Chapter 1 The Strange Man
Elodie's POV
Alex called me while I was serving tables at the coffee shop.
"Elodie, get to the party in ten minutes."
After hanging up, I immediately took off my work uniform. Even though finishing today's shift would give me enough for tuition, I didn't hesitate for a second.
The coffee shop was fifteen minutes from school. To save time, I ran the whole way and nearly got hit by a passing car.
When I arrived at the party, sweaty and out of breath, I saw Alex sitting in the center, surrounded by a circle of hot blonde girls in sexy short skirts.
One of the blonde girls saw me, smiled as she snuggled into Alex's arms, and looked at me with contempt. "Alex, your Female Simp really is loyal. She actually made it here in ten minutes."
I recognized this girl—Samantha, the cheerleading captain and one of Alex's flings. My relentless pursuit of Alex disgusted her, so she often gave me a hard time at school.
Alex wore a T-shirt. Tall and muscular, with messy golden-brown hair and that casual, devilish smile always on his face.
He leaned lazily on the couch, arm around Samantha's waist. Seeing my disheveled state, disgust floated in his amber eyes. "Couldn't you have dressed up a bit? You look so tacky."
"You only gave me ten minutes..." I explained quietly.
"So you're saying it's my fault?" Alex raised an eyebrow, his smile dropping.
I lowered my head and said nothing more, my fists clenched tight, fingertips turning white.
Seeing how pathetic I was, everyone around showed looks of scorn.
Samantha laughed out loud, playfully pushing Alex while her eyes swept over my chest. She deliberately stuck out her own full breasts, her tone mocking. "Alex, you're being too hard on Elodie. No matter how she dresses up, she's still nothing to look at. What difference would it make?"
Laughter erupted around us.
Honestly, I was happy with my body. Full breasts, curvy hips—just not as exaggerated as Samantha's.
But her chest was obviously fake.
Screw that. Does everyone in this world need to get Kardashian-style silicone implants?
Alex said nothing, just picked up a shot of tequila, his tone flat, as if talking about something that had nothing to do with him. "We were just playing truth or dare. I lost."
I froze. Their game punishments were always extreme.
"What's the punishment?" I asked in a low voice.
Mark, sitting next to Alex, immediately chimed in with a grin. "Simple! See that row of depth charges over there? Drink them all!"
I stared at the row of hard liquor on the table, feeling like there was more to it. "That's all?"
"How could that be all?" Alex picked up a pink plastic collar from the table, twirled it on his finger, and smirked. "Put this on, meow a few times, and crawl around the booth on all fours."
My heart immediately sank.
This wasn't just humiliation—they were treating me like a clown.
Seeing me not move, Samantha said sarcastically. "Alex, your Female Simp seems a bit unwilling."
Alex urged me impatiently. "Just do what I tell you. Stop dragging your feet."
Others had already started cheering. Someone pushed the row of shots in front of me, and someone else held up their phone to record.
Mark held the collar, about to put it around my neck.
They were treating me like a whore!
A huge wave of humiliation washed over me.
I stepped back sharply, dodging his hand.
"I won't wear it." My voice wasn't loud, but it made everyone around me instantly quiet.
Samantha was the first to cry out dramatically. "Jesus Christ! Alex, looks like your Female Simp isn't very obedient."
Alex's face darkened, his cold amber eyes fixed on me. "Say that again! Are you wearing it or not?"
Looking at his heartless expression, my heart felt like it was being stabbed.
For a year, I'd endured all kinds of excessive behavior from Alex just to be with him—his cheating, the mockery from him and his friends.
I thought my people-pleasing would win Alex's favor.
But in this moment, I clearly realized that Alex had never liked me.
He only trampled on my dignity, playing with me like a little dog.
A long-suppressed despair made me instantly lose all hope.
Fine. If you don't love me, then I don't want you either.
I reached out and grabbed the row of shots. Under everyone's shocked gaze, I drank them one by one.
The burning liquid poured down my throat, my stomach felt like it was on fire, burning and aching.
After finishing the last one, I slammed the empty glass on the table. Then I picked up the collar, snapped it in half, and threw it on the table.
Dead silence surrounded me. A few people whispered. "Is Elodie actually mad?"
"How could she be? She's so obsessed with Alex—she even jumped into a lake in freezing winter weather to find his bracelet. How could she get mad over something this small?" someone else responded.
"But today she actually fought back, and at Alex's campus party..."
Listening to the chatter, Alex's face grew darker and darker, finally turning to anger. "Elodie! You made me lose face today! I never want to see you again!"
"Fine."
If you think I'm a toy to be played with, you better think again!
Alex looked completely shocked.
"Alex, we're done. I won't appear in front of you anymore." My voice was hoarse but unusually calm.
I turned and left, ignoring the gasps and the sound of Alex smashing glasses behind me.
I walked alone through the streets of New York, stumbling.
The cold wind blew on me, but I didn't feel cold at all.
My stomach churned with burning pain. I leaned against a wall and threw up violently next to a dumpster in a back alley, tears and snot all over my face, looking as pathetic as an abandoned stray dog.
After throwing up, I felt completely drained, cold sweat soaking my clothes.
I leaned against the wall, gasping for air, looking at New York's gray night sky, feeling empty inside.
It was over. Finally over.
That twisted relationship with Alex, and my ridiculous obsession.
Watching the street gradually blur, I finally collapsed to the ground, completely spent.
At that moment, a large hand firmly caught me, followed by a magnetic voice in my ear. "You look terrible."
I weakly turned my head. Against the dim light from the alley entrance, I couldn't see the person's face clearly, only that he was tall and straight, with a pleasant cedar scent.
It reminded me of that man, the boy who used to own the ice hockey rink in his youth.
Was it him?
Once this absurd thought arose, I couldn't suppress it.
Alcohol had destroyed my rationality. I grabbed the person's arm tightly, crying incoherently. "You came back, didn't you? Why did you leave me... why..."