The Real Daughter Is Back | Chapter 1

When I said the word break up,

the boy in Parker’s arms raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, that’s not great, is it?”

“If you two break up because of me, I’ll feel awful.”

Parker chuckled and blew smoke in his face.

Then he turned to me, unhurried.

“It’s got nothing to do with you,” he said.

“I’m used to this.”

Then, smiling at me:

“Let’s call it one week.”

“You’ll cool off and come back anyway.”

“A week’s nothing for you, right?”

“You always end up taking care of me again.”

I didn’t answer.

Just looked straight into his careless eyes.

He wasn’t wrong.

Every time he apologized,

once my anger faded,

I’d pretend nothing happened and go back to him.

The first time I asked for a breakup

was when I caught Parker pinning a shorter boy against a wall,

kissing him until he was gasping for air.

That night, Parker cried on his knees,

arms wrapped around my waist,

snot and tears everywhere.

He said he was drunk.

He promised it would never happen again.

But once there’s a first time,

there’s always a second.

A third.

Every breakup talk,

he just apologized.

He knew I was soft on him.

That’s why he never felt afraid.

After a while,

it turned into a game—

I’d threaten to leave,

he’d apologize,

repeat.

I’m three years older than Parker.

He once joked that I was old, dull,

didn’t know how to sweet-talk him.

Not like the younger boys outside,

who could flatter him until his ego bloomed.

I even wondered if I really was that boring.

Until today.

Until he brought someone home.

When I stayed silent, Parker smiled.

“Regretting it yet, babe?”

I looked at the boy in his arms.

Then at Parker’s smiling face.

“No,” I said.

“I don’t regret it.”

Parker paused.

Lowered his head and kissed the boy once.

“As long as you don’t regret it.”

I turned and went back to my room.

Few minutes later, I came out with my suitcase.

They were already tangled up on the couch.

Hearing me, Parker looked up—

saw the suitcase,

arched a brow, amused.

“Well, even brought luggage this time?”

“So you’re really serious about breaking up?”

His tone was all mockery.

I didn’t answer.

I walked out.