Farewell To First Love: She Finally Chooses The Happiness Before Her

Chapter 1

It was my birthday, and I was running around all day.

By evening, I had the house decorated.

I’d even cooked up a real feast.

Then, just as the food was getting cold, I got a text from Claire: “Business trip, don’t wait up, go to sleep.”

Then I saw her little heartthrob, Chad, update his Insta.

The photo showed Claire with her sleeves rolled up, apron on, busy in the kitchen.

The caption read: “Wishing this moment could last forever.”

I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me.

I liked the post, reheated the food, and started eating.

My phone kept buzzing, but I ignored it.

When I finally picked it up, there were dozens of missed calls from Claire.

Finally, she sent a voice message.

“Hey, Liam, I’ll explain when I get back, don’t overthink it, we have so many more birthdays to spend together.”

I didn’t reply.

I was just wondering if we really would have a future together.

01.

Claire didn’t get home until three days later.

I was sprawled on the couch watching TV when she walked in.

She looked surprised: “Didn’t you see my messages?”

I didn’t even look up.

“Yeah, but I was busy, and it slipped my mind.”

She looked incredulous.

I guess I couldn’t blame her.

Usually, I’d be so excited to get her messages that I would be waiting downstairs half an hour early.

She paused.

“I haven’t eaten all day, could you just make me something?”

She’s a picky eater.

She can’t stand airplane food, so when she got back from a trip, I’d whip up something for her.

Just as the episode ended, I glanced at her and pointed to the takeout menus on the table.

“Saw these in the mailbox.

Seems like a new place is running some specials.”

Claire’s face clouded over.

“I’m starving!

Even if you’re mad, could you just make me something to eat?”

I looked at her, confused.

“Can’t you just order takeout?

And I’m not mad.”

She obviously didn’t believe me and started talking.

“Chad was all alone in another town, I just went to take care of him as a friend.”

“Okay.”

She rubbed her forehead, looking exhausted.

“Enough already.

I don’t have the energy to coddle you.”

I sighed.

“If you’re tired, rest.

I’m not asking you to coddle me.”

She choked on her words, her breathing getting faster.

I knew she was angry.

Finally, she pulled a gift box out of her suitcase and tossed it at me.

“Happy birthday, there.”

I tossed it onto the coffee table.

“Thanks.”

She stood there, her face falling.

“And…?”

I blinked.

Then I remembered our agreement, whoever’s birthday it was, we’d get each other a gift.

“Oh, sorry.

Got caught up in the show, forgot.”

I felt a little bad.

“I’ll make it up to you later, okay?

Or should I just Venmo you?”

She glared at me.

I felt awkward.

I Venmo’d her some money, checked my watch, and went to the bedroom to change.

When I walked back into the living room, she stared at me, surprised.

“You’re going out?

Where are you going so late?”

I looked at her strangely.

“Didn’t you tell me I needed to learn how to entertain myself in the evenings?

I’m meeting up with the guys.”

Without waiting for her to say anything, I opened the door.

“Where are you going?”

She rushed over and grabbed my arm.

“I made plans with Dave and the others.”

Ignoring her expression, I left the house.

02.

Claire didn’t like my loud, boisterous friends.

She thought it was tacky to always meet up in bars and wanted me to hang out with them less.

I wasn’t about to ditch my friends for her, but to avoid fights, I tried to meet up with them without her knowing or at least get home early.

It meant I could never really relax and enjoy myself.

Now, I finally didn’t have to worry about her feelings.

Dave and the others were shocked to hear my plans.

They knew how much I used to be into Claire.

Now that I’d woken up, it seemed stupid to lose myself for a woman.

Why hadn’t I realized it sooner?

Ugh!

I hung out with Dave and the guys late into the night and even posted a picture on social media.

When I got home, it was 3 AM.

I opened the door to find Claire sitting on the couch, looking murderous.

She glared at me.

“Liam, how old are you?

You’re acting like a kid, throwing a tantrum because you’re jealous?

Running off so late because you’re upset?

Is that appropriate?”

My eyelids felt like they were glued together.

I didn’t have the energy to deal with her, so I walked past her to go to the bedroom.

She stood up and blocked my way.

“Enough is enough.

Chad and I are over.

I don’t want anything to do with him, so you don’t need to get mad at me because of him.

“Also, I don’t like you coming home this late, don’t do it again.”

I yawned.

“You’re overthinking it.

I’m not jealous, and I’m not throwing a tantrum.

And I’m not going to follow your curfew anymore.”

Her face turned ugly.

“Are you done?

There’s a limit to how much you can act out.

I’m not your parents, I’m not going to endlessly indulge you.”

I was too tired to argue, I just wanted to go to sleep.

She assumed I was backing down, sighed, and reached out to hug me.

I stepped back, avoiding her embrace, and with a last burst of energy, ran into the bedroom, shut the door, and locked it.

Before falling asleep, I vaguely wondered if I should move into the guest room and leave the master bedroom to her.

But the next second, I fell asleep thinking: “screw it.”

02.

For the first time in ages, I slept through the night without dreaming.

When I got up to wash, Claire came out of the bedroom.

She walked past me without a word, acting like I didn’t exist.

But this time, instead of panicking and begging for her forgiveness, I just went about my business.

I was on my way to the kitchen when I heard the front door slam.

Ugh, no matter how sturdy the door is, it can’t take that.

I made myself a quick breakfast, then left for work.

I went straight to my manager’s office.

I was about to knock when I heard, “Liam, you’re here early.”

I turned around and saw my manager.

Turns out I was early and he hadn’t even started work yet.

Once inside his office, I told him I would accept the overseas assignment.

The company had offered it to me before, and my manager had urged me to take it for the sake of my career.

But I’d turned it down because I didn’t want to be away from Claire for so long.

My manager was delighted that I was taking it and asked if my girlfriend was okay with it.

I shook my head.

“I’m going to break up with her.”

Thank God for Chad, I woke up in time.

Starting today, I was going to work on the handover and make preparations to leave the country.

I was busy all day.

By the time I left work, it was already dark.

I figured I might as well eat out.

When I got home, I saw Claire holding a gift box in her right hand and her phone in her left, talking on the phone.

“Yeah, it’s not every day the young master graces our city with his presence.

I’ll give it everything I’ve got.

Don’t worry, the young master will be satisfied.

Go ahead and order, I’ll be there soon.”

Oh, right, it was Chad’s birthday.

Her face was full of love.

I’d never seen her look at me like that.

She was always indifferent with me, even when she smiled, it was faint.

I’d complained about it before, but she just said calmly that she wasn’t used to showing her emotions.

Now I see, it’s not that she wasn’t used to it, just that I wasn’t the object of her affection.

After hanging up, she was still smiling, but when she saw me, the smile vanished instantly.

She wordlessly walked past me, then shut the door wordlessly behind her.

She was still mad at me for being so cold last night, so she was punishing me with the silent treatment.

But she didn’t know that, just like this morning, I wouldn’t freak out because she was ignoring me.

I just ordered takeout and, after I’d eaten, I picked up my long-abandoned German textbook.

I knew some German, but I hadn’t used it in a while and needed to brush up.

03.

When I got tired of studying, I scrolled through my Insta feed and, sure enough, Chad had posted an update.

“Thank God for bringing you into my life.”

Below were tons of blessings from Claire’s friends.

Her friends all supported her and Chad and didn’t like me.

They never said anything, but they took every opportunity to make me feel bad.

I’d complained about it to Claire, but she said, “Then you need to work harder to earn their approval.”

I refreshed the page and saw that Claire had commented, just a smiling emoji.

Suddenly I got tagged.

One of Claire’s friends was calling me out.

“Just letting you know, so you and Claire don’t fight.

We’re there too, it’s just a normal hangout.”

I found it funny, replied with “okay,” then tossed my phone aside, took a shower, and went to bed.

I woke up in the middle of the night, blinded by the sudden light.

I looked up and saw Claire staring down at me.

She demanded: “Do you even care about me?

I’ve been out all night and you haven’t even texted me!

My friends’ phones are buzzing non-stop, their boyfriends and husbands are telling them to come home, but I’m just waiting like an idiot!”

I was sleeping soundly and was grumpy when she woke me up.

“You’re a grown woman, why would I worry about you meeting up with friends?

I trust you.

It’s late, you should go to sleep.”

Every time she met up with Chad, I’d make a scene.

Even if I reluctantly agreed, I’d constantly send messages and call.

And Claire would snap at me: “This is a get-together with my friends, what does it have to do with you?

Please, Liam, just give me some space!”

She stood there, stunned.

After three seconds, she grabbed me as I was lying back down.

“Let’s talk.”

I looked at her helplessly.

She took a deep breath.

“That Insta post was just to commemorate my friends getting together, it didn’t mean anything else, don’t get any ideas.”

I was so tired, I just nodded.

“Okay, I get it.”

Her eyes flashed with impatience.

“Why are you refusing to talk?

Are you still mad about me seeing Chad?

I told you, he’s just a friend of my friends, we used to date, but that’s over.

If it really bothers you, I’ll take you with me next time.”

I kept nodding.

“I know, but I’m really sleepy, can I go to sleep now?”

Claire was silent.

She sighed and went to get into bed.

I jumped.

“What are you doing?!”

She froze, glared at me, and stormed off, slamming the master bedroom door.

She distracted me so much that I was worried about falling asleep again, but luckily, I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

04.

I get along well with my colleagues, so they offered to give me a sendoff before I left the country.

I accepted.

But as I was going to the bathroom during dinner, I ran into Claire and her coworkers, and Chad was with Claire.

Claire really took care of Chad, even taking him to her company dinner.

I didn’t feel jealous or upset, I just realized that if I’d come to my senses sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have been so sad for so long.

When Chad saw me, he greeted me with a smug smile.

“Liam, what a coincidence, you’re here too… oh, don’t get me wrong, I’ve been so bored lately, that’s why Claire brought me to the company dinner.”

Claire’s coworkers knew me, so they were a little embarrassed and gave Chad strange looks.

I said “okay” and walked to my company’s private room.

I sat down and immediately got a message from Claire.

“I don’t always bring him to company dinners, just this once.”

Well, duh, Chad’s not usually in town.

“I also feel like this wasn’t a good idea, I won’t bring him again.”

Whether it’s a good idea or not, it’s not my problem.

The next few messages were similar, and the last one was her asking when I’d be done so we could go home together.

I put my phone back in my pocket and didn’t reply.

Everyone ate and chatted, and the atmosphere was great.

Later, one of my coworkers raised his glass and joked, “When Liam comes back from overseas, should we start calling him General Manager Liam?”

I laughed, raised my glass, and said, “Don’t tease me, maybe I’ll be begging you for a job when I get back.”

Everyone laughed.

When it was over, I walked out of the room and saw Claire staring at me with red eyes.

Chad was holding her and glaring at me.

Claire ignored Chad and looked at me, her voice trembling.

“You’re going overseas?”

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