Chapter 6
Jacob’s expression was almost cartoonish in its intensity. His forehead veins bulged, his eyes flared wide as if he were ready to devour someone. He was so furious he could barely form words.
“You… you two!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Franklin kicked him out the door and slammed it shut with
force,
“Ow!” Jacob’s scream of pain echoed from outside.
Franklin frowned, muttering, “Weird, this door seems a bit off–it’s not closing properly.” He pushed it firmly,
“My hand! Ow!” Jacob’s pained voice cried out again.
Completely unfazed, Franklin casually opened the door, feigning surprise.
“Oh, sorry, didn’t realize your hand was there.” He nudged Jacob’s now swollen fingers out of the way with a look of disgust.
“But hey, maybe you should thank me. It’s probably the biggest it’s ever been.”
Jacob’s face was ghostly white from the pain, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he glared at Franklin, his lips quivering in silent fury. Franklin simply closed the door with a satisfied grin.
I gave him a thumbs–up. That was brutal!
It seemed Jacob was genuinely shaken by what had happened because, in a complete turnaround, he started trying to win me back. He began flooding me with morning, afternoon, and evening messages. Have you eaten? What did you have? And now, he even waited outside Franklin’s building with flowers, hoping for a chance to talk.
“Sophie, I realize now–I really do have feelings for you. Please come back.”
“If you come back, I’ll consider breaking things off with Melody.”
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Chapter 6
“We’ve been together so long; I can’t imagine my life without you.”
I ignored him, but he continued with a new strategy: playing the victim.
“Sophie, my stomach’s acting up again. The doctor says I’ve developed an ulcer from drinking too much. But every time I don’t drink, all I can think about is you. Is it too late to
regret?”
“Sophie, the house feels so empty, I miss your mushroom and cheese soup. When will you
me back? I know I was wrong.”
“Sophie, let’s get married. We could have two kids–one like you, one like me.”
Reading his messages became my daily entertainment. Franklin, too, took to mocking him
with dramatic lines.
“Sophie, my life is meaningless without you.”
Finally fed up, I forwarded all his texts to Melody. She replied instantly,
“Sophie, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you trying to make a point?”
Franklin took my phone and responded.
“Ma’am, please control your boyfriend. If he keeps lusting after my girlfriend, I’ll be happy
to step in.”
I looked at Franklin in surprise.
“Who said I’m your girlfriend?”
He pouted.
“I’ve cooked for you so many times–don’t I deserve a little reward?”
“Or are you still hung up on Jacob? I’m telling you, a dog never changes its ways. Don’t let a few sweet words fool you; he’s not a good guy.”
I raised an eyebrow.
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Chapter 6
“So you’re a good guy, then? Was getting close to Jacob just part of your plan to get to me?”
He gave me a pitiful look.
“You knew all along?”
Actually, I hadn’t known–Jacob had been the one to tell me. He claimed Franklin had
always had ulterior motives and had only gotten close to him to get to me. Following that hint, I’d discovered Franklin’s private Instagram account and learned everything.
There, I saw posts detailing his secret thoughts:
“I’ve found my goddess, but she already has someone. What should I do?”
“Her boyfriend is a jerk. I saw him kissing another girl, disgusting! I need to protect her
myself.”
“Mission update: I’ve infiltrated the enemy camp! I’m now friends with my goddess’s
boyfriend. Technically, that makes me her boyfriend’s friend, which practically means I’m
her boyfriend too!”
“Up there in the comments–they’re saying being a male friend counts as being her boyfriend! I won’t listen to any slander!”
Then, another post:
“Her boyfriend ordered her around in front of everyone. When he got drunk and went to the bathroom, I gave him a good beating and told him he fell. He didn’t suspect a thing. Unfortunately, it made her worry.”
“I caught her attention! Got her on WhatsApp. Secretly vented to her, and she didn’t even
realize.”
Then his posts stopped for three months. His followers were in a frenzy, asking for updates.
Finally, he returned with one last post:
“My goddess is getting engaged. I’ve missed my chance. Wishing her happiness.”
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Chapter
But a few days later, he was back again.
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