3

Jacob's call pulled me back to reality.

I looked at him, suddenly feeling a surge of disgust.

Perhaps the disgust in my eyes was too apparent, Jacob panicked. He held my shoulder and said earnestly,

"Chloe, I never thought about leaving you."

Pretending to be more affectionate than anyone else while doing things that show no love. I suddenly found it funny,

"Jacob, although this question is silly, I still want to ask you, compared to your first love, what am I?"

Jacob was silent for a long time, then finally rubbed his brow, looking somewhat weary,

"Chloe, I did love her, but that's all in the past. Isn't it enough that I love you now? I don't understand what you are making a fuss about."

His eyes were confused, as if he truly didn't understand.

I choked up, suddenly finding it hard to speak.

My face suddenly felt itchy, and I instinctively touched it, feeling wetness.

Jacob saw it too and panicked, trying to hug me,

"Sorry Chloe, please don't be mad, okay?"

I dodged away,

"Jacob, people don't cry when they are angry, they cry when they feel wronged."

"I've seen how you wholeheartedly loved her, and I truly feel you don't love me."

Jacob furrowed his brow, emphasizing,

"Chloe, I love you."

"So why is it that when she's upset, you comfort her, but with me, there's always just endless silence?"

"I..."

"Jacob, you know how much emotional neglect hurts a girl."

I turned to look at him calmly, letting the tears roll down my face,

"You're just, not afraid of losing me."

Perhaps it was the certainty in my tone, or maybe it was the brutal truth laid bare, but Jacob couldn't utter another word for a long time.

I didn't feel that bad, but once I got home, I couldn't help but start drinking.

When Kai came to find me, I was already quite drunk, clutching a bottle of alcohol.

He snatched away the bottle and poured me a glass of honey water.

Only a small night light was on in the room, and moonlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the room and creating a very secure atmosphere.

Desperate for an emotional outlet, I rambled on about my situation with Jacob under the influence of alcohol.

Finally, holding my glass, I knowingly asked Kai,

"Before I found that document, I was always making excuses for his emotional abuse, thinking maybe that's just how he is. Kai, am I stupid?"

"Yes."

His immediate response caught me off guard.

"Chloe, when you truly like someone, treating them well becomes an instinct ingrained in your bones. Anyone who resorts to emotional abuse either doesn't care or is taking you for granted, without exception."

After a pause, Kai added in a serious tone,

"Moreover, solving problems is a man's responsibility. His way of handling things doesn't even qualify him as a real man."

I was even more surprised.

I had always thought of Kai as somber, calm, and wise, but I had never seen him express his emotions like this.

I wanted a sip of alcohol to calm my nerves, but Kai had taken the bottle away.

He took a sip from it and looked at me,

"Chloe, you've changed."

"Hmm?"

"I remember you used to be very happy."

I looked at him, my vision blurred, and I could vaguely see a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

My heart trembled violently, and I suddenly felt at a loss, slowly laying down on the sofa pretending to be sound asleep.

The alcohol quickly went to my head, and just as I was losing consciousness, I faintly felt someone carefully lifting me up…

After that night, I started to deliberately avoid Kai.

Kai probably sensed my rejection, and we returned to our previous lukewarm relationship.

Jacob has been trying to win me back these past few days. I blocked all his contact methods, so he started messaging me from different numbers.

It began with pleas and begging, then evolved into lengthy apologies, and even his mother called me to intercede on his behalf.

I couldn't tolerate it anymore and replied,

"Jacob, weren't you the one who couldn't comfort others? What are you doing now? Too little, too late. Don't make me lose respect for you."

He never messaged again.