Chapter 2The Cold Companion

I returned to our apartment that evening to find the living room cluttered with bags and boxes.

Seeing me, Griffin explained calmly.

"The team dorms are full, and technically your spare room was empty, so I had her move in here."

"This room gets the best light and it’s cozy. Nina said she likes it, so I gave it to her. You can just sleep on the enclosed balcony for a few days. After all, we're not married yet, so it wouldn't be appropriate for us to share a room."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"That bedroom was decorated for me by my grandmother before she passed away! Did you even bother to ask me?"

He scowled. "Weren't you looking at new places anyway? You might be moving out soon. If you want the same layout, just hire an interior designer to replicate it."

"It's just a room. Let her have it. Don't be so petty."

I froze. He was the one who suggested I look for a new place. He'd said it was inconvenient to live in the team apartment after getting engaged, that we'd have more privacy if we moved out. Now that his old flame was back, it had suddenly become my project.

I was about to argue when a tearing sound came from the bedroom. Nina ran out, clutching several pieces of thick twine, looking innocent.

"Griffin, did I do something wrong? This photo wall…"

I rushed into the bedroom. The photos that had been carefully strung up were now torn, ripped violently from the wall.

My eyes blazed with fury as I snatched the remnants from Nina's hands.

"Who gave you permission to touch this!"

She flinched, her eyes instantly welling with tears. "I'm sorry."

Griffin stepped in front of her, shielding her, and shoved me back. "What are you yelling about? It's just a bunch of old photos. Is it really that big of a deal?"

My voice, when it came out, was a scream of pure despair. "Griffin, these aren't just 'old photos'! These are the last pictures my grandmother left me!"

Back then, Grandma thought framing photos was too expensive and troublesome, but she was afraid of losing them in an album. She'd seen somewhere that you could hang them on the wall, so you could see them whenever you missed her, like she was watching over me as I slept. She had painstakingly hung each one, despite her discomfort, only to worry that I wouldn't be able to take them down when I moved.

Griffin had grandly promised her not to worry, that he would hire the best professionals to remove them without a single scratch.

And now, in his eyes, they were just a bunch of troublesome junk.

Seeing the photo of me and Grandma from her last days, torn and ruined, felt like losing her all over again.

Tears splashed onto the fragments as I carefully picked them up. Nina grabbed my hand, her voice choked with fake remorse.

"I'm so sorry, Willow. I didn't know these were so important to you. I know someone who restores photos, should I ask them for you?"

Her hand tightened, crumpling the pieces she held. I fought to control my boiling rage.

"No. Let go."

Griffin frowned. "She's just trying to help. Give her a chance to—"

His words about making amends were cut short by another sharp tear. In the struggle, the photo in my hand ripped again.

As I watched the wrinkled scraps flutter to the floor, something inside me snapped. I slapped her, hard, across the face.

"What is wrong with you? I told you to leave it alone! What are you trying to do?"

Before she could even react, Griffin's hand connected with my cheek.

"That's enough! It was an accident! Why are you taking it out on her? Do you think I'm invisible, hitting her right in front of me?"

I stared at Griffin, stunned. It was the first time he had ever laid a hand on me, the first time he had ever raised his voice at me. Even when a road-raging driver had cut me off and screamed obscenities at me, he hadn't defended me with the same fire he was using to defend Nina now.

A bitter laugh escaped me. So this was the difference between being loved and not being loved.

"Griffin, let's break up."