Ditch the Toxic Ex My New Life Starts in New York

My best friend and my fiancé got together. But I didn't make a scene. Because my best friend had lost her memory in a car accident while trying to save me.

To help her recover, our group of five friends decided to play along with her delusion. But she started taking more and more from me.

She took my place on my prewedding trip with my fiancé. I watched them kiss under the fireworks while my arms ached from holding everyone's luggage.

When we got back to our new house, I wanted to talk to my fiancé, Justin. But I walked in to find everyone celebrating my best friend getting a new house.

I rushed over, only to see the deed to my house. My name had been scratched off. Hers was in its place. Elisa pulled me aside. "Stop making a scene, Chloe.

This is just an act to keep her stable. It's still your house. Remember, Amber lost her memory saving you." I believed her. I swallowed my bitterness and kept playing along.

Until my wedding day, when my wedding dress went missing.

I rushed to the venue, wanting everyone to help me find it, only to see Amber wearing my wedding dress, smiling brightly as she stood arminarm with Justin, welcoming the guests.

In that single second, my heart went completely cold. The ring on my finger felt just like that tight wedding dressit didn't fit anymore.

I stormed forward, wanting to scream and ask how many more times I had to sacrifice my life for her. Once again, Elisa blocked me. "Amber is finally doing better. Don't trigger her.

Just let her have this wedding." Justin's best friend, Ethan, chimed in with a smirk. "You've given up so much already, Chloe. What's one more wedding?

Just consider it paying her back for saving your life." I looked at my fiancé. He avoided my eyes, quietly adjusting the ring on Amber's finger.

That was when I realized the dress and the ring... were never my size to begin with. From start to finish, I was the only one who thought this was just an act.

I let out a bitter laugh, took off the tight ring, and threw it away. Since they wanted this farce so badly, I would let them have it. ...... "Fine.

She can have it all." My voice was flat. I watched the ring land in the trash can with a dull thud. Elisa froze, her expression darkening.

Just as she was about to snap at me, Amber rushed over and grabbed my arm. "Chloe! You're finally here!

We've been waiting for you." She spun around, holding up the hem of the gown, showing off the sparkling ring on her finger.

The diamond on her hand was noticeably larger than the one I had just thrown away. If I looked closely, the details on her dress were also much more intricate than mine.

It was obviously extremely expensive. She kept talking, a sweet smile plastered on her face. "Thanks for all your hard work lately.

I heard you were the one who helped plan the whole wedding." "I love this dress so much.

I only mentioned it once, and I can't believe you guys made it happen." "I wanted you to see it the second I put it on.

After all, you're my best friend." So, the wedding I had spent months planning... was never meant for me in the first place.

I let out a selfdeprecating laugh. "Yeah, it's beautiful..." Before I could finish my sentence, Elisa cut me off. "It's absolutely stunning!

Amber, you are the most beautiful bride ever." "Oh, Chloe, you're great with cameras.

Why don't you take some photos of them?" Ethan immediately shoved the camera into my chest. "Yes, exactly!

Since everyone is here, let's get a group photo!" They didn't even wait for my answer.

They immediately posed next to Justin and Amber, leaving me standing alone with the camera, facing the crowd. I was so angry I almost laughed.

They stole my wedding, and now they wanted me to play photographer. I couldn't believe how shameless they were.

Seeing me stand still, Justin spoke up impatiently, "What are you doing? Everyone is waiting for you." "Justin, don't rush Chloe.

She's probably just adjusting the settings," Amber said, playing the peacemaker. "Chloe, I'm counting on you for the photos!" Amber smiled at me. I looked up.

Under the spotlights, she was wearing the wedding dress, resting her head on Justin's shoulder. Justin looked down at her, his eyes filled with pure devotion.

Everyone crowded around them, cheering for the pictureperfect couple. It was everything I had ever dreamed of for my own wedding.

Except this wedding had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. Someone in the crowd started chanting. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Justin's ears turned red. He hesitated.

But Amber was already on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against his. My brain went numb. Screams and cheers erupted around me.

Beside me, Ethan gave me a rough push. "Hurry up and take the photo! Seriously, you're so slow. Can you do anything right?..." Watching them kiss, my mind went completely blank.

I raised the camera on instinct. Amid the falling confetti, I pressed the shutter. The camera captured a moment of happiness that did not belong to me.

As the cheering grew louder, Justin picked Amber up in his arms, deepening the kiss. Everyone was laughing, celebrating their love. Nobody noticed me.

Nobody cared that my eyes were burning and red. I don't know how long I stood there frozen before a polite voice spoke up next to me. "The reception has started, ma'am.

Aren't you going to sit down?" I snapped out of it and wiped my tears. I looked up and realized the room was empty. Everyone had already gone to the dining hall.

The tables were perfectly full. There was no seat left for me. Just like countless times before, nobody noticed I had been left behind.

The waiter looked a bit embarrassed. "Should I bring out an extra chair for you?" I pulled my lips into a bitter smile. "No, thank you." If there was no room for me, I didn't want it anymore.

And this fiveperson friendship? I was done with it, too.

The moment I left the venue, I submitted my resignation letter through the company portal. HR replied almost instantly. "Are you sure about this, Chloe?

Do you need to discuss this with Justin first?" "No need. Don't tell him." They didn't push further. "Alright. It's late.

Come to the office tomorrow morning to sign the exit papers." After confirming, I went home to pack my things. My phone buzzed.

In our fourperson Snapchat group chat, which was literally named "Amber's Recovery Plan," Elisa tagged me. "Chloe, did you throw another tantrum and leave?" "Amber has been looking forward to this wedding with Justin for so long.

We couldn't bear to let her down, so we planned a mock wedding for her." "We were afraid you'd be upset, so we didn't tell you the truth." Ethan chimed in, still acting like it was no big deal. "Exactly.

Amber lost her memory saving your life. Don't be so petty all the time." Then came a short message from Justin. "Be good.

I'll give you a much bigger wedding next time." Promises like thatI had heard them a thousand times.

When they took my prewedding trip, Justin said he'd take me somewhere even better next time. When they took my house, Justin said he'd buy me a more expensive one next time.

I kept waiting and waiting, only to get a trail of broken promises. This time, I was done waiting. My fingers swiped across the screen, and I left the group chat.

I turned back to packing. Under the pillow, I found a journal. It was a love diary Justin had written for me.

The day Amber moved into our house, to keep her from getting suspicious, the three of them threw away all our couple photos and our customized anniversary decorations.

They erased every trace of my relationship with Justin. Only this diary had been hidden away by me. It had been my only comfort, helping me survive countless lonely nights.

But now, I didn't need it anymore. I threw the diary straight into the trash. I turned around.

Suddenly, I noticed the roses on the balcony had been replaced with sunflowersAmber's favorite. The oncecozy walls were now covered in her cute stickers.

Bit by bit, Amber had completely overwritten my life here. I packed for half an hour, only to realize my belongings couldn't even fill half a suitcase. I laughed dryly.

Before I could zip the suitcase closed, the front door swung open. The four of them walked in. Amber was barefoot, piggybacking on Justin.

Elisa was carrying her shoes, and Ethan was holding up the train of her wedding dress. The moment they saw me, their smiles froze.

Justin quickly set Amber down and tried to explain. "Amber drank too much because she was happy.

I had to carry her." Amber looked up drunkenly, her voice dripping with irritation. "Hey! Justin! I'm your wife now.

Why are you so worried about what she thinks?" She reached out to pinch his ear. But she lost her balance and fell right back into his arms.

Justin let out a helpless chuckle. "Okay, okay, you little drunkard. You're right, okay?" Amber huffed and pointed a finger at me. "Chloe, you've been living in my house for months.

Now that Justin and I are married, it's not convenient. You should move out." How hilarious. This house was bought by Justin and me three years ago.

I chose every single piece of furniture myself. Yet, after living here for only a few months, she claimed it as hers.

Seeing my expression harden, Elisa quickly tried to smooth things over. "Amber, it's hard to find a place to rent right now. Chloe is great at cleaning.

Just think of her as a livein maid." Ethan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you newlyweds are going to be busy.

It's perfect to have her around to do the chores, right, Chloe?" Justin shot me a warning look. He was telling me to keep my mouth shut.

Everyone looked at me, expecting me to force a smile and agree like I always did. But this time, I just laughed. "No need to go through all that trouble.

I'm leaving right now." I turned around, grabbed my suitcase, and walked toward the door. The three of them were stunned. Justin instinctively reached out to grab my arm.

Behind him, Amber suddenly gagged. Justin panicked, letting go of me to rush her to the bathroom. Elisa and Ethan scrambled to follow them.

One patted her back, one handed her tissues, and the other ran to make a hangover cure. Once again, I was left standing therethe invisible fifth wheel. I smiled bitterly.

Holding my suitcase, I walked out of the house without looking back.

I found a cheap hotel to crash for the night. I drafted my final resignation letter and made a phone call. "I'm accepting the offer.

I'll fly to New York tomorrow." The person on the other end was thrilled. By the time I booked my flight, four hours had passed. My phone started ringing. It was Justin.

After a moment of hesitation, I answered. Justin's voice sounded exhausted. "Chloe, did you leave the group chat?" "Stop throwing tantrums. I talked to Amber.

She said you can come back and live with us." "But you'll have to handle the chores and cook three meals a day." I let out a mocking laugh. "Justin, do you guys really think I'm your maid?" Justin sounded annoyed. "Don't be ridiculous.

You know Amber's condition." "Be reasonable. Amber is hosting a dinner party tomorrow. She put together a grocery list.

Make sure you buy everything and bring it home on time." A long text containing a grocery list popped up on my screen.

It had BBQ wings for Amber, sweet glazed pork chops for Justin, organic juice for Elisa, and chips for Ethan. There were dozens of items listed. But not a single thing was for me.

Once again, I was completely excluded. My heart went entirely cold. I didn't want to waste my breath arguing. I hung up the phone and blocked his number.

The next morning, I took my resignation letter to the office. Before I could even step through the front door, Amber and a crowd of reporters rushed toward me.

Before I could react, Amber slapped me hard across the face. A journal was thrown to the ground, splaying open at my feet.

It was the love diary Justin had written for methe one I had thrown in the trash yesterday. "Chloe Miller!

I was wondering why you refused to leave my house!" "It turns out you've been fantasizing about my husband every single day in this diary! We're supposed to be best friends!

How could you do something so disgusting?!" My head spun from the slap.

By the time I gathered my senses, the reporters had surrounded me, thrusting microphones and cameras into my face. "Ms. Miller, is it true that you stayed as Mr.

Fletcher's secretary for six years, refusing highpaying executive offers from other companies, just to climb into his bed?" "Have you been staying in Ms.

Vance's house these past few months just to steal her husband and act as a homewrecker?" The blinding flashes of the cameras made it impossible to open my eyes.

Passersby stopped to watch, and a wave of insults washed over me. Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, I finally broke down and screamed, "I didn't write those diaries!

Justin wrote them for me!" "Amber, you're the one who lost your memory and mistook Justin for your boyfriend!" "The woman Justin was supposed to marry was me!"

The crowd went dead silent for a second. The next moment, Elisa pushed through the crowd, rushing toward me. Another sharp slap landed on the other side of my face.

Elisa's eyes were red as she apologized to the cameras. "I am so sorry you all had to see this.

My sister has had an unrequited obsession with Justin for years." "But I never imagined she would write something so sick and then turn around to slander Justin." I cupped my burning cheeks, staring at her in sheer disbelief.

Ethan and Justin pushed through the crowd. Ethan pointed at me and yelled, "Chloe, you're trying to steal Amber's husband?

Are you really that desperate for a man?" Justin hid the guilt in his eyes and spoke with cold detachment. "Ms. Miller and I are just ordinary colleagues.

We have never crossed any lines." "The only woman I have ever loved and wanted as my wife is Amber." The very last spark of hope in my heart was instantly extinguished.

The crowd erupted in sneers. "I knew it. Why would a guy like Mr. Fletcher marry someone like her?

She clearly wrote all that herself." "Lusting after her best friend's husband and slandering them... what a cheap bitch." The nasty words pierced my ears like needles.

In the chaos, someone shoved me hard from behind. I stumbled and fell painfully to the cold ground. Justin's eyes widened, and he instinctively moved forward to help me.

But Amber grabbed his arm, clutching her head in pain. "Justin, my head hurts so much." The three of them panicked instantly, quickly turning to escort her away.

I sat on the ground, and slowly, a pool of blood began to seep through my clothes. Seeing the blood, the crowd panicked. The bystanders quickly scattered.

Right before I blacked out from the pain, my phone buzzed with a message from Justin. "If Amber finds out the truth, the shock will worsen her condition." "I've called an ambulance for you.

Consider today a lesson." "Don't ever say those things again." Justin, you got what you wanted. There won't be a next time.

When I woke up, the doctor handed me a medical report, his eyes filled with pity. "I'm sorry, Ms. Miller. You've had a miscarriage.

We couldn't save the baby." My mind went completely blank. I stared blankly at the paper. I had been pregnant for two months.

And before I even knew the baby existed, I had lost her. The pain in my chest felt like my heart was being ripped apart. My phone buzzed.

It was a photo of a pregnancy test from Amber. My body froze. Another message popped up. "Chloe, let's be honest.

My memory actually came back six months ago." "But I fell in love with Justin, so I chose to keep pretending." "I saw your medical checkup papers. I knew you were pregnant.

What happened today was entirely on purpose. I am the only one allowed to bear Justin's children." "Look at this. Everyone is so excited for my baby.

In our world of five, you're just a useless extra." She forwarded a screenshot of a group chat. The group name was: "No Chloe Allowed." I wasn't in it.

I scrolled through the messages. The four of them were chatting happily. In just three hours, they had sent thousands of messages.

They were discussing who would be the godparents, how to decorate the nursery, baby names, and whether the baby would look more like Justin or Amber. My heart turned to ice.

I signed the miscarriage paperwork.

Then, I handed it along with my signed resignation letter to the doctor. "Doctor, could you please hand these over to Justin Fletcher when he comes?" Since I was just an extra in their world, then for the rest of my life, I would make sure there was no room left for them. ......

Meanwhile, back in the hospital room, Amber was stroking her stomach, surrounded by Elisa and Ethan. Justin watched them, feeling a headache coming on.

That night, he had drunk too much. In his drunken stupor, he had mistaken Amber for Chloe. He hadn't expected her to get pregnant from just that one night.

Justin let out a deep sigh, trying to calm his nerves. It was fine. Chloe would understand. He would make it up to her later. Just like he always did.

Yet, for some reason, an intense sense of unease settled in his chest. Making an excuse to get some fresh air, Justin walked out of the ward and called Chloe.

The call didn't go through. He had been blocked. He tried sending her a message on Snapchat. He was blocked there, too. The unease in his chest grew stronger.

Just then, a doctor walked up to him with a grim expression. "Mr. Fletcher, after reviewing the records, we found that Ms.

Vance actually recovered from her amnesia six months ago." Justin reacted instinctively. "That's impossible." The doctor shot him a complicated look. "Also, Ms.

Miller asked me to hand these over to you." Justin frowned as he took the papers. When he saw the resignation letter on top, his heart skipped a beat.

He quickly flipped to the next page. The second document made him feel as if he had been plunged into an ice bath.