She’s Always His Priority, So I Left for Paris Chapter 07
Nathan didn’t leave Paris.
He booked a short–term rental near my school and stayed for an entire week.
Every morning, he was outside my building with breakfast. A warm croissant, a cup of coffee,
sometimes a fruit cup.
He’d hold it out when I walked past. I didn’t take it.
Then he’d set it on the bench by the door and walk away.
After
my classes, he’d be waiting under the tree at the bottom of the steps. Not blocking my way, just standing there, hands in his pockets, watching.
I didn’t acknowledge him. I didn’t ask him to stop. I
just let him exist like a ghost I’d stopped seeing.
On the eighth day of Nathan’s stay in Paris, Piper
showed up.
I was coming out of the academic building when
Nathan walked over and tried to hand me a bag of fruit.
That’s when Piper appeared.
“Merle!”
She called out to me.
“What a coincidence! I came to Paris for a vacation.
Didn’t expect to run into you!”
The friend who’d been walking with me stood beside me and shot me a sideways glance.
I looked at Piper and remembered what my friend had
told me earlier. She knew Nathan had come to France.
What a coincidence.
“Yeah,” I said. “Paris is a small city.”
She blinked. I don’t think she expected just those five words.
Then she kept going, “So this is where you’re studying! I’ve always wanted to see Paris, and I figured, well… here I am.
Nathan looked at her, his brow furrowed. “What are you doing here?”
“Nathan, you said you were coming to Paris, right?” Piper smiled. “I thought, since I’ve got nothing going on, I’d tag along.”
“I never said you could come.” His voice dropped low.
Piper’s smile faltered for a second. “I’m not going to bother you two. I just… wanted to see Merle.”
My friend let out a cold laugh beside me.
I pulled my gaze away and turned to leave.
“Merle.” Nathan came after me.
“Don’t follow me,” I said.
“She came on her own. I didn’t know.”
“That’s none of my business.”
I stopped and turned around to face him.
“Nathan. Have I not made myself clear enough?”
“We’re broken up.
“Whether you come to Paris, whether Piper comes to
Paris, none of it has anything to do with me.
“Stop showing up in front of me.
I walked away without a backward glance.
My friend caught up, walking fast beside me.
“Merle, is that girl insane? She followed him to France?”
I didn’t answer.
“And your ex… what is he even doing? You’re broken
up and he’s still clinging to you.
I said, “They can do whatever they want. It’s not my problem.”
My friend looked at me and let out a sigh.
But I didn’t expect Piper to actually stay.
That night, my friend ran into her at the library.
When she came back, her face was tight.
“She’s been telling everyone that you left the country
because you couldn’t handle her and Nathan being together.”
“She’s saying you’re petty. That you can’t stand to see her happy.”
I put my pen down. “Who’s she telling?”
“Other students in the program. Several people have heard it already.”
My friend was fuming. “Is she out of her mind? She’s the one who…”
“It’s fine,” I said.
“It’s not fine!” My friend snapped. “She’s trashing your reputation!”
I stared at my laptop screen, thought for a moment,
and opened Instagram.
I found my friend back home.
I typed: [Is Piper still staying at my old place?]
She replied instantly: [Yeah. Nathan gave her the key before he left.]
I stared at that line for a long moment.
Then I emailed my lawyer.
The next afternoon, I got a reply.
The lawyer told me that once the property settlement
was finalized, I had the legal right to ask any unrelated parties to vacate.
I asked him to send a cease and desist letter directly to that address.
Piper received it three days later.
My friend back home texted me that Piper posted on Instagram Stories.
A photo of the letter.
Caption: [Some people forget all about loyalty once they go abroad. Won’t even let me keep a roof over my head.]
The comments are all comforting her.
[You’ve been through so much, Piper.]
[Some people get a little success and show their true colors.]
[You were so nice to her. How could she do this.]
My friend sent me a screenshot. [She’s playing the victim.]
I replied: [Let her.]