Chapter 4

Three years, undone by two of another woman's tears.

The weight in my chest was almost unbearable.

I didn't argue anymore.

"Edgar. You said it yourself."

He turned his face away, his voice thin with impatience.

"Yes, I said it. Now get out."

I didn't look at him again. I turned and went back to the guest room.

The suitcase was already mostly packed.

I wheeled it straight toward the entryway.

Passing the living room, I saw Edgar with his back to me, head bent, murmuring softly to comfort Florence.

The door closed quietly behind me.

I had made the right choice. I knew that.

And still there was that hollow feeling inside, like something had been carved out of me.

I dragged the suitcase down to the street, took out my phone, and bought a plane ticket for three days out.

For the next two days I stayed in a hotel.

Running paperwork, filing my resignation, on my feet from morning to night.

On the afternoon of the third day, Edgar's post came up in my feed.

The first photo was a trendy restaurant.

A pretty dessert sat on the table.

Florence had her chin propped in her hand, smiling like the happiest woman alive.

The second was a castle at an amusement park.

Florence wore a cartoon headband, posing with one of the costumed characters.

Edgar stood behind her, one hand resting lightly at her waist.

The caption was a single line.

"This little one is such a handful."

The doting practically dripped off the screen.

I looked at it for a long time.

Three years together, and he never once made me public.

Every holiday, when I brought up posting a photo of us, he would smile and ask,

"If you found a million dollars, would you go around telling everyone?"

Back then I shook my head, foolish as anything.

He'd reach out and ruffle the top of my hair.

"Exactly. You're my million dollars. What's good about you, I keep to myself. Nobody else deserves to see it."

I let that line fool me for three whole years.

Only now do I understand. It was never that I was too precious.

It was that I wasn't good enough.

I closed the feed.

The teacher from the study-abroad agency messaged me.

She said the paperwork was all done, and asked me to come in and sign to confirm.

I finished signing, and I'd just stepped out the front door when my phone rang.

It was Marjorie.

I picked up, and her voice came through high-handed as ever.

"Althea. You've had a couple of days to cool off now, haven't you? A lot of relatives have been asking about the bride being switched at the wedding, and it's awkward to explain, so we've been telling them you came down with a sudden fever that day and couldn't attend, and Florence stepped in at the last minute to save the day."

"You come by these next couple of days, and when relatives ask, you stick to that story. Don't let anything slip."

Listening to how entitled she sounded, all I felt was how absurd it was.

Someone stole my wedding.

And now I was supposed to cover for the woman who did it, to save face for the Delgado family.

There was no such easy bargain in this world.

I refused outright.

"Edgar and I never had a wedding, so there's nothing between us. What his relatives think has nothing to do with me."

Marjorie exploded on the spot.

"Watch how you talk! No respect at all. You haven't even married in and already you're giving your elders attitude?"

"Let me tell you, if you don't do exactly as I say today, you can forget ever setting foot in the Delgado house as long as you live!"

My voice stayed calm.

"That works out well. I never wanted to. Edgar and I have already broken up. I hope the Delgado family won't call and harass me again, or I'll go straight to the police."

Before she could get another word out, I hung up.

Then I dropped the number into my blocked list.

An hour later, Edgar called.

Thinking I still needed to settle the breakup, I picked up.

The accusation came the moment the line opened.

"Althea, what kind of way is that to speak to my mother? When did I ever say we were breaking up?"

"I told you to go cool off for a couple of days, that's all. Florence's allergy was that bad and I didn't even hold it against you, and here you are talking back to my mother. I've spoiled you rotten."

"I already apologized to my family for you. In a couple of days, once my mother's calmed down, I'll take you back, you'll go say you're sorry, offer a few soft words, and this whole thing will be over."

I opened my mouth, about to say the word "breakup."

Then Florence's gentle voice called out on his end.

Edgar tossed out a quick line.

"I've still got some work here. Hanging up now."

And cut the call.

I stared at the ended-call screen and gave a small, bitter laugh.

Same as the countless times before, he wouldn't even give me the chance to say we were through.

I didn't hesitate. I blocked him, and deleted every one of his contacts while I was at it.

Two days later, I arrived at the airport right on time.

The plane began to pick up speed and climb, and I turned my head and gently closed my eyes.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city.

Edgar stood outside a hotel room door, holding a stack of prettily wrapped skincare products.

He raised a hand and knocked, his voice carrying that condescending gentleness.

"Althea, open up. I've come to take you home. I already bought the apology gifts for you, and when we go back you say you bought them, don't let it slip."

No sound from inside.

He put more force into it and knocked twice more.

"Althea! Stop sulking and open the door!"

A few seconds later, the door opened.

A shirtless man, his face thick with the fury of being woken up, roared at him.

"You've got a death wish! What's with all the knocking this early? Can't a person get any sleep!"