Chapter 3
‘This is insane. Completely insane.’
But the insanity had already begun, and another spoonful or two wouldn’t change a thing. It would only turn a crazy act into a crazier one. Chloe opened the tightly shut door in her chest.
“Melvin, stop squawking already. Even a duck makes less noise than you.”
“A—A duck? Did you just call me a duck?”
“If you understood me, then be quiet. Don’t you see everyone’s staring at us?”
Melvin inhaled sharply, clearly about to raise her voice even louder. But Durr intervened.
“Melvin, people are watching.”
Acting all mature just because he’s a few years older—Durr was trying to be the responsible one. But Melvin, who had long since tossed manners into a bowl of soup, didn’t listen.
“Darling, did you hear what she just said to me?”
“I didn’t mean it like that…”
“How could you not take my side in front of my sister?!”
Melvin’s fierce glare turned to Durr. Chloe decided it was time to join in on the ridiculousness.
“How old are you now? Still playing sides like a child?”
“This isn’t about taking sides—”
“Kaiden is younger than me, and look how mature he is. Melvin, you’re just getting more childish every year. It’s truly sad.”
“What did you say?”
“What’s the point of Father hiring a string of tutors for you? You never learn a thing—maybe you’re just not smart enough. In comparison, Kaiden is quite refined.”
“Haha, that’s all thanks to you, Chloe. Your wisdom has made me the man I am today.”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re all talk.”
Chloe gave Kaiden a playful punch in the chest. Kaiden giggled and rubbed his cheek against her like she was the most adorable thing in the world.
“Ugh!”
Melvin’s face turned bright red at the sight of the two completely ignoring her.
“Durr, say something! They’re mocking me!”
So furious was she that she didn’t even realize she’d just called the son of House Verder “that man.”
Durr was equally stunned. He watched Chloe and Kaiden stuck together like glue with a complicated look before finally speaking.
“Chloe, are you really… involved with Lord Verder?”
“Durr!”
Who asked you to bring that up?!
Unable to control her fury, Melvin stormed out of the café. But this time, Durr didn’t go after her. He simply gazed at Chloe with a wistful expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“…What kind of look?”
“The kind where you drink too much, can’t sleep, and start reminiscing about your ex-wife.”
Also known as “divorced ex-husband eyes.”
Chloe stabbed a grape on her plate with such force that it burst and splattered juice across the table.
“Aren’t you going to chase after her?”
“Are you really… dating him?”
“What kind of nonsense is that? You saw it with your own eyes.”
“…Yeah. You two look happy.”
This, from the man who was just bragging a few minutes ago. The pathetic comment made her bristle.
“Stop worrying about me and go catch the woman you’re going to marry. One divorce is forgivable, but if you get dumped again before the wedding, you’re finished. You know that, right?”
A single divorce might be okay for a man, but for a woman, it’s a blemish. Durr had said it himself—more than ten times, in fact.
“…Alright. I’ll see you at the wedding.”
Durr stood reluctantly from the sofa. Just as he was about to leave, he turned back unexpectedly.
“I hope… Lord Verder will attend as well.”
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Chloe opened her mouth to shut Durr up, but Kaiden was quicker.
“Of course.”
“Then… I’ll take my leave.”
And with that, the conversation with her ex ended. Chloe felt like a blockage in her chest had cleared. It was as if…
Yes. It felt like drinking sparkling water laced with pine needles. So refreshing it was almost cold.
“You seem quite pleased.”
The voice from above brought Chloe out of her pine-needle daze.
“Ah!”
Chloe quickly pulled herself away from Kaiden’s arms. The area of contact felt strangely warm, and she spoke brusquely to cover her fluster.
“Never thought I’d do something this insane in my life.”
“For something insane, we had great chemistry.”
“Well…”
Her attempt at sounding cynical was pointless. Just thinking about what happened earlier made her face flush again.
‘I must’ve lost my mind.’
She’d flirted, punching a stranger’s chest like it was cute, and even threw herself into his arms.
“You’ve got quite the talent for acting.”
“T-That’s only because the situation forced me!”
Humans tap into their full potential when desperate, after all.
“Well, I enjoyed it.”
Chloe quietly studied Kaiden, who still hadn’t stopped smiling. What on earth was so amusing to him?
‘I must’ve looked ridiculous.’
It was a petty form of revenge. But to Chloe, that small act of rebellion was vital.
To him, her situation must have seemed like a cheap comedy. The fact that her desperate, miserable reality was just amusement to him made her feel even more pitiful. Especially because it was all based on a lie.
“Mocking someone’s family situation openly and then butting in… There’s no one like you in this world.”
“But it did help, didn’t it?”
He had a point, so Chloe stopped grumbling. Especially since this was Kaiden Verder.
But she still didn’t stop thinking he was crazy.
‘As much as I want to finish my drink, I should get going.’
Chloe intended to end her relationship with Kaiden here. Being close to the heir of House Verder would be great, sure—but not if he was insane. Worse still, if he treated others’ pain as entertainment.
“Either way, thank you for today. I’ll be going now.”
“Already?”
“Already? I have to start cleaning up the mess I made.”
Melvin had the loosest lips in the world. She’d probably go around telling everyone that Chloe and Kaiden were dating. Chloe would be swamped for days trying to clean up this lie.
“If we get the chance, maybe we’ll meet again.”
Of course, if the chance came, she planned to kick it away with both feet. Chloe bowed politely despite her true feelings.
“Well then…”
“We’ll be meeting again very soon.”
“…What?”
Chloe looked up at his cryptic remark.
“Chloe, you’re going to need me.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“This.”
Kaiden held up a shiny white object between his fingers.
“Not taking this?”
It was a wedding invitation, adorned with white lace and sparkling beads. Durr and Melvin’s wedding invitation.
“Ah…”
Chloe finally realized what the biggest problem she had to fix was.
[I hope… Lord Verder will attend as well.]
If her memory was right, Durr had invited Kaiden to the wedding. And Kaiden had said…
[Of course.]
Oh, God.
Clutching her forehead, Chloe collapsed back into her seat.
“I told you. You’d need me.”
Chloe Garrett’s fake boyfriend, Kaiden Verder. If she wanted to end this lie perfectly, she’d need his help.
But…
“Free acting ends here. Next time, I’ll have to charge a fee.”
What an arrogant, twisted, unhinged man. Chloe’s instincts screamed at her to stay far away from him.
“Sorry, but I won’t be needing your help any further.”
“Don’t tell me you plan to attend the wedding alone?”
“What’s wrong with going alone?”
She could handle going to the wedding solo. That was her plan all along.
If people asked about Kaiden, she’d say they broke up. There’d be gossip, sure, but Melvin was the bride. No one would make a scene out of respect for her.
But Kaiden saw it differently.
“Dating someone as high-profile as me and breaking up in under a month? Perfect fodder for gossip.”
“What kind of gossip?”
“That you still have feelings for that guy… what’s his name? Fondue?”
“Fondue… You mean Durr?”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Seems like you’re the only one who doesn’t think so.”
Kaiden leaned back casually and continued.
“Nothing invites gossip like a short relationship. People love to speculate why it ended so soon.”
Durr Duncan was the only man who had ever been part of Chloe Garrett’s life. Even after breaking up with him nearly two years ago, she’d been alone the whole time.
“And now, Chloe dates someone new, and they break up in less than a month? Just in time for Durr’s wedding? What do you think people will say?”
They’d say she still hadn’t gotten over her ex-husband.
