Boyfriend Let His Side Chick Ruin My Painting, Now He Regrets. novel Chapter 9

Alexander watched him go, lost in thought. 

I raised a brow. "Something on your mind?" 

"Nothing much, just a friendly reminder-stay away from sketchy people like that." 

I smiled without saying a word. 

I thought I'd never see Lucas again, but two weeks later, he showed up at my door with a painting. 

"Chloe, I had this copied so many times, but none of them feel right," Lucas looked at me carefully.

"Can you... fix it for me?" 

I fell silent. When I painted it, every stroke was filled with love for him."

"But now, everything has changed-even I can't recreate that feeling. 

I told him the truth, and his face turned ashen.

He hesitated, then looked at me hopefully. 

"Then… can you paint a new one for me? I… I'll pay you." 

I was trying to figure out how to turn him down when Alexander's voice came from inside. 

"No." 

He walked out and stood between us. 

"Sir," Alexander smirked, "a good ex should act like they're dead."

"You keep showing up at my girlfriend's place-what does that make me?" 

Lucas looked at me in shock.

His gaze flickered to my hand in Alexander's before he finally dropped his head. 

After he left, Alexander shut the door.

I pulled my hand away and crossed my arms.

"Alright, explain. Since when are you my boyfriend?" 

Alexander gave me those big, innocent puppy eyes.

"Come on, Chloe. I was just helping you out. Now he won't bother you anymore, right?" 

"Oh, really?" 

Alexander nodded eagerly. 

I raised an eyebrow. "Well, the light's fixed. You can go now." 

I shut the door in his face, ignoring his wounded expression. 

The next morning, I opened the door-and something collapsed onto the floor. 

It was Lucas. 

His clothes were soaked, his damp hair hung over his forehead, and his whole body radiated heat. His face was flushed red-he must've been out in the rain all night. 

I took a step back and called 911. 

As the paramedics were about to take him away, he suddenly regained consciousness.

He grabbed the hem of my sleeve and wouldn't let go. 

"Chloe… I know I hurt you. I ignored you so many times and left you waiting in the rain…" 

"You acted like you cared about me, showering me with jewelry, but most of those pieces ended up in Chloe's room." 

"You took me to all the restaurants Chloe always wanted to try-testing the food for her."

"But to Chloe, it only seemed like you never cared about her." 

"She thought you loved me. But the only person you ever loved was Chloe." 

"Funny, right? Chloe never even opened the jewelry cabinet you filled for her before she left." 

Lucas clenched his fists, his voice shaking. "Enough." 

Victoria smirked.

"Do you know how Chloe reacted when I sent her those pictures of us in bed?" 

"She didn't say a word." 

"Lucas, the great Lucas, the way you love someone is by pushing them further and further away."

"Isn't that hilarious? Hahaha-" 

"I SAID ENOUGH!" 

Lucas grabbed a syringe from the doctor's tray and plunged it straight into Victoria's artery.

Her laughter cut off instantly. 

He remembered the day of his wedding-how he had sped home like a madman, only to find the floor of the art studio covered in shredded paper. 

His blood had turned to ice.

The room was right there, just a few steps