Boyfriend Let His Side Chick Ruin My Painting, Now He Regrets. novel Chapter 1

Their flirtatious words echoed in my ears, making my heart ache dully. 

"Lucas," Victoria pouted, her voice dripping with sweetness despite the smug look on her face. "Chloe invited you so many times."

"Isn't it kinda mean to keep ditching her?" 

"It's not a big deal," Lucas said casually, tapping Victoria's nose.

"I was busy every time. Last time, it was your birthday."

"The time before that, you had a stomachache."

"And before that, we were at that hotel, and you wanted to-" 

"Ugh, Lucas! Do you have to say everything out loud?"

Victoria's cheeks flushed as she tried to cover his mouth. 

Lucas laughed, catching her hand and kissing her palm.

"Not your fault. If she keeps picking the wrong days, what am I supposed to do?" 

My vision blurred as hot tears slipped down my face. 

Four years with Lucas, and I was only now seeing him clearly. 

I thought back to our second anniversary-how he'd smashed my carefully made cake just because I accidentally touched him. 

"Chloe, you know I'm a germaphobe, and you still put your filthy hands on me?"

"That's disgusting!" 

His face twisted in disgust as he threw a used disinfecting wipe at me before storming off, leaving me humiliated in front of the entire restaurant. 

I had apologized, scrambling to clean up the mess.

The alcohol from the wipe stung my eyes, but I forced myself not to cry. 

Later, he explained it away.

Don't overthink it, Chloe. I treat everyone like that.

I believed him then. 

But now, those memories tangled in my mind, and my gaze locked onto the ice cream he'd just accepted from Victoria. 

"Chloe, the exhibition is about to start!"

My assistant Emily rushed over.

"Are we still not showing the final piece?" 

The painting.

I suddenly remembered. 

I had once painted a portrait of Lucas and me when we first met, beaming with happiness. 

I had promised that when he proposed, I would display it to show the world how far we'd come. 

But now… I let out a bitter laugh.

That was never going to happen. 

"No, not this time either," I told Emily with a soft smile.

But now, I realized someone else had been melting that ice. 

I didn't want to go, but Lucas had invested in the exhibition, and I needed his signature on some documents. 

By the time I arrived at his office, rain had drenched me to the bone. 

I pushed open the door, only to lock eyes with Victoria-wrapped snugly in Lucas's arms. 

"Oh!" Victoria gasped and quickly jumped up.

"Chloe, you're here!" 

Lucas frowned, rubbing Victoria's wrist where she had bumped it.

"Why the rush? Look, now you've hurt yourself." 

"I just didn't want Chloe to misunderstand," Victoria whined, sticking out her tongue playfully. 

Lucas chuckled.

"As if she even has the right to be mad."

Then, finally glancing at me, his gaze turned cold.

"What? You want an invitation to step inside?" 

"Chloe, you're twenty minutes late."

"And now you're dripping water all over my office."

"Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"