Chapter 2: Breaking and Entering—And Out

But—

Later that night, I suddenly heard rustling noises…

Startled, I instinctively grabbed a vase from my bedside. Then I pressed the silent security call button.

This is a high-end neighborhood—each house is a standalone home, and the security is top-notch. If there's an emergency, the guards show up within ten minutes.

I got out of bed, crept toward the sound—it was coming from the living room. I saw a shadow, crouched on the floor, rummaging through my things.

A thief?

But my doors were locked. Then it hit me—I’d left a balcony window open for ventilation. With all the security here, I never worried. Guess I was too trusting.

I timed the guards' arrival and moved toward the door to let them in.

Finally—the doorbell rang.

The guards were here!

The shadow in the living room heard it too and rushed toward the door. The outline looked oddly familiar. Wait a second…

I took aim and threw the vase at his head. He yelped, clutching his head and crouching on the floor.

I hurried to open the door for the guards and turned on the lights.

Now I could see clearly—it was Evan, pale-faced, blood trickling down his forehead from the vase.

He glared at me:

"Savannah, you dare hit me?"

But then, as if realizing something, he lowered his eyes, looking pitiful:

"Savannah… I just didn't want to wake you, so I snuck in. It took a lot of effort. I’ve been gone so long—I really missed you. Don’t be mad, okay?"

Disgusting.

He was positive. Infectious. And he still climbed over the wall, broke into my house, and tried to give me the virus—all because he 'missed' me?

I grabbed a mask and put it on, then pointed to the door:

"Evan, get out. Don’t dirty my house."

His face darkened:

"Savannah, enough! If you keep being so jealous and unreasonable, I really will break up with you! Why are you acting like this?"

I almost laughed out loud—

He was the one who changed, yet he said I was the problem? The nerve.

Seeing I didn’t answer, he softened his tone:

"Look, after three years together, I can’t bear to break up. My company’s struggling, you know that. That hundred grand I borrowed from your friend—the repayment’s due soon. Can you ask him to extend it a few months? And maybe lend me another two hundred grand? Savannah, help me this once, and I won’t break up with you."

I couldn’t believe it. He actually said that out loud.

In college, he was the aloof top student, proud and untouchable. Girls chased after him, but he ignored them all. But he would smile at me, bring me grape slushies on lazy summer afternoons, organize my notes when I skipped class, warn me not to drink cold drinks during my period.

Those little things won me over.

But now? Just three years after graduation, he’d turned into exactly the kind of man I despised—treating me like an ATM.

Makes sense, though. With the way he flaunted wealth to Emily and needed to cover his company’s debts, a hundred grand wasn’t nearly enough.

I couldn’t be bothered to argue. I turned to the guards:

"This man broke in and was rummaging through my things. I suspect he was trying to steal. Please escort him out."

The guards nodded and moved to grab him.

Evan’s face went pale:

"Don’t you know me? I live here! What would I steal from my own house? I was just looking for fever medicine!"

He glared at me:

"Savannah, where’s the medicine?"

He was so weak his voice was hoarse.

I just laughed. So he’d come to steal my fever meds?

Evan’s behavior tonight had truly set a new low.

The guards hesitated and looked at me:

"Miss Carter, what do you want us to do?"

They knew he’d lived here for a while and used to be my boyfriend.

I said firmly:

"Remember his face. Starting tomorrow, don’t let him into this neighborhood. Get him out."

I added:

"And be careful—he’s positive. Wear masks and gloves."

With that, the guards didn’t hesitate. They grabbed him and hauled him out.

Evan was furious, shouting:

"Why are you throwing me out? Are you crazy? She’s not even the owner—just a renter! I live here too, you should treat us equally!"

…

The guards looked at him like he was an idiot.

Honestly, it was laughable. My monthly HOA fees were more than his salary. Even the guards here made good money. Why would they side with a freeloader?

Finally, one of the guards couldn’t hold back and snapped:

"Are you stupid? Miss Carter is the owner! She bought this house outright five years ago! You’re the crazy one!"

Evan was stunned:

"What? No way!"

He looked at me, disbelief written all over his face…

As he was being dragged out, I snapped a photo of him—disheveled, furious, being shoved out by security. He looked like a stray dog.

I sent the photo to Emily, replying to her for the first time:

"This isn’t a garbage dump—I don’t accept trash, especially toxic trash. You seem to like recycling, so get ready—he’s all yours."

She didn’t reply that night. I guessed she was panicking—she’d been so eager to show off that Evan wouldn’t risk infecting her, but clearly, she didn’t want to be around him either.

Soon enough, she texted back:

"Miss Carter, don’t misunderstand. I just wanted Evan to be taken care of."

A while later, she sent a screenshot of her chat with him. Turns out, Evan, ever the gentleman, didn’t want to infect her, so he went home to his parents instead.

If I remembered right, his parents were in their sixties. High risk for severe illness. He’d rather risk his parents’ health than let Emily get sick? Some son he was.

And Emily’s desperation to move up was way too obvious. Only someone as clueless as Evan wouldn’t see it.

I called my brother, Lucas Carter. He was studying abroad at the time:

"Hey, did you find out about Emily Reed’s life overseas?"

Lucas teased:

"Wow, sis, you finally remembered to check in? I thought you were too busy supporting that loser."

My parents sent Lucas abroad to 'further his studies,' but really it was just to polish his resume. He always called Evan my 'doormat boyfriend.' And he wasn’t wrong.

I’d already had people look into Emily and Evan’s relationship in the States, but to really dig deep, I needed to know about her three years overseas. Conveniently, Lucas was in the same country, even the same city as her—though he was at a top international university and she was at a third-rate college. For him, digging up dirt was easy.

Sure enough, Lucas sounded disgusted:

"I’ve got it. Emily’s time abroad? Let’s just say—campus was wild, but she was wilder…"

I snorted.

"What the hell?"

He explained:

"Basically, she did everything but study. Her parents started as small-time business people, then settled down here. Honestly, they were just nouveau riche. They tried to play with the big boys, lost everything. At first, Emily partied hard—hookups, wild parties, you name it. Three months ago, her dad’s company went bankrupt, owing millions. She got pregnant—doesn’t even know who the father is. Then her parents died in a car crash while running from debt. She skipped their funeral and bolted back to the States. I’ll send you the details."

Wow. That was a lot to take in.

Emily—truly a piece of work. A real saint—just like Evan.

I took a deep breath:

"You’re coming back in two days, right? What time? I’ll pick you up. Mask up when you board."

He gave me his flight info.

"Don’t worry, sis, I’ll be wrapped up tight. Wouldn’t want to bring you any viruses and mess up your money-making."

I laughed:

"Good."

He asked:

"So why’d you want me to check on her? Got beef?"

I paused, then said coldly:

"Evan cheated—with her."

He was silent for a good thirty seconds, then burst out:

"What the hell! That loser’s out of his mind! With someone like Emily? Doesn’t he care about hygiene? Sis, I’ll help you get payback when I’m back!"

Lucas came back soon after. I picked him up at the airport—fully masked, tall, cool, turning heads even with half his face covered.

Back at the house, he stayed with me for a few days to quarantine before seeing our parents.

Seeing all of Evan’s stuff gone, he grinned at me:

"Congrats, sis. Breaking up was the right move. That guy was all show—how did you ever fall for him?"

I forced a smile. I could still remember how popular Evan was in college—school uniform, books, the breeze by the window. He was the kind of boy you’d easily fall for at that age. But some people are only dazzling in youth—their glory fades fast. Time strips away the rose-colored glasses, and you see how quickly people change.

I replied, lazy:

"I was blind before. I’m better now."

Lucas ruffled my hair:

"Good. Stay away from jerks. Don’t let it get to you."

I nodded, then asked:

"By the way, from what you found, didn’t Emily get pregnant recently? What happened to the baby before she came back?"

He shook his head. "No idea."

Thinking about her recent behavior, I sneered:

"My guess? She probably didn’t deal with it."

Her fake sweet, yet anxious attitude made sense now. She probably wasn’t after Evan for love—she saw him as a rich, easy mark, not knowing he was spending my money. No wonder she was in such a hurry to break us up—she was running out of time to hide it.

The next few days, Evan was probably bedridden. I finally enjoyed some peace.