After My Boyfriend and Best Friend Betrayed Me, Regret Haunted Them Nightly Chapter 01
After my best friend, who had married and moved far away, was beaten by her husband, my boyfriend and I drove over a thousand miles through the night to get to her.
We made a great team. I did the hitting, and he blocked the door.
Paige Morris froze for a second before joining in.
On the drive home, the three of us looked at each
other’s bruised faces and burst out laughing.
“You two better never break up,” she said, laughing
until she cried. “Otherwise, I won’t know which one of you to stick with.”
Preston Holt rolled his eyes from the driver’s seat.
“We’re solid, no chance of a breakup. Mind your own business.”
From that day on, I took Paige in, managing her daily
life and encouraging her to start over.
Every time Preston saw me fussing over her, he tapped
my forehead. “Julissa Palmer, when are you going to
show me some attention? I’m your boyfriend, you know.”
Then I returned from a three–month business trip and
found a pink charm in Preston’s car. But he flat–out refused to say who gave it to him.
I coldly demanded a breakup and gestured for Paige to leave with me.
But she walked straight toward Preston.
The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the howling wind in my ears.
Paige’s face was deathly pale, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
I fought to steady my trembling voice. “What are you doing?”
Preston stepped forward after a long silence and grabbed Paige’s hand.
“I was looking for the right time to tell you. That night… we both got drunk. Julissa, keeping it from you isn’t fair.”
I stared at their intertwined fingers, my vision going dark.
I hadn’t even unpacked after the six–hour flight. My body swayed, and I almost collapsed onto the ground.
Preston’s posture shifted, instinctively reaching out to catch me, but I raised my hand and blocked him.
Paige’s eyes were bloodshot. She hesitated, not daring to step forward, only whispering my name.
“Julissa, did you skip the plane meal again? Is your blood sugar dropping…”
She nervously cupped her hands, presenting a piece of caramel candy in her palm.
Pain shot behind my eyes. I gritted my teeth. “Enough.
I don’t want to make a scene in public.”
Without another glance, I dragged my suitcase and walked off.
The cool night wind blew away the moisture at the corners of my eyes.
Hailing a cab during peak evening hours was
impossible. By the time I reached home, Paige had
already packed her bags, standing at the door looking hesitant.
I glanced at the matching slippers by the entrance, then at the sofa pillows customized with their cartoon
avatars.
Closing my eyes, I could almost picture them on that very sofa that drunken night, tangled up in each other.
A sharp wave of pain hit my stomach, making me gag.
My suitcase still held cookies brought back from Germany for Paige and a scarf I had bought for Preston.
Back then, Paige had video–called me with her phone raised. “Don’t worry, thanks to Preston, I successfully
got the job. As for you in Germany, don’t skip meals,
and remember to buy me those cookies! I sent you the picture.”
I slammed the suitcase onto the floor, pulled out the cookies and scarf, and shoved them into the trash alongside the pillows.
Paige’s tears fell instantly.
Preston stepped forward, frowning. “It’s my fault.
Take it out on me.”
He looked down at Paige, his tone softening. “Wait outside for me.”
Paige dragged her suitcase toward the door, pausing every few steps to look back.
Once the door clicked shut, Preston pulled out a pack
of cigarettes, paused, and slid it back into his pocket.
“No matter what, I’m the one at fault here.”
“Julissa, I’ll talk to my dad and save the associate
director position for you.”
I pressed my hands against my aching stomach and let out a cold laugh.
“What’s this, compensation or charity? I don’t need it.”
Preston’s expression hardened. “You’re always like this. Like there’s nothing in the world you can’t handle on your own. Julissa, I’m your boyfriend.
What’s so wrong with leaning on me once in a while, the way Paige does?”
I cut him off coldly. “Ex–boyfriend.”
“And she needs you because she’s incompetent. I don’t
need you because whatever I want, I get it myself.”
Preston gave me a complex look. “Take care of yourself.”
And with that, he walked out the door.
The apartment was empty now, leaving just me.
I finally collapsed onto the sofa, unable to hold on any longer. Sweat drenched my body from the severe
stomach pain, wetting even the corners of my eyes.
Clutching my stomach, I muttered to myself, “Damn
stomach… it hurts so bad…”