"Just because I like you, you're going to push me away, Julian?"

"I ran my feet raw in these heels chasing after you! Look at my ankle, how can you be so cruel…"

Zoe’s voice was thick with tears, her face a mask of tragic beauty.

Julian said nothing, sinking to the floor to check her injury.

In that instant, Zoe threw herself at him, pinning him to the ground, their lips crashing together.

I watched with my own eyes as he offered no resistance, sinking into the kiss before responding with even greater force.

They both had their eyes closed, completely lost in the long, deep kiss.

When Julian finally opened his eyes, the lust in them turned instantly to shock.

Because he saw me.

I was right there, under the table, our eyes locking.

I don't even know what my voice sounded like when I spoke.

"Fancy meeting you here."

Julian scrambled to his feet. "It's not what you think. Let me explain."

I stood up in silence as Zoe rushed over to grab my arm. "Chloe, it's all my fault. I seduced him, it has nothing to do with Julian…"

I shot her an amused look, then ripped the ring from my finger and threw it in her face.

"The role you wanted to steal? It's all yours now."

"As for you, Julian," I said, slapping my keys and resignation letter onto his desk. "We're done."

He panicked, shoving the limping Zoe aside to rush in front of me.

"Chloe, I don't want any of this! Just listen to me, I love you, I only want…"

He didn't get to finish.

I slapped him, hard, across the face.

"You still want something? Is this enough for you?"

While his head was still ringing, I strode out of the studio.

He clutched his red, swelling cheek and chased after me, all dignity forgotten.

The ground floor of the studio was lined with photos from my fashion shows.

As he ran past each one, he called out when and where he had taken it.

From the day we met to the height of my career, our memories were woven together, our lives filled with traces of each other.

I had to fight with every fiber of my being not to turn around, to just keep walking forward.

I jumped into a taxi, but Julian caught up, pressing his face against the window.

"Chloe, she's just a protégée! No, a stranger! If you want me to, I'll cut off all contact with her!"

I laughed, a bitter, angry sound. "A stranger you kiss? A platonic friendship?"

He shook his head, his defense utterly pathetic.

"Chloe, we were about to get married! I gave you ten years of my life!"

"You know about my depression! I'll die without you!"

I stared at the crying man before me.

"You won't die," I said coldly. "Someone else will take care of you."

"Zoe can't…"

Ha.

Did I say a name?

Seeing him for what he truly was, I decisively rolled up the window and told the driver to go.

He wouldn't give up. He ran back to his car to follow us, but Zoe threw herself in front of his car.

Her sobs were theatrical and heart-wrenching.

"Julian, why does it have to be her?"

"I love you more! If you want to chase her, you'll have to run me over first!"

Through the rear window, I watched Julian get out of the car.

The two of them clung to each other in a tight embrace right there in the middle of the road.

I took a deep breath, unpinned Julian from the top of my contacts, and then deleted them both.

A tear fell onto my jeans, spreading into a dark circle, drawing a final period on our ten-year story.

I went back to our apartment one last time.

Zoe had slept in the bedroom last night, and I still had things to get.

My keys were gone, but I still had the spare we kept under the doormat.

The keychain was engraved with the words "Zoe's Spare."

I had to laugh at the absurdity of it all.

As I packed, Julian's calls came one after another.

He was really multitasking, comforting Zoe with one hand while trying to get me back with the other.

I turned my phone off.

Standing at the doorway, I took one last look at the familiar apartment.

I had already signed the contract for Paris.

Barring a miracle, I was never coming back.

Just as I was about to leave for good, I heard the lock turn.

The door swung open, and there he was.

Julian, looking completely wrecked, stood right in front of me.