Refusing to Recycle a Scumbag

: Breakup

4

"Brother Aiden, I can't walk another step."

She tugged on Aiden Gordon's sleeve to get his attention.

Aiden took us to a nearby coffee shop.

Aiden ordered a coffee for himself. I ordered a smoothie, then looked up at Claire Chandler. "Do you want a smoothie too?"

Before Claire could say anything, Aiden immediately spoke up. "She's on her period, so she can't have anything cold. Get a hot milk tea."

'Aiden even remembered something so private about Claire, yet he didn't care about my life at all.'

Later, Claire started whining for Aiden to feed her some cake. Resignedly, he fed her a bite.

Claire smiled, satisfied. She looked up at me, a provocative glint in her eyes. "Please, don't get the wrong idea. Brother Aiden and I grew up together. We're as close as real siblings."

Aiden laughed. "That's right. I've even seen her when she was still in diapers."

'At that moment, I felt like a total outsider. It was mortifying.'

But I don't care anymore. I pulled Julian Lowell along and sat down in the empty seat next to Aiden.

"What are you doing here?" Aiden froze when he saw me. Then, his eyes landed on Julian Lowell sitting across from me, and his voice rose several pitches. "Celia Shaw, have you been cheating on me?"

I gave him a cold look. "Aiden Gordon, we broke up. Who I date is my own business."

After speaking, I handed the freshly grilled lamb chop to Julian Lowell. "Here, try this. It's their specialty."

My tone was dripping with sweetness.

Julian Lowell accepted it gracefully and gave me an affectionate look in return. "Thanks."

Aiden was so angry he shot to his feet and stormed out alone.

Claire stood up, gave me a deep, meaningful look, and quickly followed him out.

I didn't let the little drama bother me. When I got home that night, I sat on the sofa, petting my cat, Treasure, while scrolling through my Social Feed.

I saw a photo Aiden had posted to his Social Feed. It was a picture of a floor littered with empty liquor bottles.

He'd added a caption: "Damn it. All those years of my youth, wasted on the wrong person."

A lot of our mutual friends were commenting below. Among the many comments, I saw one from his childhood friend.

Claire Chandler had commented, "Brother Aiden, you still have me. I'll be with you forever."

'Goddammit. I don't think I've ever wanted to curse someone out so badly in my life.'

Fuming, I put down my phone, hugged Treasure, and went to bed.

The next day, first thing in the morning, I was bombarded with messages. I went through them one by one. They were all defending Aiden.

Some said he was handsome and honest.

Others said we'd been together for so many years and shouldn't just throw it all away.

Someone even had the nerve to say he'd never had a wandering eye in all these years and was completely devoted to me.

I laughed out of pure anger. 'Completely devoted? What a joke.'

If he really saw me as his one and only, then why was he so messily entangled with Claire Chandler for all these years?

The two of them did things couples do, all under the guise of being "like brother and sister."

I was disgusted. I turned off my phone and got ready for work.

I did my makeup beautifully, changed into a new outfit, and grabbed my new bag.

Before heading upstairs, I ordered coffee for the entire office.

Receptionist Stiles saw my refreshed look and teased me with a smile, "Celia, you look so gorgeous! Should we be expecting wedding invitations?"

I shook my head. "Nope. I broke up with a scumbag."