Chloe thought she had found love at last.
She was deeply happy with Jack. Everything seemed perfect. Until one afternoon, as she walked into his kitchen, she saw something that left her feeling cold.
It was a note on Jack’s fridge. A magnet, too. Both of them had been part of her past with Mike, her ex-boyfriend.
The afternoon had started so well. Chloe was in a good mood. She had spent the day running errands, and now she was excited to cook dinner for Jack. She felt loved, secure, and hopeful. But when she entered the kitchen, everything changed.
There, on the fridge, was a familiar magnet. The same one she had bought during her trip to the Caribbean with Mike, years ago. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared at it, her mind racing. She moved closer, almost afraid to touch it.
The magnet had a small chip at the top, and Chloe remembered it well. It had been her fault — she had dropped it right after the vendor gave it to her. She didn’t want to exchange it, so she kept it. And now, here it was.
And then she saw the note. Mike’s handwriting. It was clear, with a message that seemed to call out to her, “Love You, Bun!”
It hit Chloe like a punch in the gut.
Mike. The man she had once loved. The man she thought was behind her. How could he still be so present in her life?
Mike had been part of her past in university. He had been the handsome, successful football player with a wealthy family. She, on the other hand, was the quiet, studious law student who had stumbled into the wrong lecture hall — and into Mike’s life.
She thought they had something special, that their future together was secure. But Mike never took her seriously. He had his own world, his own rules. And when he was done with her, it was as though she had never existed.
The memory of their breakup still stung. “I need someone on my level,” he had said when he ended things. The words still echoed in Chloe’s mind, each one a reminder of the pain.
But now, years later, Jack had brought it all back. Jack, who she believed was different. The man who had shown her kindness and love. But seeing that magnet on the fridge made her question everything.
“Chloe, we need to talk,” Jack said as soon as he walked into the room. He could see the shock on her face.
They sat down in the living room, and Jack began to explain. “Mike is my stepbrother,” he confessed. Chloe was stunned.
Jack told her everything. He revealed how Mike had been a spoiled child, always getting what he wanted, always causing trouble. Jack shared how Mike had tried to ruin their parents’ wedding, simply because he thought his father was too good for Jack’s mother.
“Mike always had to be the center of attention,” Jack added, his voice bitter. “He’s like that with everyone.”
“But why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Chloe asked, struggling to understand why Jack had kept this from her.
“I didn’t know how to bring it up,” Jack admitted. “I thought we were doing so well, and I didn’t want to mess it up. But then I realized you needed to know the truth.”
“But why now?” Chloe demanded. “Why this magnet?”
Jack sighed. “We had a family dinner last night. I asked for our grandmother’s ring. I wanted to give it to you, Chloe. I’m serious about us.”
“But Mike flipped out,” Jack said, his tone more serious. “He was angry. He’s known about us for a while, and it’s been hard. But I didn’t want to lose you.”
Chloe was speechless. Jack had been planning to propose, and yet Mike had turned everything upside down.
“So, Mike put the magnet there and wrote the note?” she asked, still trying to make sense of it all.
“Yeah. He likes to mess with me. It’s always been this way,” Jack said, almost defeated.
Chloe felt her heart heavy with doubt. She loved Jack, but the truth was confusing and hurtful. Mike had used his presence to manipulate their relationship, and Jack had let him.
As the evening passed, Chloe couldn’t shake the feeling that Jack had used Mike’s regrets to get closer to her, using their past pain as leverage. She stood up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. She needed space.
“I think I need to go,” Chloe said softly.
Jack didn’t argue. He simply nodded.
Now, Chloe sat alone, feeling the weight of the decision ahead. They had dinner planned for tonight to discuss their future, but Chloe wasn’t sure there was one anymore. Some truths were too heavy to bear.
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