No More Seconds: Walking Away From My Toxic Ex

My boyfriends foster sister has Skin Hunger Syndrome.

If she doesn't touch my boyfriend for a single second, she claims her skin itches so badly that she has to roll around on the floor.

When they go out, they have to hold hands. When they come home at night, he has to warm her cold feet.

She even insists on taking baths with him.

So, when I saw her throwing another temper tantrum at the amusement park, demanding Carter play a "couples' kissing game" with her, I suddenly felt a wave of sheer exhaustion wash over me.

Looking at the bewildered booth owner, I said calmly, "Just let them kiss. I'm just a bystander. Theyre the real couple here."

Carter smiled, looking relieved.

"Im glad youre finally being reasonable, Sera. Chloe has a weak constitution. You should be the bigger person and let her have this."

I watched Chloe hold the giant teddy bear they won from the kissing game, her face glowing with triumph.

I spoke in a flat voice.

"Congratulations on passing the couples' test. I hope you two have a long life together and get married soon."

As soon as the words left my mouth, Carters sweet smile froze on his face.

Chloes red lipstick mark was still smeared across his right cheek.

"What is that supposed to mean, Sera? Are you breaking up with me?"

"Can you stop making a mountain out of a molehill? Chloe and I were just playing a game. Do you have to take everything so seriously?"

Making a mountain out of a molehill. Taking things too seriously. I had heard these excuses a thousand times.

Over the past few years, whenever we crossed the street, Chloe would squeeze right between us, grabbing his hand.

When she had her period, she demanded he rub her stomach, while I, who was hospitalized after a car accident, was told to just "drink more warm water."

She even squeezed into our bed at night, forcing me to move from the master bedroom to the living room couch.

Had I ever not given in?

Yet, Carter still labeled me as petty, jealous, and narrow-minded.

Chloe looked at me, her eyes pooling with tears.

"Oh, Sera... please don't fight with Carter because of me."

"If my existence makes you this uncomfortable, I might as well just die!"

With that, she threw the teddy bear to the ground, turned around, and bolted toward the busy highway.

Carters face went pale. He lunged forward, grabbing her arm just in time, then spun around to glare at me with pure rage.

"Are you happy now? Chloe didn't ask to have Skin Hunger Syndrome! If anything happens to her, can you even live with yourself?"

"How can you be so cruel? Do you really have to drive her to suicide to be satisfied? Do you even deserve to be my girlfriend?"

I forced down the rising lump in my throat, staring at Carters hateful eyes.

When we first started dating, he would explain to me that because they grew up together in the orphanage, Chloe was naturally clingy.

Back then, if Chloe crossed the line, he would even scold her.

But gradually, he began to completely ignore my feelings. Any time I showed the slightest dissatisfaction with Chloe, he would lash out at me.

Thinking of this, I took a deep breath, forcing my tears back to preserve the last shred of my dignity.

"You're right. I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore. Isn't this exactly what you wanted? You can take care of her 24/7 now."

I turned to leave, but Carter grabbed my wrist in a vice grip.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"After everything, you still can't accept Chloe. You just see her as a burden."

"Sera, how can you be so incredibly selfish?"

Watching him criticize me yet again for Chloes sake, I suddenly realized how utterly pathetic this was.

My friends used to tell me I was insane, a doormat, enduring things even a saint wouldn't tolerate, allowing another girl to cling to my boyfriend like a parasite.

I had endured it all because I loved Carter, but all I got in return was endless blame.

I violently shook off his hand. "Believe whatever you want! I am done with this circus!"

I had only taken two steps when I heard the loud crash of Carter kicking a plastic chair over behind me.

"Seraphina Vance! If I knew you were this kind of cold-hearted woman, I would have never saved your life back then!"

Boom.

The words felt like a thunderbolt striking me right where I stood.

When I graduated from college, I started interning at my family's company, Vance Group. On my way to work one day, a reckless driver knocked me off the coastal road, and I plunged into the ocean.

It was Carter who risked his life to swim down and pull me out.

When my parents found out, they broke all company protocols. They invested millions in him, showered him with resources, and fast-tracked him to become the Vice President of our conglomerate.

Because of that life-saving favor, I fell for him. In my parents' eyes, he was already their future son-in-law.

But whenever I thought of Chloewho crashed every single birthday, anniversary, Valentines Day, and vacationI wanted so badly to tell my parents that the wedding was off.

Yet, seeing how much my parents respected Carter, the words always died in my throat.

Now, hearing him use that rescue to blackmail me emotionally, I knew with absolute certainty that I was done with him.

I let out a bitter laugh, turning to look at his pathetic face.

"Is that so? Without me and my family, do you think a fresh graduate like you could ever have become the Vice President of a multi-billion-dollar corporation?"

"Carter! I paid you back for saving my life a long time ago. Don't you dare use that to guilt-trip me ever again."

With that, I walked away with firm steps, never looking back.

The moment I got into my car, my phone buzzed. It was my parents.

"Sera, are you throwing another tantrum? Carter just called us to complain. Go apologize to him right now."

I took a deep breath. Looking out the window, I saw Carter and Chloe wrapped in each other's arms. I spoke in a deadpan voice.

"Mom, Dad, if you force me to spend the rest of my life with a man like him, Id rather die."

For the first time, I poured my heart out, telling them every single piece of misery and humiliation I had suffered over the years.

There was a long, heavy silence on the other end of the line. Finally, my dad let out a long sigh.

"If we had known he was this kind of man, we would have never let you be with him."

"Break it off. Pack your things and come back home, sweetheart."

The suffocating weight that had pressed on my chest for years finally lifted.

At that moment, I felt like I was finally breathing real air.

The next day, I went back to the apartment we shared to pack my bags.

But when I tried to log into the smart lock, it kept saying "Access Denied."

I called Carter. I could clearly hear his ringtone echoing from inside the apartment, but he refused to pick up.

I banged on the door. It took a full thirty minutes before he finally swung it open, looking utterly annoyed.

"You actually have the nerve to show up? Chloe was so upset because of you yesterday that she couldn't sleep. I had to stay up all night comforting her."

"Apologize to Chloe right now, or we are postponing the wedding."

I couldn't even remember when Carters tone with me had become this dismissive.

Once, he had promised to protect me from the world. Now, he was the one locking me out.

I didn't bother arguing. I pushed past him and walked straight into the bedroom to pack.

He frowned, about to yell at me, but the sound of Chloe whimpering from the living room made him abandon me instantly.

Last year, Carter and I rented this luxury two-bedroom apartment. Chloe insisted on moving in.

She claimed she couldn't sleep in the guest room, so she took over the master bedroom I had spent weeks decorating.

Every time Carter and I tried to have some intimacy, she would suddenly develop a stomach ache or a headache, finding any excuse to call him away.

Initially, Carter would come back to my bed. But gradually, he said it was too much of a hassle and just started sleeping in her room.

Every morning, seeing them cuddled together, I would brainwash myself: They are just foster siblings. They are just close.

Thank God I didn't have to lie to myself anymore.

If it weren't for my clothes and my dog, Teddy, I would have never set foot in this place again.

"Teddy? Teddy, come here!"

I called out, feeling uneasy. Usually, the moment I opened the door, Teddy would jump all over me. But now, he was nowhere to be seen.

Just then, Chloe walked in, fake-crying.

"Oh, Sera, why are you making such a mess? Carter bought this custom rug just for me, and youre tracking dirt all over it."

Carter grabbed my shoulder and shoved me back, his face darkened with annoyance.

"Have some respect. Why are you walking around with your shoes on? Do you think you're the only one living here?"

I stumbled back from the force of his push. Just as I was about to snap, I caught a glimpse of something shiny in Chloes hand.

It was the blue sapphire charm from Teddys collar!

I lunged forward, grabbing Chloes hand.

"Where did you get this? Where is Teddy?!"

Chloes face turned pale, guilt flashing in her eyes.

Carter stepped between us, his voice softening slightly, though his tone was still defensive.

"Chloe really liked the sapphire, so I took it off the collar and gave it to her."

"And that dog of yours has a terrible temper. He almost bit Chloe, so I dropped him off at a high-kill shelter in the next county."

Seeing my eyes turn red, he tried to put an arm around me.

"Come on, its just a dog. Chloe was terrified. Just buy her some jewelry, apologize, and well call it even."

SLAP!

I slapped Carter across the face with everything I had.

"How dare you! Who gave you the right to throw my dog away?!"

"He has been with me for eleven years! He is my family! I promised him Id be there until the end! You monster, give him back to me!"

I lost all control, grabbing Carters collar and scratching at his face.

Carter dodged, his eyes burning with rage.

"Seraphina, have you lost your mind?!"

"I don't care! Which shelter did you take him to? Get him back right now!"

I tried to drag him toward the door.

But he violently threw his arm back, casting me off.

"Enough! Its just a stupid, useless dog! Get over it!"

His force was too strong. I lost my balance and tumbled backward, crashing down the spiral staircase.

My head slammed heavily against the wooden steps.

My vision blurred. A warm, thick liquid flowed down my forehead, dripping into my eyes. I touched itmy hand was covered in bright red blood.

Carter stared at me, his voice trembling.

"You... are you okay? Why is there so much blood?"

I gritted my teeth through the blinding pain.

"Call... call 911..."

He pulled out his phone, his hands shaking.

But then, Chloes sharp scream pierced the air from the living room. Without a second thought, Carter turned and ran toward her.

Chloe was lying on the floor, weeping.

"Carter, theres dog hair on this sapphire... I think Im having a severe allergic reaction!"

Carter hovered over her, looking horrified at the tiny, almost invisible red speck on her skin.

"Oh my god, this looks serious. What if it leaves a scar? We need to go to the hospital right now!"

He scooped her up in his arms.

As he ran down the stairs, he paused for a brief second, looking at me lying in a pool of blood.

But Chloe let out a weak cough, and his hesitation vanished.

"Stop faking it, Sera. Its just a few steps. You're fine."

"Chloes skin is too delicate; I can't risk her throat closing up. Figure it out yourself, or just wait here until I get back."

With that, he carried her out, slamming the door.

It was our elderly neighbor who heard my groans and called the ambulance.

When I woke up in the hospital, my parents were sitting by my bedside, their faces pale with worry.

After I told them what happened, my mother was ready to murder Carter.

My dad immediately called our corporate lawyers to strip Carter of his Vice President title.

"How dare that bastard treat you like this! I actually thought he was a good man because he saved you. I was ready to hand my daughter over to him! I was blind!"

"He dared to let my daughter bleed on the floor? I will ruin him!"

I reached out, grabbing the edge of my dad's sleeve, and gave a weak smile.

"Let it go, Dad. Now, we are officially even. He saved my life, and I gave him a career. We owe each other nothing."

Suppressing the final trace of pain in my heart, I asked if I could go to Europe for a while to recuperate. My parents agreed immediately.

Over the next few days, I stayed in the VIP suite of the hospital.

Carter didn't call me once. He didn't even send a single text to ask if I was alive.

Meanwhile, Chloes Snapchat and Instagram stories were more active than ever.

She posted photos of Carter taking her on a luxury yacht cruise, enjoying fine dining.

There was even a photo of a mans hand rubbing a white lotion onto her thigh.

The caption read: Got a bug bite, and he insisted on applying the ointment himself. I'm a grown girl, but he still treats me like a baby. So embarrassing!

In the photo, Carters right hand was still wearing our matching promise ring.

I smiled, opened my settings, and blocked both of them on every platform.

At the same time, out on the yacht, Carter suddenly felt a strange pang of anxiety.

Chloe had been so needy the past few days that he hadn't found time to call Sera. He wondered how her head was.

A wave of guilt hit him. Sera had tolerated a lot over the years.

Fortunately, he had finally found a specialized clinic in Switzerland that treated severe somatic touch disorders.

Once he sent Chloe there next week, he and Sera could finally have their happy ending.

He looked over at Chloe, who was busy taking selfies, and opened his mouth to speak, but his phone rang.

Thinking it was Sera, he answered it eagerly.

But the voice on the other end made him freeze.

"Mr. Sterling, your ex-girlfriend, Ms. Vance, has officially terminated the lease on your apartment.