Chapter S
Chapter 5
Victoria flinched.
“Lucas, what are you talking about? I don’t understand…”
Lucas’s patience snapped.
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”
“This was the painting she planned to showcase at our wedding!”
“And you–of all things–you had to ruin this one?!”
“I…”
Victoria’s eyes darted around before she tried to play coy, reaching for his wrist with a sugary smile.
“Lucas, I didn’t mean to, I-”
He yanked his arm away, scanning the crowd, the dwindling exhibit.
Daphne still hadn’t shown up. A rare, unsettling panic crawled up his spine.
The wedding officiant approached, steadying Victoria with a polite smile.
“Lucas, sir, please don’t be upset with your wife.”
“It’s your big day–whatever it is, surely you can talk it out.”
Lucas stiffened.
“Wife?” His voice was sharp, urgent.
“Daphne’s here? Where?!”
He wasn’t sure why, but suddenly, nothing mattered more than seeing her.
The officiant hesitated, glancing at Victoria.
“Isn’t she right here?”
Lucas’s temper flared.
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Boyfriend Let His Side Chick Ruin My Painting, Now He Regrets
Chapter 5
“She’s not Daphne!”
He spun around in frustration, then pointed straight at Victoria.
“Are you blind? She’s nothing like Daphne!”
Victoria’s face went pale.
The officiant awkwardly stepped back, withdrawing his hand from her arm.
The guests were growing restless, murmuring among themselves.
“Wasn’t Lucas’s fiancée supposed to be the artist hosting this exhibit?”
“It’s getting late–where is she?”
“Yeah, and did you see that ruined painting in the corner?”
“If that’s her ‘masterpiece,‘ I don’t get the hype.”
“Probably just riding on Lucas’s influence.”
“Who does she think she is, making everyone wait like this?”
Lucas clenched his jaw, shoving down the gnawing dread.
After smoothing things over with the guests, he called Daphne.
The the
“Daphne, where are you? The exhibit’s almost over. Why aren’t you here?”
His voice dropped, softer now.
“I know I was harsh. I didn’t realize it was that painting.”
“I already called Victoria out. Daphne, please, just come out. I know you’re nearby.”
“You’ve been waiting for this moment for five years.‘
“Why make things harder on yourself?”
Hearing the urgency in Lucas’s voice, I suddenly laughed.
The boarding announcement echoed through the terminal, reaching his end of the call.
Lucas froze for a second before his voice turned frantic.
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Boyfriend Let His Side Chick Ruin My Painting, Now He Regrets
3.8%
Chapter 5
“…Daphne, where are you?”
“Say something, Daphne!”
Listening to the tremble in his voice, I finally spoke softly.
“Calm down. It’s just a painting. If it’s ruined, so be it.”
“I don’t need the painting anymore. And I don’t need you either.”
“Lucas, we’re done.”
I hung up and boarded my flight to France.
On the plane, I had a rare dream–of the first time I met Lucas.
He was so different back then, bringing me roasted sweet potatoes in the winter and my first pumpkin spice latte in the fall.
He once handed out flyers for an entire month just to buy me designer perfume.
Even when he nearly got heatstroke, he never complained.
I remembered the way he smiled, warm and sincere.
“Daphne, you deserve the best. If I ever betray you, don’t ever forgive me.”
When I woke up, my phone was buzzing nonstop, messages flooding in.
“Alright, Daphne. I’ve sent someone to grab one of your paintings from your studio.”
“You always paint me so well–any of them will work for the wedding.”
“Stop being mad. I already docked Victoria’s bonus this month.”
“She knows she messed up.‘
“…Daphne, where are all the paintings?”
“My assistant found scraps in the shredder.”
“Daphne, pick up the phone!”
I sighed, barely audible, then declined his call and pulled out my SIM card, tossing it into the trash.
Goodbye, Lucas.
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Boyfriend Let His Side Chick Ruin My Painting, Now He Regrets
4.0%
Chapter 5
Lucas would never forget the way his heart clenched when he sped home, only to find an empty house.
Piece by piece, the unease that had been gnawing at him finally clicked into place, forming a devastating
truth.
Daphne was gone.
