Chapter 6 It Means I'm Done With You

"You've got some nerve dodging it!" Zoey stormed over and slapped Cheryl hard across the face. "You disgusting slut! How dare you go after Shane?"

Cheryl's head snapped to the side from the hit. She turned to Rodger, hoping he would say something, but he just stepped forward and shot her a cold glare. "Cheryl, apologize to Zoey," he said without a hint of warmth.

Cheryl's throat tightened. She already knew Rodger didn't care about her, but hearing it like this still hurt. "Apologize for what?"

Rodger lowered his voice, but his tone was just as harsh. "Tell her you won't upset her again. Promise you'll stay away from Shane and stop going after what isn't yours."

Cheryl stared at him for a long moment, then let out a short, bitter laugh. "Fine. I won't go after what isn't mine anymore. I'm done picking up things other people throw away and pretending they're worth something."

She remembered being a teenager, watching how Rodger treated Zoey like she was everything to him. She dreamed of being loved like that too. Since Zoey wasn't into him, Cheryl quietly took her chance.

It was clear Rodger had strong feelings for Zoey, and Cheryl's teenage crush wasn't something she could hide either. On their high school graduation day, Rodger finally confessed to Zoey, but she turned him down without a second thought, like his feelings didn't matter at all.

Rodger got drunk out of his mind that night, and Zoey didn't even care. Her eyes were only on Shane.

Cheryl stayed by his side and tried to help him move on. At the time, Rodger swore he was done with Zoey and promised to treat Cheryl the way she deserved.

And Cheryl believed him. She believed every word, because at the end of the day, she was just an eighteen-year-old girl who wanted to be loved.

Sadly, what she didn't realize was that Rodger had always been Zoey's little lapdog. Even if she kicked him away, one little call and he would come running back.

And he didn't just follow Zoey around; he tried to drag Cheryl into that mess, too.

But Cheryl had had enough.

Zoey scoffed. "Did you hear that, Rodger? She still doesn't get what she did wrong!"

Rodger's face darkened. He shoved Cheryl hard. "I told you to apologize!"

Cheryl gave a cold little smile. "Didn't I already? If you want to be Zoey's lapdog, go right ahead."

Rodger flinched. His heart sank, but he covered it with anger. "What's that supposed to mean, Cheryl?"

Cheryl looked him straight in the eye. "It means I'm done with you. From today, I don't want anything to do with you."

She turned and walked away without looking back.

Rodger stood frozen for a second, then laughed bitterly, like he had just heard the most ridiculous thing ever. His voice turned cruel as he yelled after her, "Who do you think you are, Cheryl? You're nothing but just a toy I picked up and made look good. Without me, you're nobody!"

Cheryl's hand stopped on the doorknob. She almost laughed.

Yes, she had been foolish. But Rodger was even more pathetic.

After everything she had done over the years, was that all she meant to him? Just a toy?

She hated herself for having a soft spot for a jerk and treating him like he was something worth holding onto.

And seriously for what? Just like that eighteen-year-old Rodger, she was dumped like garbage.

Rodger saw the pause and thought she was regretting her words. He smiled mockingly. "You think you got where you are on your own? Everything you have, I gave it to you. Without me, you'd still be nothing."

Zoey folded her arms and added with a sneer, "Rodger, I really don't get what you saw in her. Was it her looks? That figure? Come on, she's nothing but a low-budget version of her mother. A side chick, just like her."

But before Zoey could finish, Cheryl turned sharply and slapped her, hard. "Don't you dare talk about my mom," she barked.

"Cheryl? Are you out of your mind?" Rodger shouted, rushing to Zoey's side as she covered her cheek in shock.

Zoey's eyes widened with fury. "You slapped me? Who do you think you are, you bitch?"

She pushed Rodger aside and raised her hand to hit Cheryl back, but Cheryl caught her wrist mid-air.

Rodger, seeing that, didn't think twice and shoved Cheryl hard.

She lost her footing and fell back, slamming into the dining table. Plates, glasses, and bottles clattered to the floor, smashing everywhere.

Pieces of glass scraped her skin, but Cheryl didn't flinch. Without thinking twice, she grabbed a bottle and threw it straight at him.

...

Alban Russell lit a cigarette and gave Shane a playful clap on the back. "So, Shane, your mom told me you're finally going to settle things with the Blakes, huh? You and Zoey have known each other forever. Everyone thought you two would end up together. Don't you think it's time?"

Both men were tall and confident, grabbing attention the moment they walked into Glory Restaurant. People couldn't help but look.

But Shane and Alban didn't seem to notice or care. They simply followed the waiter straight to a private room.

As soon as Alban mentioned the Blakes, an image of Cheryl's flushed face in bed flashed through Shane's mind. His fingers twitched slightly, as if still feeling the shape of her waist.

Alban noticed him spacing out and waved the smoke from his face. "Hey, I'm talking to you. When's the big wedding with Zoey?"

Shane casually pushed his arm away. "There's no wedding. That whole thing was just our families joking around."

Right then, a loud crash came from a nearby private room, followed by Rodger's furious voice. "Cheryl!"

Shane quickly looked over with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. Alban, also, raised an eyebrow and said, "Wasn't that Rodger? And isn't Cheryl his girlfriend or something? Sounds like she really ticked him off. Come on, let's go see what's going on!"