Stop Pestering Me, Ex

It was the third day after I broke up with Charles Lynn when Philip Shaw and I walked into a hot spring hotel on the edge of the city. His arm naturally wrapped around my waist, his fingertips warm to the touch. The moment the elevator doors slid open, I found myself looking straight into a pair of bloodshot eyes. It was Charles. The air around him felt heavy and tense, his gaze locked fiercely on me and Philip, tangled together. Philip instinctively pulled me behind him, his voice calm but protective. "Excuse me, sir, is there a problem?" Charles ignored him, took a few steps straight to me, and reached out to grab my wrist. Philip raised his hand to block him, their eyes locked in a tense standoff. "Laura Scott, are you really in such a hurry to jump into someone else?" Charles's voice was hoarse, dripping with anger. I pulled away from Philip's protection, looked him straight in the eye, feeling nothing at all. "We're already broken up. My life isn't any of your business." "Not my business?" Charles sneered, eyes dripping with scorn. "Just broke up and already fooling around with another guy in a hotel? Laura, have you really sunk that low?" I frowned, not expecting him to say something like that. "Charles Lynn, watch your language." Philip Shaw stepped forward, his tone turning cold. "I'm talking to her. What gives you, an outsider, the right to butt in?" Charles Lynn turned to glare at Philip Shaw, his anger flaring even more. "He's not an outsider." I reached out and hooked my arm around Philip's, looking up at Charles Lynn. "He's my boyfriend, Philip Shaw." Charles Lynn's face instantly went pale, veins bulging on his clenched fists. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" He stared at me, a faint tremor barely noticeable in his voice, "You're trying to piss me off, Laura Scott, but I'm not falling for it." "I don't have time for that." I grabbed Philip Shaw and headed toward the room. "Don't bother coming around here again." Charles Lynn suddenly grabbed my wrist with such force it hurt. "Let her go!" Philip Shaw immediately stepped forward, trying to pry his hand loose. "Laura Scott, tell me—are you doing this because of the money?" Charles Lynn ignored Philip Shaw and fixed his gaze on me. "He can give you some things, but I can give you everything. Stop making a scene." I looked at him, so full of himself, and couldn't help but find it ridiculous. "Charles Lynn, you take yourself way too seriously." I yanked my wrist back hard, leaving a ring of red marks. "I never left you because of the money." "Then why?" He demanded, his eyes full of resentment. I said nothing, just grabbed Philip Shaw and walked into the room, shutting the door right in front of him. From outside came the sound of Charles kicking the door hard, along with his muffled, angry shouts. Philip rubbed my wrist gently, his voice full of concern. "Does it hurt? Want me to put something cold on it first?" I shook my head, leaned against his chest, and whispered, "It's okay, it's all over now." He gently patted my back, didn't ask any more questions, and just gave me a reassuring hug. I knew Charles wouldn't just let it go, but I was ready to face whatever came. From the moment we broke up, I was no longer the Laura Scott who revolved around him.