I Broke Free from His Love Chains

Andy's gaze towards Ruby grew increasingly tender.

Each time he planned a movie outing with me, Ruby was inevitably included.

At meals, he would habitually serve her.

These gestures sparked numerous quarrels between Andy and me.

He would look at me with a mix of frustration and weariness. He frowned as he explained, "Nora, I've told you countless times that Ruby is like a sister to me, and she's quite dependent. Can you please stop overthinking things?"

Yet, he remained oblivious to Ruby's manipulative tactics.

Ruby crafted a secretive social media post, visible only to me, brazenly declaring: [What is mine will always come back to me.]

I retaliated by blocking her, only to be met with her taunting whisper, "Nora, Andy gifts me a present every year for my birthday. What about you?"

My fists clenched as I fought the urge to strike back.

On my birthday, she feigned illness, luring Andy away and seizing my birthday gift- a necklace that should have adorned my neck, now glinting around hers.

"Nora, I merely commented on its beauty, and Andy gifted it to me. Do you think it suits me?"

Unable to endure her provocation any longer, I struck out.

The following day, Andy stormed in, demanding an explanation with anger.

"Nora, why are you becoming increasingly unreasonable?

"Ruby simply admired that necklace. You have so many others. What harm could it do to let her have it?"

I gazed at him coldly, momentarily dazed.

It seemed like only yesterday when he praised my gentleness and charm.

Now, with the scales of his heart tipping away from me, each action of mine could displease him.