Chapter 2

After that night, James started coming home much more frequently. He even started offering to pick me up from work.

But once I got into the car, I realized this wasn't the way home.

"Where are we going?"

"You've been in a bad mood lately. I booked a table at a restaurant to make it up to you."

The car stopped in front of a high-end seafood restaurant.

I recognized the place. Just a few days ago, Sophia had posted on Snapchat about how badly she wanted to eat here.

The moment I pushed open the private dining room door, Sophia threw herself into James’s arms. "Jimmy! What took you so long?"

I stood at the door and sneered. "So this is your way of making it up to me?"

James quickly pushed Sophia away. "Sophie insisted on coming. She really wanted to apologize to you. Don't be mad at her."

Sophia put on a pouty, apologetic face. "Yeah, Amy. I begged Jimmy to let me come so I could apologize. I'm so sorry."

"I even ordered their signature dishes. You have to try them," Sophia said, pulling James down to sit next to her.

I crossed my arms and watched the two of them. I felt like the third wheel in my own marriage.

Sitting right next to James, Sophia picked up a peeled shrimp with her fork and held it to his mouth before she even ate anything herself.

"Jimmy, open wide!"

James didn't even hesitate. He took the bite right off her fork.

I sat opposite them, watching this circus with a cold stare.

Margaret, his mother, was grinning from ear to ear. She turned to lecture me. "Look at how sweet Sophie is. Have you ever fed James like that, Amy?"

I ignored Margaret. Instead, I looked directly at James and asked calmly, "You know I'm highly allergic to seafood. What is the meaning of booking this place?"

"Is your apology bringing her along, letting her sit next to you, and eating food right out of her hand?"

James froze. The half-eaten food almost fell out of his mouth.

Sophia immediately jumped in. "Oh, Amy, it's all my fault. I wanted to make this apology special. Please don't blame Jimmy."

James, finding his escape route, nodded quickly.

"Yeah, Amy. I told you, she’s like a sister to me. Sophie went through all this trouble to apologize to you. Just give her some respect."

I slammed my fork onto the table with a loud clatter.

"I'm full."

I stood up and grabbed my purse. James finally panicked, grabbing my arm. "Amy! She already apologized. Why are you giving us attitude?"

I violently shook him off, using enough force to make him stumble back a step.

"James, you call the way you two were eating 'brother and sister'? Do you think I'm blind? Is playing me for a fool that fun?"

The entire table went dead silent.

Sophia’s eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she hid behind James, looking incredibly victimized.

"Amy, please don't misunderstand. Jimmy and I are really just... *sob*..."

"Shut up."

I glared at Sophia. "Save the tears. They only work on him. Don't play your games in front of me. It makes me sick."

I grabbed my coat and went to the entryway to change my shoes.

James chased after me, his voice lowered but dripping with anger. "Amy! If you walk out that door right now, don't think you can just come back easily!"

I turned around, looking at this man who had once sworn to build a home with me. I suddenly laughed.

"James, I only realized today how perfect you two are for each other."

"A pathological liar and a fake actress."

"You really are a match made in heaven."

With that, I pulled the door open and walked out without looking back.

I checked into a hotel nearby. As I sat in my car, my phone lit up. Sophia’s Snapchat story had been updated.

It wasn't a photo this time. It was a long block of text with a headline that pierced my eyes:

[What’s the most thrilling way to sleep with a married man?]

"The answer: Doing it right under his wife's nose."