Calmly, I pointed to the scratch on the car. "It will cost you 500 dollars to paint over this. If you can add a car cover, that'll be even better."
Saul's expression flickered, but a smile graced his lips. "Alright."
As I bent next to the car to check for repairs, I suddenly heard Sheila's voice coming from outside the door.
Saul knelt down deliberately, forcing the money into my hands.
When Sheila walked in carrying a cake, this was exactly what she saw.
"I don't care if you make me kneel before you. I'm willing to pay you hundreds of thousands of dollars as long as you make up with Sheila! I can't bear to see her so unhappy."
Sheila dropped the cake in shock before pulling Saul to his feet.
"That's enough, Ben Hope! I went out of my way to bring this cake over to make up for your birthday. Care to explain what all this is?"
I gathered my tools calmly. "You saw what happened."
Sheila caught sight of the study materials for the SATs that I'd tossed in the trash. She balled her fists as she asked, "Why did you throw them away?"
"No reason. I just wanted to live my life the way it is."
Sheila shoved my tools off the worktable. "Ben Hope! Is being a car mechanic all you want out of this life?"
I lifted my head and looked at her coldly. "Please leave my shop, esteemed Dr. Loom. You're interfering with my work."
Sheila realized she'd gone too far. Guilt flickered across her face for the first time. "That's not what I meant."
Saul tugged at Sheila's sleeve. Mud still clung to his pants from when he knelt down earlier. Sheila's gaze hardened again.
"Give Saul his money back. You're nothing but a money-grubbing crook now."
As she walked away, she paused at the doorway for a few seconds.
"This breakup is final, Ben. I'll be watching to see how much lower you sink."
As I pulled the shutter down, Sheila and Saul rounded a corner. He grabbed the back of her head suddenly before pressing a deep kiss to her lips.
After a moment of surprise, Sheila closed her eyes and pulled Saul close. He towered over her.
That night, Sheila posted a new update on her social media. The caption read, "A new relationship is as warm and radiant as the sun. Love you a million times over."
The photo was one of her embracing Saul under the sunset.
Her last post about me was from six years ago, when we first announced our relationship. Her caption then had been "Hot dogs every day from now on" with a photo of an ordinary hot dog.
I closed the app, directing my attention instead to the live stream on legal matters that I'd joined. I took a deep breath.
"Hello, everyone. Last night, a woman called in saying that she wanted to break up with her boyfriend who funded her education, promising to repay every cent she owes. Does anyone remember that?"
The moment I said that, the comments section exploded.
"Oh? More gossip? Is this the boyfriend from yesterday?"
"Honestly, I don't blame that woman. If there's no love left between them, why not pay him the money back and part ways?"
"Women like that are heartless. That's what they always do after getting rich—they cut off the people they love. How can anyone still be on her side?"
I watched the rapidly climbing viewer count, my fists tightly clenched. I raised my voice. "I've got her handwritten ledger detailing her debt with me here. I'd like to share it with all of you today!
"I've also thought of the perfect blurb for this clip. Man spends six years running a hot dog stand to support his girlfriend through her PhD, only to be dumped and replaced by her advisor's son as she climbs the social ladder!"
