Part 1My Friends Always Said I Treated Him Too Well

My friends always told me that I treated Carter too well, and that was exactly why he took me for granted.

"If you just gave him the cold shoulder and made him feel a little threatened, let's see if he'd still dare to act like this," they'd say.

So, during our latest fight, I didn't back down.

A week later, he took the initiative to make peace.

A bouquet of flowers, a home-cooked meal, an apology.

I thought this was his way of changing.

That is, until I accidentally saw the text message she sent him.

She said: [Go apologize to Harper.

[Be a good boy.]

* * *

When I stepped out of the shower, Carter was on the phone.

He said, "Yeah, don't worry, I know."

With that, he hung up.

The smile on his face hadn't faded yet, and his mood was noticeably brighter than when he had first shown up at my door.

I stopped drying my hair, a sudden knot forming in my chest.

It couldn't be helped—when you know someone intimately, all it takes is one sentence to plant the seed of suspicion.

There was nothing inherently scandalous about what he said.

But his tone was way too obedient.

It was like a rabid dog that had just had its fur petted down.

It was completely unlike him.

So, I couldn't help but ask, "Who was that?"

"What?"

"Who were you just on the phone with?"

Carter's expression cooled slightly.

"No one."

He added, "You must be hungry! Go dry your hair, I'm going to start cooking."

With that, he walked into the kitchen.

His phone was left sitting on the coffee table.

It sat there like a massive temptation.

I couldn't resist. I picked it up.

The first thing I checked was the call log. The most recent entry: Mia Brooks.

I froze.

Mia?

Why would it be Mia?

"What are you doing?"

Carter's voice suddenly cut through the air.

I looked up. Our eyes met. His face was dark, his gaze freezing cold.

He took a slow step toward me.

"What are you trying to find?

"Harper, let me ask you, what exactly are you looking for?"

He snatched the phone from my hand and shoved the screen in my face.

"Checking to see who I was on the phone with? Yeah, exactly, I was talking to Mia. And? Harper, do I have to report every single person I speak to? Do I need to give you a daily quota of my calls and texts?"

He straightened up and tossed the phone roughly onto the sofa.

His voice was icy. "Go ahead. Search it all you want."

Carter was angry.

His fury was laced with a thinly veiled disappointment.

His intense reaction left me frozen in place. My mind was a chaotic blur for a moment until the heavy silence settled between us, and clarity slowly returned.

Why did I check Carter's phone?

Because of his gentleness. Because of his obedience.

That wasn't Carter's personality.

He had always been reckless, arrogant, and cocky, even when talking to me.

He didn't do soft words. He didn't do sweet and gentle.

My friends never understood it: "How do you put up with him?"

I would just smile and say, "Because I know him."

I knew exactly what tone of voice he used when he realized he was wrong.

I understood what his face looked like when he was implicitly backing down.

I never needed him to say the actual words; I understood him perfectly.

So, when he softened his attitude for someone else... how could I not get suspicious?

Meeting Carter's glare, I picked up his phone again.

Over his sharp scoff, I tapped into his text thread with Mia.

Their most recent conversation was from 2:00 AM last night.

[Mia: Haven't you made up with Harper yet?]

[Carter: Yeah.]

[Mia: What is wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to go apologize?]

[Carter: Stay out of it.]

[Mia: Carter, go apologize.]

[Carter: You don't get it! Mia, she's not like you.]

[Mia: Of course she's not like me. That's why you love her and not me, right?]

Carter hadn't replied to that message.

After a three-minute silence, Mia sent two more texts.

[Mia: Go apologize to Harper.]

[Mia: Carter, be a good boy!]