You Threw Away a Diamond Chapter 02

You Threw Away a Diamond Chapter 02

When I woke up the next day, my phone had exploded with over a dozen missed calls and dozens more texts.

All from Julian.

“Scarlett, you’re going to regret this.”

“Good luck finding anyone else who can put up with your attitude.”

“Are you that much of a sore loser? It was a fucking party game.”

“It’s not what you think between me and Cassidy. We’re just friends.”

…

I scrolled through the wall of text. It was all the same infuriating, gaslighting nonsense.

In the past, my chest would have tightened. I would have been demanding answers about his relationship with her.

My first instinct would have been to plead, “Julian, don’t you love me anymore?”

I would have listened to his pathetic excuses, given him another chance, just like I had during all our other petty fights.

But now, I saw things with sudden, brutal clarity. Love, and the absence of it—wasn’t it painfully obvious?

The answer was already in my heart. Why humiliate myself by asking?

I sighed, about to lock my screen when his call came through.

I stepped onto the balcony, the brisk morning air biting at my skin, and answered.

“Scarlett Pembroke, what game are you playing? Do you get some sick thrill from tossing the word ‘breakup’ around?”

“I’ve told you a hundred times, it was just a game! Stop being so dramatic.”

“Can we just drop this ridiculous act?”

I listened quietly until his tirade sputtered out. My pulse was steady. I was completely over it.

“Are you done?” I asked, my voice deadpan.

“I don’t care how many times you’ve said it. I’m only saying this once more: We. Are. Done.”

“Lose my number.”

I hung up. He immediately called back.

I declined the call and, without a second thought, blocked his number.

In the final second before his contact vanished, I saw the familiar threat pop up: “You’re going to regret this.”

Ugh, that line again. Can’t he come up with anything new? It was giving major insecure little boy energy.

I rolled my eyes, utterly speechless.

That afternoon, I had an Art History seminar in one of the smaller classrooms.

As luck would have it, Julian and Cassidy were sitting just a few rows away.

The sleeves of his prized varsity jacket were rolled up, revealing his muscular forearm. But the pin fastened to the lapel caught my eye, a sharp sting of recognition.

It was the crest for Cassidy’s sorority. I remembered seeing her wearing it at the party.

A mirthless smile touched my lips before I looked away, my stomach twisting with disgust rather than heartbreak.

When class ended, Julian strode over and placed a coffee on my desk, acting like nothing had happened.

“Stop being like this. I bought you your favorite, iced oat milk latte.”

“Yesterday was my fault, okay? Can we move on?”

His expression was strained. I glanced from his eyes down to the coffee.

It was my favorite, the one he used to buy for me all the time.

But that was the past.

“No, thanks. We aren’t together anymore. You don’t owe me an apology, and I don’t drink garbage.”

Outside the classroom, Cassidy was lingering by the door, her eyes fixed on us. She was clearly waiting for him.

“Your little side-piece is getting impatient.” I raised an eyebrow, gesturing toward the door.

He immediately grew flustered, his face flushing a deep crimson.

“What are you talking about! It’s not what you think between me and Cassidy!”

I just nodded, too tired to waste my breath on him, and turned to go.

It’s not easy letting go of a relationship I poured my heart into. I used to be the kind of person who would fight for it until the bitter end.

But once I decide I’m done, I don’t look back.

A cup of coffee? Seven bucks. Did he really think I could be bought so cheaply?

On my way to the campus bookstore, I passed by that same coffee shop.

I saw Cassidy walking out, holding an identical iced oat milk latte.

I let out a humorless laugh.

Yeah. Not looking back was definitely the right call.