Ended My Six-Year Relationship with a Cheater

Chapter 5

At noon, I was lounging on the sofa, absorbed in a TV series, when a flood of messages from Brittany started popping up on my screen. Irritated, I clicked on one and saw that she had sent a string of identical messages: "Olive, are you really going to break up with Landon? Then can I go after him?" The screen scrolled endlessly with her relentless questioning. My good mood soured immediately, and my fingers felt heavy as I typed out a response.

"It's your freedom to chase whoever you want. Why are you asking me? Am I your mother?"

She quickly replied with a crying emoji. "Olive, why are you being so mean to Brit?"

I sighed, too frustrated to keep engaging, and blocked and deleted her.

Half an hour later, Landon called again. His tone was clipped and defensive.

"Olive, what did you say to Brit? Why do you have to drag her into our issues?"

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback. "What did I say, Landon?"

He paused, probably caught off guard by my calmness. In the past, whenever he questioned me, I felt compelled to explain myself, afraid he might misinterpret my intentions. But what was the point of that anymore? His heart was already set against me. No amount of explanation would change that.

He pressed on, frustration seeping into his voice.

"If you hadn't said anything, why would Brit be crying like that and resigning?"

I couldn't help but scoff. "Landon, everything needs evidence. Her crying is her problem, and her resignation is her choice. Am I your scapegoat now? If it's that serious, should we call the police to investigate?"

"Olive, how dare you talk to me like that?" His voice rose suddenly, making my ears ring.

I wasn't backing down. I shouted back, "Why shouldn't I? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Landon, you mean nothing to me now."

Just as I was about to hang up, his next words came out in a strained growl.

"Olive, do you even realize what you're saying? You don't want to get married, right?"

He was trying to manipulate me emotionally, using my refusal to marry as leverage. I was so furious I couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"Landon, don't you get it? I told you this morning that we broke up. Breakup, do you understand?"

In the background, Brittany's sobs could be heard.

"Landon, don't blame Olive. It's my fault. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't be angry with you."

Landon quickly reassured her, "Don't say that. It has nothing to do with you. She just likes to throw tantrums. If she were half as sensible as you, I wouldn't be so exhausted all the time."

The disgust I felt made me feel physically sick, like I'd swallowed something foul. "Then why don't you two just block me already? Please, just leave me alone."

With that, I hung up the phone, quickly blocking and deleting all of Landon's contact info.

When my dad came home, he noticed something was off. He sat beside me immediately.

"Daughter, what's wrong? Who upset you this time?"

"It's nothing, Dad. Just two wild dogs barking and interrupting my movie."

"Watching a movie? How boring to do that alone at home." His eyes lit up, and he pulled out his phone, tapping away at it.

A wave of dread washed over me.

"Dad, what are you doing?"

He grinned mischievously and nudged me upstairs.

"Go pack your things and change your clothes. I've arranged for someone to take you to the movies," he said, already making plans without even asking me.

Reluctantly, I went upstairs to change. Ten minutes later, I heard the roar of a motorcycle outside, followed by its sudden silence as it parked in front of our yard.

"Henry, my brother!" my dad called out, and I felt him tugging me down the stairs.

As I stepped outside, my eyes landed on the man leaning casually against the motorcycle, shaking his hair back with a carefree flair. My breath hitched, and I instinctively called out his name.

"Eugene."

He turned, flashing me a bright, handsome smile that made my heart skip a beat.

"Olive, Uncle Henry said you wanted to watch a movie, so I came to pick you up."

I forced a reluctant smile.

In his determination to marry me off, my dad really didn't hold back. I couldn't believe he found Eugene, a neighbor, to play the role of my "escort." Didn't he worry that Eloise might come knocking at our door?