Chapter2

On Friday afternoon, as soon as I pushed open the door to our shared off-campus apartment, I saw the entryway piled high with Mia's things. Chase walked out of my walk-in closet, carrying several of my coats in his arms. He didn't even glance at me and casually dumped my clothes onto the living room sofa.

"What are you doing?"

"Mia is moving in for a short stay," Chase replied matter-of-factly. "Her dorm isn't a single. Those girls ganged up on her because of the forum post and dumped trash on her bed. Her claustrophobia acted up."

"This is our apartment!" I pointed at my clothes on the sofa. "If she is moving in, why did you clear out my walk-in closet?"

"The master bedroom connected to that closet gets the best lighting. Mia has to take two kinds of antidepressants every day now, and the doctor said more sunlight is good for her. Can't you just sleep in the guest room?" Chase's eyes were filled with blame. "I'll transfer your half of the rent to you right now. Harper, when did you become so cold-blooded?"

Before I had time to speak, Mia walked over with red eyes. "I'm sorry, Harper..." She looked at me timidly. "If this makes you uncomfortable, I should just go back. Even if they come to beat me up again in the middle of the night, I can endure it..."

"Why would you go back? This is your home, I'd like to see who dares to make you leave." Chase pulled her into his arms with heartache, turning his head to glare at me fiercely.

Looking at the edge of that bone pendant necklace showing on his neck, I clenched my fists tightly.

The future in the photo, I silently recited prime numbers in my head for the third time, Endure it. I didn't spare them another glance, walked over to pick up my own clothes, and turned to enter the guest room.

I thought this was the end, but when night fell, I realized it had only just begun.

At eight o'clock in the evening, several of Chase's fraternity brothers arrived at the apartment with beer and a 2K game disc.

When I came out of the guest room to pour some water, a few guys were sitting on the sofa joking around. And Mia was sitting on the carpet, pressing closely against Chase. The navy blue silk pajamas she was wearing were the ones I had just bought last month.

"Those are my pajamas." Holding my water glass, I spoke coldly.

The living room instantly fell quiet. The gaze of the boys darted back and forth among the three of us. Mia shrank back into Chase's arms: "I'm sorry, I came over in such a hurry that I didn't bring any pajamas. I thought I could borrow your clothes for a bit..."

"Take them off." I looked at her expressionlessly.

"Harper, haven't you made enough of a scene?" Chase violently smashed the game controller in his hand onto the carpet and wrapped his arm around Mia's shoulders. "It's just a piece of clothing, do you really need to embarrass her in front of my brothers?"

"Wow, Chase, your girl is jealous." The guy sitting on the sofa whistled, his eyes carrying the mocking amusement of watching a good show.

Chase scoffed and kissed Mia's cheek right in front of everyone. "Don't mind her."

"She can't leave me. Even if Mia and I sleep in the same bed tonight, she will willingly guard the door like a dog. After all, she had a crush on me for three years..."

"Crash!" The glass in my hand slammed heavily onto the floor.

I didn't look at anyone, walking straight into the kitchen, preparing to cook some pasta for myself.

Was that future really bought at the price of my present dignity?

The fraternity brothers found it boring and left.

"Mia ruined her stomach taking her meds. Make her a bowl of seafood soup." Chase had walked into the kitchen at some point, using a commanding tone.

"I don't know how." I tossed the pasta into the pot. "I am your fiancée, not a nanny for you two. If you want soup, order takeout yourself."

"Harper!" Chase suddenly strode over and grabbed my wrist firmly. "Do you really have to be so petty with a sick person?"

"Let me go!" I struggled forcefully, trying to turn off the stove with my other hand.

Right then, Mia had walked to the kitchen doorway at some point. "Brother, stop arguing, I don't have an appetite..." Mia leaned weakly against the doorframe, then suddenly slid straight down to the floor. "I... I can't breathe..."

"Mia!" Chase instinctively wanted to rush over and catch her. But the hand grabbing mine not only didn't let go; instead, he pushed me mercilessly!

My body slammed against the stove. I knocked the pot over, and the hot water cascaded down.

"Ah—!" I screamed miserably. The pain made me collapse directly onto the floor, my left hand tightly gripping my right arm.

My tears fell uncontrollably as I looked at Chase through blurred vision.

He stood at the door, holding the "panic-stricken" Mia tightly with both arms. He looked at my arm, a fleeting moment of extreme panic flashing through his eyes. But the Mia in his arms suddenly let out a sob.

Chase tightened his grip around Mia. "Stop acting, Harper."

"It's just a bit of hot water. I need to take Mia to the hospital for oxygen; clean it up yourself."

The front door was heavily slammed shut. I lay on the floor alone, the pain in my right arm feeling like it was slicing through my flesh.

I bit my lip hard enough to bleed. It seemed the man from the future was wrong. When would this damn love ever be on my side?