The overhead light caught the tiny mole on his
nose, making it even more noticeable.
I froze up, my lashes trembling, and I obediently
closed my eyes.
Pulling myself back to reality, I gripped the
steering wheel and whispered, “Okay, I got it.”
2
Sierra’s return was a full–on spectacle. The
airport was packed with fans trying to catch a
glimpse of her.
Jack had hired some guys to set up a giant
rose carpet for her at the gate.
Sierra, looking all emotional, ran right into
Jack’s arms at the end of it.
12:35
Someone took a picture, slapped a filter and
some sappy text on it, and it blew up online.
“True love never dies,” the post said.
53
Sierra was rich and famous, a total golden girl.
Her relationship with Jack had been a huge
deal, and the split was just as dramatic.
Even though she’d gone overseas and Jack had
married me, there was still a huge fanbase that
loved the two of them together.
In the parking lot outside my office, I sat
hunched over in my car, clutching my aching.
stomach and scrolling through the trending
topics.
Besides Jack and Sierra, I was also trending.
“Chloe: Knockoff Edition.”
<
12:36
That’s when I got it.
The people dissing me had free rein because Jack was encouraging it.
…I read a bunch of the nasty comments for a
while.
Just as I was going to close the app, a new topic blew up, instantly bumping Jack and Sierra’s love story from the top spot.
#HunterReed Returns.
The name hit me like a shockwave, and I tapped
the screen with a trembling finger.
It was a video of a dude in a black tee, sharp
face, and a small mole on his high cheekbone.
He walked out of the crowd, his face hard as a
rock, and stepped all over that fancy rose
carpet.
<
12:36
Jack stopped him, his voice pissed: “Are you blind? Watch where you’re going.”
The dude turned, the diamond stud in his ear catching the light.
“My bad,” he said flatly, his eyes scanning the scene like he was looking at a piece of trash.
“How much money do I owe you? I’ll have my manager reach out.”
“It’s not about the money,” Jack retorted.
“Not the money – “Hunter looked at the ruined
roses, then slowly raised his head, “Are you
trying to pull a ‘hit and run‘ scam?”
3
The trending page was a warzone between
Sierra’s fans and Hunter’s.
<
12:36
53
“Who does this guy think he is, so full of
himself? He’s not that good looking.”
“World Champion is a heck of a lot better
looking than a dude who cheats on his wife, do
us all a favor and go get your eyes checked.”
World Champion.
Those words made me pause.
I looked him up, and it turned out that Hunter
Reed was an e–sports player in Europe, and he
had won a major international tournament last
year.
He had just signed with a domestic club for 4
million dollars a year.
Killer gaming skills plus a ridiculously attractive
face had given him a massive fanbase, both
here and overseas.
<
12:36
He had become someone dazzling.
จ
53
I rubbed my aching stomach. My vision was
getting all blurry, and for a second, I thought I
saw the kid he used to be.
It was raining then, and he looked like a
drowned rat, waiting outside my house all night.
I remembered the messages he used to send:
“You really don’t want me?”
“What did I do wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“Chloe, don’t come crawling back to me.”
After that final, bitter message, Hunter had
blocked me everywhere and went overseas like
his family wanted him to.
Seven years passed and I never heard a word
about him.
<
12:36
And now, the first time I saw him again, it was
at my husband’s little love fest for another
woman.
How messed up is that?
I closed my eyes and tried to imagine his expression, the look of disgust in his eyes as he
read the trending topic about “Knockoff
Chloe.”
What was he thinking?
Probably that I deserved it, right?
4
Jack didn’t come home that night.
He just texted: “Dinner with clients. You’re on your own, don’t wait up.”
I automatically texted him back: “Need me to
く
12:36
pick you up?”
