Chapter 6
River just stood there in silence.
Stood by my cart watching Bennett and me work together.
Maybe the grease smoke was getting to him–his frown never relaxed.
Ever since Bennett started helping with my cart, business had been booming.
With River there too today, it was even better.[]
Those young girls kept sneaking glances at Bennett, then checking out River, whispering among themselves.[
When I was packing up, River called out to me.[]
“Jade, we need to talk.”
I kept putting stuff away: “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.“[]
He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist: “Talk?”
“Ugh…” I made a disgusted sound and followed him to somewhere more private.[]
He pulled out his phone–our chat history was still stuck on my breakup message from two years ago.[]
“What gives you the right to break up out of nowhere?”
“Jade, I never agreed to break up.“[]
I took his phone and casually replied “okay” to that breakup text. The message went through instantly.[]
His expression changed.
“River, do you think you’re some tragic romance hero or something?“]
“You went abroad a month after I broke up with you–did you send me even ONE message while you were overseas?”
River was quiet for a moment, then immediately defended himself: “Before I left, I came to your house looking for you. YOU wouldn’t
“0
see me.
I stared at him with a half–smile.
“River, my family went BANKRUPT.“[]
“You know what bankruptcy means, right, Mr. Finance Major?“]
I used to think he was a genius and the campus heartthrob–he definitely had reasons to be arrogant.]
Hell, I used to love that cocky superiority complex of his.]
But now I was just a regular working person, juggling three jobs and barely able to stand up straight from the energy to deal with his little ego trips.]
exhaustion. I didn’t have
Those twenty–plus years of rich girl life felt like a dream.
Dream was over–time to wake up and deliver food.[]
Bennett called out from a distance: “Jade! Let’s go–you’re gonna be late for your stream again.“]
“Coming!”
I jogged toward Bennett.
River stood there staring at us.[]
I thought I’d made everything crystal clear.]]
But then River suddenly caught up. He looked coldly at Bennett:[]
“Jade, you’re really gonna settle for some street vendor?“[]
“Hustling on the streets, getting
ained on-what can he even give you?”
“You’re getting worse and worse, especially your taste in men.‘
River shoved Bennett hard.[]
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Bennett stumbled back a few steps, his lower back slamming into the tricycle handle before he caught his balance.[]
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“RIVER!”
I stepped forward and kicked him in the knee. He dropped to the ground
thud.
I stood over him: “What’s wrong
with street vending? I don’t just run a cart–I deliver money with hard work. What exactly are you looking down on?“]
food too. I don’t steal, I don’t rob, I make honest
YOU do that?”
“What can he give me? He can hustle on the streets with me and get rained on with
“Yeah, my taste in men sucks–otherwise I never would’ve dated
you in the first place.”
He struggled to his feet and said word by word: “What makes you think I CAN’T be there for you?”
I was so done with him.[]
I turned to Bennett and quietly asked if he was hurt.[]
Bennett shook his head.]
River kept going: “You broke up without saying a word and sentenced me to death without explanation.“[]
I looked at him and suddenly laughed:
“River, from when I broke up with you to when you left for the States was over a month.“[]
“During that month, news about Morrison Investments failing, going bankrupt, being acquired was everywhere. You’re telling me you had no idea?“]
River’s lips moved soundlessly.]
W
See? He knew.
My tone turned mocking: “Because you were pissed–pissed that I broke up with you. You wanted me to come crawling back, to apologize.”
“But did you ever think that you’re a Harvard graduate about to get your Master’s at Oxford with a bright future, while I’m drowning in family debt? If I didn’t break up, what was I supposed to tell you?“[]
“Should I have asked you to stay and help me pay off debts?“[]
“I’m not that selfish.“[]
“I never deliberately avoided you, but besides that one time before you left, did you ever actually try to find me?“]
Between us, it was always me making the first move, me backing down, me compromising.
I’m a human being too–I get tired.[]
)
Especially when I needed someone to lean on most.]
W
Even when I needed him most, his first instinct wasn’t to comfort and support me, but to wait for me to grovel.]
That kind of love? I was better off without it.]]
