, contemptuous snort.

He looked down at me with cold, dripping malice.

"Hell no. You were so damn annoying. Writing letter after letter like a clingy freak. I replied to a few in the beginning just to keep you quiet, but I got sick of pretending."

He rolled his eyes. "I sold the whole stack to a paper recycler down the street."