A hint of guilt seemed to flicker in Carly's eyes, but she quickly hid it. "How so, honey? Everyone knows you're the only one I love. He's just a schoolmate I'm close to. I feel sorry for him and just want to help. Don't overthink it, love."

I stood up without even glancing at her. "He's your friend, not mine. I'm not obliged to help you deal with their family affairs."

Carly frowned. "Jason, aren't you usually the kindest, most sensible person in the room? When did you become so unempathetic?

"Your family is wealthy, your parents are alive, and you've a steady income.

"But Aaron lost his mom at a young age and ended up with a dad like this. You're so out of touch with reality!"

Having said that, she dug out her ATM card and headed straight for Aaron's place without saying another word to me.

I didn't comprehend how Carly could say something so shameless to emotionally blackmail me like this. It was as if I were somehow responsible for Aaron's suffering.

I quickly packed my things and sent Carly a text that read, "Let's break up."

I then blocked and deleted her number for good.

This time around, I wondered how long she could hold out without my support.

After all, Carly's business was at a critical juncture right now.

In my past life, I'd gone home, begging my parents to help Carly out. I'd even drunk myself silly at business events to secure projects and ended up with stomach ulcers after.

I did everything for her. But what about her?

Did she ever truly love me?

Every night we spent being intimate, was she thinking about me or her deceased schoolmate?

Presently, I returned home with my luggage in tow. My parents visibly froze when they saw me.

My dad, Werner Reed, snapped, "If you're here for her sake, don't bother. She's a constant source of irritation for your mom and me.

Seeing my middle-aged parents, who were still healthy, I teared up immediately.

I wondered how hopeless they'd felt when they saw my corpse after Carly killed me in my previous life.

At that thought, I wept uncontrollably at the doorway.

My mom, Lara Roswell, nudged my dad and frowned. "It's all your fault. Why do you have to be so harsh? Can't you see he's bawling his eyes out?"

I held my mother and cried my heart out. Regret, resentment, and everything else broke loose as soon as she reached for me.

"Alright, calm down now," Mom murmured. "Jason, what's going on? Did Carly pick on you?"

I nodded. "I-I broke up with her. I don't love her anymore. I want to come home."

My parents looked like they'd finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel, which struck me as a little amusing.

As if fearing I'd change my mind, Dad asked, "Is it an irreconcilable breakup?"

I wiped away my tears and smiled before nodding. I then recounted the entire story.

Mom and Dad looked absolutely furious. "I told you that Carly wasn't a good match for you! If she were truly capable, then would she need you to risk your life networking for her? You've stopped coming home for her sake, and now she has the nerve to turn on you?"

When I heard this, I felt a twinge of guilt as I glanced at my parents.

What on earth possessed me in my past life to abandon my own parents for a woman like Carly?

"It's alright. All is well now that you've come home to us," murmured Mom, patting my back to console me like she used to when I was younger.

Since a lot had happened in one day, and I was worn out, I soon fell into a deep sleep.

I woke up at noon the next day. When I checked my messages, I saw 20 missed calls from an unknown number—likely Carly's—and a social media update from Aaron.

In the uploaded photo, he sat in the passenger seat with Carly holding his hand. The caption read, "No matter what happens, you'll always be by my side."

Even though I was mentally prepared, seeing it with my own eyes still made my heart clench.

I'd been with Carly for six years. She seemed to love me so much that everyone joked about never believing in love again if we did not marry.

But feelings could change, couldn't they?

My phone chimed. When I checked it, it was a series of texts from Aaron.

"I'm sorry, Jason. I didn't mean to post that. You know my situation is complicated right now. Carly just took pity on me and kept me company last night.

"I heard you guys broke up. Please don't tell me it was because of me. I'd feel awful."

I didn't respond to him. Such pedestrian tactics were beneath me.

He posted that picture on his socials only to text me this.

What was he expecting me to do? That I got down on my knees and begged Carly not to leave me? Or that I'd storm over to his place and beat the crap out of him?

Aaron, who should've known better, was just as disgusting as an ingrate like Carly.

I once saw Carly and Aaron's chat log by accident. Aaron constantly sent her text messages that made my toes curl.

"You're so nice, Carly. I envy Jason for having a girlfriend like you."

"Jason is so lucky. He has a happy family and an adorable girlfriend. If only I could be so fortunate in life."

Carly, innocent as she was, fell for it.

She insisted on treating him as a sibling, going as far as to bring him food and drinks when he needed it.

…

My childhood friend, Robert Camden, heard I'd broken up with Carly and insisted on dragging me out to celebrate. I found myself in an unusually good mood when I saw his lively smile.

"Dude, you have no idea how much I hated Carly. Ever since you started dating her, you haven't eaten with me in ages.

"A love-addled brain is the source of every misfortune. It really does describe people like you, who'd forget about their friends as soon as you see a pretty face," he said.

While listening to his tirade, I put my arm around his shoulder and nodded in agreement.

"I messed up. I was blind and failed to recognize your true worth. Happy now?"

Robert then nodded, tugging me in and out of various luxury boutiques.

I couldn't help but feel a tad melancholic. Since I'd been with Carly, I seemed to have lost sight of who I was. I somehow became a man whose whole world revolved around her.

With her career just taking off and money being tight, I cut back on quite a bit of my spending to support her, never setting foot in those luxury stores I used to love.

"Hang on. Isn't that Carly?" Robert exclaimed.

I followed his gaze, finding her and Aaron dragging a suitcase behind them.

They snuck around inconspicuously—like they were up to no good.

I had no intention of meddling in their lives anymore, but Robert was incredibly curious, insisting on dragging me along for a closer look.

When I saw them enter a designer resale store, I began to suspect something.

"Isn't that the watch I gave you for your birthday two years ago?" asked Robert, pointing at the limited-edition designer watch inside.

I frowned. When I packed up and left two days ago, I had left behind some things I hadn't had the time to bring with me.

I'd planned on hiring movers to relocate them over the next few days.

I never imagined that Carly would secretly sell my watch for Aaron's sake.

When I walked in, Carly's gaze immediately shifted from guilt to surprise. "Jason, what brings you here? Why haven't you been answering my calls? I-I was planning on explaining after I finished here, but—"

I slapped her hard across the face without warning, and Carly looked at me in disbelief.

Aaron rushed over to examine the mark on her face. "Jason, how could you just hit her? You—"

The second slap landed squarely on his face.

"Hitting you is a matter of convenience," I said icily.

Robert cheered wildly from the sidelines, and people in the store gathered around to see what was happening.

"Jason Reeds, you piece of shit! Why did you hit him? What did he do to deserve you picking on him like this?"

Carly tugged Aaron behind her, shielding him like a mother hen would.

I pointed to the pile of luxury watches, necklaces, and rings on the table and asked, "Did you get my permission to sell my stuff?"