Chapter 1

On the day my mother underwent open surgery, Chloe was out street-racing and making out with Tyler, the boy next door.

Until the moment my mother passed away, Chloe never showed up.

I held the funeral alone, left our promise rings on the counter, packed my bags, and walked away.

When we met again, a massive billboard was broadcasting the live engagement party between me and the city's newly appointed female CEO.

Watching us share a passionate kiss on screen, Chloe broke down in tears, begging me on her knees to take her back.

My mother had just been wheeled into the operating room. Before they took her in, she held my hand and urged me, "Be good to Chloe. Set a date and marry her soon."

I squeezed her hand and nodded.

The doctor had already pulled me aside earlier to warn me that the chances of survival were slim.

Yet, surgery was our only desperate shot.

Anxiety gnawed at my chest. In a moment like this, I wanted nothing more than to have my girlfriend standing by my side, facing the nightmare with me.

I called Chloe over and over, but the calls went straight to voicemail.

Then I saw a new post from a local street-racing club.

"Hottest power couple on the track! Total eye candy."

The attached video showed Chloe and Tyler tearing down the strip in a sports car. Chloe sat in the passenger seat, her shrieking laughter blending with the roar of the engine.

They crossed the finish line in first place, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Everyone was egging them on. Chloe’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Tyler flashed a crooked, cocky grin. "Well? Do I get my victory kiss or what?"

Chloe acted shy, playfully swatting his chest. "Ugh, stop it! You're terrible."

Tyler chuckled with adoration, took her chin in his fingers, and pulled her into a deep kiss.

The surrounding cheers exploded.

So that was where she was. With Tyler again.

Chloe had fallen into a frozen lake when they were kids, and Tyler had jumped in to save her. Chloe made it out unscathed, but Tyler supposedly ended up with chronic joint damage, complaining that his knees ached whenever the weather turned cold.

Because of that, Chloe let him get away with anything.

On my last birthday, Chloe had promised to have a quiet dinner with me.

Tyler called with a minor issue, and she walked out of the restaurant, leaving me sitting there alone.

I had swallowed all of it back then. After all, he had saved her life.

Two weeks ago, I told Chloe that my mother's critical surgery was scheduled for today, and I asked her to stay with me at the hospital.

This could very well be the last time I ever saw my mother alive.

Yet, Chloe broke her promise anyway.

A sharp, suffocating pain pierced my chest. Had she ever actually treated me like her boyfriend?

I watched the video of them kissing on loop until the pain turned completely numb.

I waited from noon into the dead of night before the surgeon finally stepped out, looking at me with heavy pity.

"I’m so sorry for your loss."

I froze for a second, then crumpled, sobbing uncontrollably.

From this moment on, I had no mother left in this world.

I swallowed my tears and handled all the paperwork. It was past midnight when I finally got back to our apartment.

The place was pitch black. A pile of dirty dishes sat in the sink from the day before; running back and forth to care for my mom had left me with no time or energy to clean.

Exhaustion crushed down on me.

I lit a cigarette, staring into the smoke as memories flashed through my mind.

I never smoked inside the house before because Chloe hated the smell.

I pulled off our couple's ring and sent Chloe a text: "We're done. Let's break up."

Chloe, I gave you chances.

This time, I'm truly letting you go.