Chapter 1

At my birthday party, my younger sister and my ex-boyfriend came together.

They appeared holding hands, looking intimate. In the past, in public, Jake would always stand somewhat distantly by my side, his hand in his pocket as if avoiding something. He never held my hand like this.

Jake seemed at ease, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, looking much happier than when he was with me.

He said, “Happy birthday, Emily.”

I still remember the first time I met him on the New York subway. Something fell out of his pocket, and I kindly picked it up for him. The packaging was awkward, neither throwing it away nor returning it felt right.

He noticed something, turned to look at me, his smile carrying a hint of mischief: “Give me back my gum.”

It wasn’t gum at all; it was a box of… Durex.

My cheeks flushed instantly.

Later, as we got to know each other, I asked him why he carried such things that day, whether he was up to something secretive…

I knew he didn’t have a girlfriend.

Jake looked innocent, shrugging: “I’m a virgin.”

My thoughts were pulled back to the present.

My younger sister seemed a bit uneasy, awkwardly tugging at her lips: “Sis, Jake and I…”

Her voice was so soft and light that I had to lean in to hear the rest.

But Jake pulled her back a step.

I was stunned.

Inappropriately, I recalled that awkward situation.

At Jake’s house, we stumbled upon his father and stepmother… in a compromising scene on the bed.

Faced with screams and chaos, Jake was expressionless, pulling me out.

Then on the Brooklyn Bridge, he suddenly bent over and inexplicably vomited.

Full of disgust, drenched in sweat.

I felt terrible, yet didn’t know what to say, only able to press my lips tightly and soothingly pat his back.

He buried his face in my shoulder, his weight leaning on me, murmuring, “Emily, be with me.”

His voice was hoarse and strained.

But this very person, after a year of dating, proposed breaking up, saying he didn’t want to deceive me, that he actually didn’t like me.

Turns out, he liked my younger sister.

When did they start having feelings for each other?

While I was still with Jake as his girlfriend.

His distraction, his hot and cold demeanor, now all had the most reasonable explanation.

I remember the first time I introduced him to my younger sister, Jake had his hands in his pockets, spoke little, only greeted her, but the look in his eyes seemed to hide something different.

Then, he lightly smirked.

My younger sister, usually carefree, blushed that day.

I didn’t notice these details at the time.

After the breakup, I was in a daze, for the first time understanding that the collapse described in novels was not an exaggeration at all, always feeling like his shadow was everywhere in my life, yet how did that person disappear?

I became the kind of person I despised the most, from hoping Jake would change his mind and message me, to later abandoning my dignity and begging him to reconcile, never receiving a response.

Back then, my younger sister held me, crying and cursing that Jake wasn’t worth my affection.

Indeed, he wasn’t worth it.

Looking at my younger sister’s evasive eyes, I silently thought.

I should be grateful that three months after the breakup, I had gradually recovered. If it were the old me seeing this scene, I might have collapsed on the spot.

I even smiled at them: “You came just in time, let’s cut the cake.”

Jake looked at me, as if he could see through my emotions.