The Girl He Called Practice

Case

mile plastered across his face, leaned in to whisper something to Bella. She giggled, a sound that grated on my raw nerves, and then, compl

en glances, the private whispers. He'd said it was "special," "ours." The hypocrisy was a fresh, burning brand on my soul. My vision tunneled, the edges of the screen blurring. The cafe, the pas

ize. She was the one worthy of public affection, of being paraded around like a trophy. And he hadn't wasted a single second. Just hours. It had been mere hours since he' d woken up next to me, sinc

cooped out my insides and left me hollow. My body began to shake uncontrollably, a deep, rattling tremor that started in my chest and spread through every limb. I couldn't brea

full of alarm, jolted me slightly. She' d turned the camera back to her face

ough me. I just shook my head, pressing my palms harder against my eyes,

d Felix do something? Is it about Bella? I knew that girl was trouble. She' s all over his so

out the French, about the "practice," about the "safety net." She just knew

choke out a single, ra

ently. "Just tell me. I' m here. Wh

actice,' Chloe," I whispered, the words barely audible. "He called me a 'safety net.' He sai

ression hardened, a fierce protectiveness flashing in her gaze. "He what?" she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. "The absolute nerve of

ys did. I learned French years ago, for his

Always taking you for granted. Always knowing you' d be there to pick up his pieces, to cheer him on, to make him look good. You were always the one picking out his ties, r

chosen Columbia simply because it was his dream school, planning to study architecture there so I could be near him, supporting him while he took over his family' s real estate empire. I' d s

t. I won' t." A strange resolve began to solidify within me, a hard, cold core rep

e brilliant, kind, beautiful, and you have dreams of your own, remember? What about Stanford? You got into Stanford' s architecture program, the best i

t taken for a man who didn't deserve a single step of my journey. The idea, whispered by Chloe, s

" I stated, the words coming out surprisingly

ous? Oh my god, this is amazing! This is... this is yo

. I' m going to build my own life, my own dreams. Far away from him." Felix' s dismissive words about me being a "safe

d, her face beaming. "When do yo

er as I spoke passionately about designing sustainable cities, sleek skyscrapers, and innovative public spaces. He' d barely listened, his focus always on his own next big deal, his next conquest. I' d

e sky, and he, the man who thought I belonged in his shadow, would simply be a tiny man on the

ll be too busy preening with his 'prize.' And when he finally looks around for his loya

ain," I vowed, my voice firm, resolute.