The Summer Heat Was Thirty Degrees And His Lie Was A Hundred Chapter 05

Four hours later, the train pulled into my hometown station.

A profound sense of relief washed over me the second my feet touched the platform.

But the moment I turned my phone back on, it began vibrating violently in my hand.

A relentless flood of notifications hijacked my screen.

There were over ninety-nine missed calls from Julian.

In all our four years together, he’d never sent me this many messages.

[Chloe, I had an absolute emergency drop on me last night, and I didn’t have time to text you.]

[Why did you change the smart lock code? You’re not at your apartment? Where are you?]

Julian had clearly raced to my place, found himself locked out, and then rushed to the restaurant.

[The waiter at the restaurant said you waited for me the entire night. Why would you be so foolish?]

[Where on earth are you? Chloe, say something.]

[It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have kept you waiting for so long. I’m so sorry.]

[Why is your phone completely dead? Did something happen to you? Answer me, please don’t make me worry.]

[Chloe, don’t freeze me out like this. What is wrong with you?]

Staring at that final phrase—what is wrong with you—I could only find it utterly farcical.

I ignored every single notification.

My dad was already waiting at the station to pick me up, a wide smile spreading

across his face as he took the heavy suitcase from me.

But the moment we got into his truck, my phone started buzzing relentlessly again.

Julian was calling yet again.

With my hands finally free, I calmly opened his contact and blocked his number permanently.

Silence settled over the truck, and my dad didn’t pry.

Once we pulled up to the house, a few texts came through from my old landlord.

[Hey Chloe, some guy is outside your old apartment door frantically punching the keypad and slamming on the door. Building security actually called me about it.]

[He seems completely unstable, totally out of his mind, and he keeps shouting something about you quitting your job.]

[I told him you packed up and moved away, and his face went entirely pale. Is he someone you know?]

I immediately sent her a digital gift card to apologize for the hassle.

[I don’t know him anymore. I’m so sorry for the trouble. If he keeps disturbing the neighbors, please feel free to call the police.]

Knowing I was coming home, my mom had prepared a massive spread of all my favorite comfort foods.

But just as she reached out to put some food onto my plate, her own phone on the table began to ring.

The screen lit up with the name Julian.

My mom glanced at it, expressionless, and immediately declined the call.

My dad was halfway through a mouthful of food when his phone began to vibrate as well.

The old man looked up at me tentatively.

My face remained entirely blank. “Answer it if you want.”

He pressed speakerphone.

Julian’s frantic, breathless voice immediately filled the dining room.

“Mr. Vance, is Chloe home? She won’t reply to any of my texts…”

My dad let out a cold, sharp scoff.

“My daughter always has a damn good reason for what she does. If she’s refusing to speak to you, it means you did something entirely unforgivable.”

“The fact that you have the nerve to call my house right now is unbelievable.”

Julian choked on his words, completely caught off guard.

“Julian,” I called out smoothly.

He gasped, a desperate wave of relief flooding his voice. “Chloe! I knew you went back home! Please, just let me explain!”

“I didn’t mean to stand you up that night, I swear! Savannah was hit by an electric scooter and was rushed to the ER. I had to sprint over to take care of her, and she told me that you…”

I cut him off, my voice lighter than air.

“There’s nothing left to discuss. I don’t care about your excuses—they don’t matter to me anymore.”

Once I made up my mind, there was no going back.

“Julian, I’ve already told you—we are done. I don’t give a damn what you do, but don’t harass my family again.”

With that, I hung up the phone cleanly.

Julian didn’t try to call my parents again.

However, I never expected Savannah to be the next person to reach out to me.

I realized I’d completely forgotten to remove her from my personal contacts.

A text from her popped up on my screen.

[Chloe, I’m so scared…]