Chapter 03

The woman wore a white dress that unintentionally matched Owen's white shirt, making them look like a loving couple.

She walked up to Owen, smiled gently at me, then turned her gaze to him.

"Have you made your choice? Let me pay for you."

As she spoke, she reached to take the shirt Owen had draped over his arm.

My mind went blank in an instant.

Had he fallen in love again in just half a month?

I looked down, unable to see Owen's expression, but my eyes were fixed on his arm.

I clearly remembered him once telling me that only his significant other could pay for his clothes from now on.

"No need. Thank you."

Owen handed the shirt to the saleswoman before the woman could take it, leaving her hand hanging in mid-air.

"You're always like this, keeping a distance from me. We've known each other for so many years. Can't you accept a shirt from me as a token of my feelings?"

"I could understand when you had a girlfriend, but now, you've broken up, haven't you?"

Her tone was tinged with regret, but the amusement in her eyes was unmistakable.

I took a deep breath, unwilling to stay any longer, and stepped back before turning to leave.

"By the way, who is she?"

Her gaze shifted to me.

"My ex-girlfriend."

Owen took the shirt, glanced at me, and said casually.

I was so infuriated by his words that my head nearly exploded, while the woman at Owen's side smiled at me, her face full of insincerity.

"Sorry, I didn't recognize you just now. Owen and I have been close friends since childhood. My name is Ruth."

They say where there were women, there was conflict. I truly experienced the truth of this saying, suspecting that she didn't mean to say they had grown up as close friends, but rather, she was hinting that she and Owen were childhood sweethearts.

My pride was strong, and I did not like to concede easily.

"Is that so? It seems you really have been good friends for a long time."

Ruth's expression immediately soured.

After saying this, I didn't even glance at Owen, turning to leave the place.

Just as I was about to hail a taxi, a pair of hands suddenly reached out and grasped my wrist, leading me towards the underground parking lot.

Who else could it be but Owen?

I did not struggle, letting him lead me into the car. The vehicle slowly started, driving in a direction familiar to me.

The familiar interior of the car, the familiar him, his familiar profile. It felt like a momentary return to the past, to the time before we had broken up.

While waiting at the traffic light, I couldn't help but ask him,

"Does Ruth like you?"

His hand on the steering wheel paused for a moment, then he turned to look at me.

"Alison, in what capacity are you asking me this?"

I opened my mouth but made no sound.

The car fell into silence until the honking of cars behind us prompted Owen to gradually withdraw his gaze from me.

Before the car moved forward, I heard his cold voice.

"Sorry, I don't need concern from an ex-girlfriend."

I felt shattered by his words, gripping my purse tightly, fearing that if I let go, the tears hidden at the corner of my eyes would fall.

After that, until he dropped me off, we did not speak at all.

The car slowly moved along the road, but my eyes caught sight of a wooden ornament on his car's dashboard.

Just one glance pulled my thoughts back to the past we shared.