Better Without Your Love

Neither Charles nor I said a word on the way out. Once it was just the two of us, I hesitated before finally breaking the silence. "Actually, Lucas and I—"

Charles cut me off softly, "I know you're Lucas' girlfriend."

I stared blankly at the man before me, stunned into silence. Even Lucas' older brother could see that we were dating, and yet Lucas always treated me badly. In the end of my previous life, I even died because of him.

"I thought you guys would go public today, get engaged, and then get married. I didn't expect this to happen," Charles said, his gray eyes clouded with a mix of emotions. "Did you break up?"

I let out a soft sigh. "Yeah. After everything that happened today, I don't know how our families are supposed to keep working together."

"As long as I'm here, the collaboration between our companies won't be affected."

"Really?" I looked at him, puzzled.

Charles was notorious for being a playboy, spending his days drinking and partying in nightclubs. He was never involved in his family business.

Charles seemed to have read my mind. He scratched his head sheepishly. "After what happened earlier, I've realized that Lucas is an idiot. I can't just stand by and watch him destroy our family business. I need to take matters into my own hands."

"Well, well, well. It looks like the playboy's finally turning over a new leaf," I teased.

He narrowed his eyes, a cold look gleaming in them. "We share the same enemies, after all."

The night wind picked up, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself. Without a word, he slipped off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.

The gesture made the atmosphere suddenly feel charged and intimate in a way that felt unfamiliar and awkward.

I hurriedly said goodbye and got ready to leave. "Here's your jacket," I said before taking it off and handing it back to him.

"It's cold out. Give it back to me the next time we meet," he said firmly. His tone left no room for argument.

…

I returned to the place Lucas and I called home, and all the memories of our past together came rushing back to me.

He never let anyone know we were together. He hid me away in this apartment like I was a dirty secret. He only came by when it suited him, always making me feel like a mistress.

Most of the things in the apartment were mine. His belongings were few and far between, like he was just a guest. Since things were over between us, I decided to make a clean break and started packing everything up.

As I finished packing two large suitcases, the front door opened. It was Lucas.