Romance, Going Solo

I wiped my tears and opened the dashcam's app.

Jeremy had installed it on my phone, saying it would give me peace of mind.

I had trusted him, so I had never once opened it.

The feed loaded; it was live.

The car was dim, but the audio was crystal clear.

"Jeremy, this song is so nice. Can it be our song from now on?"

Everly's voice was soft and coy, nothing like the timid girl she acted like in front of me.

"Alright. Whatever you say."

Then came the rustling of clothes and the kind of breathy sounds that made my stomach churn.

I pressed the download button.

After the tears ran dry, all that remained was a cold that ran deep into my bones.

...

By the time dawn broke, Jeremy came home.

He looked exhausted, but there was a faint pink mark on his shirt collar.

It was the exact shade of Everly's favorite lip gloss.

Her profile picture flashed in my mind: a little white rabbit holding a carrot.

Soft, innocent, harmless, just like her.

A gaze that was always looking with wide, timid eyes, effortlessly stirring up anyone's instinct to protect her.

That was exactly why I had softened back then and chosen to sponsor her.

I guess Jeremy must have fallen for that facade, too.

He used to complain that I reeked of money and was too strong-willed.

Only then did I understand.

What he wanted…was someone who would look up at him with nothing but devotion.

"Babe, I'm exhausted. Stayed up all night to finish that proposal."

He closed his eyes as he spoke, waiting for me to hand him a hot towel and a glass of honey water, as I usually would.

However, I did not move.

"Sabrina?" He did not get the service he expected and opened his eyes in confusion.

I looked at him, my voice dry.

"Why do you smell like river water?"

His body stiffened for a split second, then he casually straightened up and tugged at his tie.

"Oh, the team went by the riverside last night to get some air. We had supper there."

"Was Everly there, too?"

His gaze flickered, but it quickly returned to that self-righteous calm.

"Yeah. She's an intern; she learns by following the team. Sabrina, honestly, it's thanks to you for introducing her to the company. She works hard, and everyone in the team likes her."

He walked over, reaching for my hand.

"Come to think of it, she's been talking about wanting to thank you for being her sponsor."

I avoided his touch and said flatly, "I sponsored her so she could study and build a future, not so she could stay up late with my boyfriend watching the river."

Jeremy's expression darkened.

"Sabrina Thornton, what are you implying? Why are you talking like that? We have a normal working relationship!"

"Would a normal working relationship involve 688 times of late-night shared listening sessions?"

I tossed the printed report onto the coffee table.

The pages scattered, and his pupils shrank.

After a long moment, he sighed helplessly, like he was dealing with a child throwing a tantrum.

"All this…over that? Sabrina, you're being way too sensitive. That account is logged in on the company computer, too. Sometimes Everly works late and just uses my account to listen to music to stay awake. What does that prove? We're colleagues. Am I supposed to log out over something this trivial?"

He looked down at me, disappointment thick in his tone.

"I'm working myself to the bone for our future, and you're at home making things up over a few listening records. Sabrina, can you be a little more mature?"

Mature?

A bitter smile curled at my lips.

For five years, I stayed with him from when he had nothing, through thick and thin, as he worked his way up to what he finally had.

Every time I brought up marriage, he brushed me off, saying, "The company's still growing. I can't give you the best yet."

Time and time again, I compromised.

I spent my best years waiting, and finally...

He claimed I was not mature, not tolerant enough of his boundaries, and being crossed with someone else.

I laughed.

"Go take a shower. You smell awful."

Jeremy thought I had backed down. He let out a breath of relief and headed into the bathroom.

The sound of running water filled the air.

I picked up his phone.

The password was still my birthday. He thought it was a sign of devotion.

I unlocked it and opened the chatting app.

The pinned chat was not me.

It was a group chat.

[Project Team-File Transfer]

There were only two people in it.

Him...and Everly.