My Boyfriend Played Mind Games, So I Played Them Better Chapter 11

My Boyfriend Played Mind Games, So I Played Them Better Chapter 11

I had come to Julian’s engagement party because I needed to borrow money.

I just hadn’t expected him to offer before I could even ask.

“This is a loan. I’ll pay you back.”

“All right.”

Once all the paperwork was done, I boarded a flight to Paris.

To my surprise, I adjusted to life in a foreign country without any trouble.

The coursework was demanding, but my days felt full.

I spent my days in white T-shirts and jeans, my hair pulled into a ponytail, surviving on coffee, bread, and bland student meals.

If Julian hadn’t occasionally liked one of my Instagram posts, I might’ve forgotten I’d ever brushed up against the world of the ultra-rich.

During my master’s program, my adviser strongly supported my research, and I eventually earned a place in his doctoral program.

I shared the news on Instagram.

Somehow, Ethan heard about it and sent me a follow request and a message from a burner

account.

[Is there any chance we could get back together?]

I declined the follow request and replied to his message: [You’ll have to ask my boyfriend.]

My boyfriend lived next door.

He had the face of a Greek god and the brain of an overexcited golden retriever.

The first time I met him, he’d locked himself out of his apartment wearing nothing but a

towel.

His abs were spectacular, and I took my time admiring them.

On the day of my master’s graduation, I received two bouquets.

One was from my boyfriend.

The other came without a card.

But I knew who had sent it.

I posed with my boyfriend, holding the bouquet that had come without a card, and sent the photo to Julian.

My golden retriever of a boyfriend leaned over and recorded a thank-you voice message for Julian in halting English.

Julian didn’t reply.

I assumed the next time I contacted him would be when I repaid the loan.

If I hadn’t fallen for Julian, maybe we could’ve become close friends after everything he’d done

for me.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t claim my feelings had ever been innocent.

After earning my doctorate, I returned home to take a well-paying job and repaid Julian in full within my first year.

By then, his career was thriving.

Presumably, he’d finished building the future he’d envisioned. He and Vivienne ended their engagement amicably, each walking away with what they’d wanted.

After years together, my boyfriend and I got married and settled into the ordinary rhythm of bills, groceries, laundry, and dinner.

It wasn’t until much later that a friend told me what had happened on my wedding day.

Julian had been there.

He’d stood among the guests, watched me exchange rings, then quietly left.

I’d come to believe that life wasn’t divided neatly into right and wrong. There were only

choices.

Fortunately, every choice I’d made had led to consequences I could live with.