Chapter 3

I stubbornly sat in the back seat, and he gave in: "It was too dark that night, and the situation was urgent. I didn't see you; I instinctively went to save Keturah, who couldn't escape."

His instinct was to save Keturah, not me! Mistaking her fake bare face for a real one, I could only assume he was too naive to understand the subtleties. But during the fire, he clearly walked farther away from me, even though he was just a meter away! The fire illuminated the entire scene; how could he not see me within a meter? He could see Keturah from several meters away, so how could he miss me?

"There's no need to explain. She's your childhood friend; it's natural to save her," I said coolly.

My indifferent attitude infuriated Kirk: "Are you still mad that I saved her instead of you? You don't even acknowledge me as your boyfriend in front of others anymore?"

"You blocked me; isn't that breaking up?" I replied.

"Deava! What are you trying to do? Do you want me to admit that I have something with Keturah? Fine, I'm Keturah's boyfriend! Happy now?"

"I'm not making a fuss. Who you want to be with is your business, not mine."

Kirk, furious, climbed into the back seat to drag me to the front passenger seat. Just then, his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—it was "Keturah." Kirk hesitated for a second before answering.

"Okay, I'll bring it to you right away!" I overheard Keturah saying she left her mascara in Kirk's car. He looked at me awkwardly: "I remember you have the same mascara. I must have mixed them up."

"I'll take her the mascara and then we can have a proper meal together," he suggested. Understanding this as a breakup meal, I agreed.

When Keturah saw Kirk's car, she smiled radiantly; her makeup was natural and elegant. Her long dress swayed in the wind, giving her an ethereal appearance. She opened the front passenger door skillfully and bent down to get in, unintentionally revealing her alluring chest. Kirk's gaze lingered on her chest for a moment before he awkwardly looked away.

"Why are you wearing a long dress all of a sudden? Didn't you always wear T-shirts and jeans?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm still a girl after all. Sometimes I wear dresses so you don't forget it," Keturah teased playfully.

She noticed me in the car only after picking up her mascara. "Deava, you're here too!"

"Let's have dinner together tonight! Last time I wanted to thank Kirk properly for saving my life by treating you both to dinner. He said you were busy with work and couldn't make it, so he ended up cooking for me instead. It was quite embarrassing."

"It's rare that you're free today; let's have dinner together and clear up any misunderstandings!" She pretended to cover her chest coyly, exuding an alluring charm. I didn't miss the flash of triumph and provocation in her eyes when she glanced at my flat chest.

Not wanting anyone to intrude on our breakup meal, I got out of the car and took a taxi home. On the way, Kirk called me countless times, but I didn't answer. Then he started bombarding me with text messages.

"I stood you up because Keturah had a stomach ache. I couldn't just leave her alone; that's why I cooked for her!"

"She got trapped in the fire trying to save you. I cooked to thank her properly on your behalf. Can't you stop being so sensitive?"

"You're a soldier; naturally, you're not afraid of a little fire. If I hadn't saved her, it would seem too selfish and heartless. Can't you learn from Keturah and be more gentle and understanding?"

His blindness and insensitivity made me lose any desire to argue. He would rather believe that Keturah got trapped in the fire for my sake than believe that I had a miscarriage.

When did this relationship become so unbearable?