After crying my heart out, I felt a little better. When I stood up, a sharp pain shot through my stomach.

Only then did I realize I hadn't slept or eaten since last night. No wonder my legs felt weak.

Oliver always complained about the food the housekeeper made. His mother used to cook for him, but after she got sick, I took over.

When I cooked in the past, it was always to suit the tastes of Oliver and his mom.

Now, standing in front of a kitchen full of ingredients, it took me a while to remember what I actually liked to eat.

Back home, I used to love spicy food.

But Oliver hated spice, and his mother's health required a light diet.

I hadn't cooked a spicy dish in years.

Today, I wanted to make something spicy for myself, but the huge fridge didn't have a single chili pepper.

In the end, I settled for a simple bowl of noodles and ate them slowly.

Just as I was about to finish, Oliver came home.

He was still wearing last night's shirt, a bold lipstick stain on the collar.

When he saw me sitting at the table, he smirked and ordered as if it were the most natural thing in the world,

"Make me something to eat."

Before I could respond, he sneered,

"Do you know what you did wrong last night?"

I wanted to finish the noodles in my mouth before replying, but my silence seemed to give him the wrong idea.

"Weren't you so tough last night? What, cat got your tongue now?" He rolled up his sleeves and loosened his collar. "Linda, are you being cheap? If you can't leave me, stop playing these little games."

I swallowed the noodles, my throat tightening, so I took a sip of the broth.

Oliver kept going,

"I told them not to clean up the room. Go fetch the ring, and I'll let this go."

I stared at the oily broth left in my bowl, then wiped my mouth with a napkin before finally looking at Oliver.

How strange. It hadn't been long since that gut-wrenching pain, but now, seeing him, all I felt was a dull ache.

Someone you've kept in your heart for so many years—turns out it only takes one night and half a day to kick them out for good.

I stood up from the table without a word, grabbed my bag, and headed for the door.

Oliver was used to everything revolving around him, so my indifference immediately sent him into a rage.

He stormed over, gripping my wrist with such force that his face turned as dark as thunder.

"Didn't you hear me?

"Linda, even defiance has its limits.

"I've changed my mind. Get on your knees and apologize, or you can leave my house for good."

For the first time, I felt genuine impatience toward him.

My wrist throbbed in pain as I tried to pull away, but Oliver was never one to ease up. Seeing my discomfort only made him tighten his grip, his teeth clenched as if he wanted to crush my bones.

I lifted my gaze to him and finally spoke,

"Oliver, let go."

He sneered maliciously.

"I won't—ah—!"

I looked down at him, smirking coldly.

"Have you forgotten? To keep you from getting beaten up for your big mouth, I started taking self-defense classes in my second year here."

Yes, his mother had planned everything for her only son, ensuring that I would coddle and protect him like a guardian angel.

I think her intention was for me to adore, admire, and cherish this man.

I really tried my best, but the human heart can only bear so much pain.

Now, all I wanted was to tear that mouth apart.

But my gratitude toward Oliver's mother snapped me back to reality. I glanced at him, still stunned, and turned to leave.

By the time I got into the taxi headed for the airport, my phone was blowing up with messages from Oliver.

He had never been treated like this before, and now, humiliated and furious, he bombarded me with insults, one after another.

Texts and voice messages flooded in, and after listening to a few, even the driver couldn't help but glance at me repeatedly before asking,

"Miss, what kind of person did you upset? The language he's using is awful."

I let out a bitter laugh and replied,

"My ex-boyfriend."

"Oh wow, no one should be talking like that, even after a breakup. Your ex clearly lacks class. Good riddance, I say."

I didn't listen to any more. I blocked Oliver and Mia on WhatsApp.

Just as I was about to block his number too, a phone call came through.