Chapter 2

Ethan’s face went pale, and panic flickered in his eyes.

“What did you say? You’re breaking up with me over this?”

Seeing my composure, he quickly suppressed whatever fear he felt, leaving only the sting of wounded pride. He pulled out his phone, opened a memo, and shoved it in my face.

“Fine. You want to break up? Here’s the deal. Every cent you’ve spent over the past seven years—you’re paying it all back. Down to the last penny.”

I looked down at the endless list.

【5/21/2018, coffee, $6—preliminary assessment: no greed detected.】

【9/8/2019, rent overpayment, $1,800—observing whether dependency forms.】