Chloe had finally found what she thought was the perfect relationship.

She felt completely happy and loved by Jack. Their days together were carefree, and Chloe had all the hopes for the future. But everything changed one afternoon when she walked into Jack’s kitchen and saw something that made her stomach drop.

The fridge.

Chloe was floating on cloud nine as she entered Jack’s cozy kitchen, excited for their dinner date. She was ready to cook them a special meal, the kind that Jack always appreciated. But as soon as her eyes landed on the fridge, her heart froze in her chest.

There, right in the middle of the fridge, was a magnet. Not just any magnet. It was the same one from her trip to the Caribbean with Mike, her ex-boyfriend. Her breath caught in her throat.

She stepped closer, her hands suddenly feeling cold. The magnet had a small chip on the top — the very one she had accidentally dropped on the day she bought it. She remembered it clearly because she hadn’t had the heart to swap it for a new one. Mike had laughed it off, but that little chip always stuck with her.

But now, here it was. On Jack’s fridge.

And beneath it? A note. In Mike’s handwriting.

“Love You, Bun!” It was like a window to her past. A reminder of a relationship she thought she had left behind.

She remembered Mike well. They had met in university. He was the popular jock, always surrounded by friends, a football star, and a business management student. She, on the other hand, was a law student who stumbled into the wrong lecture theater during her first year, where she met Mike by accident.

For years, Chloe believed they were growing closer, working toward a future together. But that future never came. Mike had never introduced her to his family, and even though he seemed to depend on her emotionally during tough times, the relationship fell apart after graduation.

“I need someone on my level,” Mike had said when he broke up with her. “You’ve been great, Chloe, but I’ve got bigger things ahead.”

Chloe was crushed. She had been there for Mike during his darkest moments, when his depression left him isolated from everyone else. But when he was ready to move on, she was left behind.

Two years later, she met Jack, someone completely different. Jack was kind, warm, and caring, everything Mike had not been. He was a far cry from Mike’s cold, distant world, and she felt lucky to have found someone who treated her with love and respect.

But now, seeing that magnet, Chloe was shaken. Jack stepped into the room and saw the expression on her face. His own face turned pale.

“Chloe, we need to talk,” Jack said, his voice strained. He led her to the living room and sat her down.

Jack took a deep breath and began. “Mike is my stepbrother.”

Chloe’s stomach twisted in knots.

Jack went on to explain the tangled history between him and Mike. He told Chloe about their childhood and how Mike had been spoiled and entitled. He even told her how Mike had tried to ruin their parents’ wedding, just because he didn’t think his father should marry someone beneath him.

“But why didn’t you tell me?” Chloe asked, feeling a mix of confusion and betrayal.

“I didn’t know how to bring it up. We’ve been doing so well, and I didn’t want to ruin things,” Jack said. He looked troubled, but he was honest. “I should have told you a long time ago, but when I met you, it was like everything fell into place.”

Chloe’s mind raced. “So, why is that magnet on the fridge?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Jack sighed, looking down. “We had a family dinner last night, and I asked my mom for the ring — the family ring. I wanted to give it to you, Chloe.”

“What?” Chloe blinked in shock. “We’re not there yet, Jack.”

Jack nodded, but his expression showed his sincerity. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while. But Mike… well, he flipped out. He’s known about us for a while now, and it’s been hard for me to figure out how to make it work with him in the picture.”

Chloe processed the words. Jack had let his stepbrother’s interference destroy their peace. It felt like everything she thought she knew about Jack was slipping away. And then the worst part came — Mike had put the magnet there on purpose.

“So, Mike put the magnet on the fridge and wrote that note?” Chloe asked, her voice sharp with disbelief.

Jack nodded. “It’s his way of messing with us. It’s like he can’t stand seeing me happy. He’s always been this way.”

Chloe felt a rush of anger and sadness. She wanted to trust Jack, to believe that everything was as it seemed, but now the truth felt so complicated. And what’s worse? She couldn’t shake the feeling that Jack had used Mike’s pain to get closer to her.

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” Chloe whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She went to the kitchen to grab a yogurt, trying to calm herself. But her mind kept spinning.

Later, Jack sat watching TV, flipping through channels, as if everything was normal. Chloe was torn. She didn’t want to stay, but she didn’t want to leave without understanding everything.

“Do you want me to cook us something?” Jack asked, not looking up from the TV.

“No,” Chloe said, her voice soft. “I don’t think I can stay.”

She hadn’t spoken to Jack in over a week. But now, they had a dinner planned — a dinner where they were supposed to discuss their future. Chloe didn’t know if there was one anymore.

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