Chapter 3

I don't even remember how I got back to our shared apartment.

It was pouring rain outside. I hadn't used an umbrella, letting the freezing water ruin my styled hair.

My custom suit was soaked, heavy and clinging to my skin, matching the weight of my heart sinking into the abyss.

My keys scraped against the lock for a long time before the door finally clicked open.

The apartment was dead silent.

Caleb and I had rented this place together for three whole years.

After graduation, to save money and look out for each other, we got this apartment.

I used to think we were each other's strongest support in this cold city.

When he had a fever, I stayed up all night taking care of him.

When I worked late, he would leave a warm meal on the stove.

When I first introduced Christine to him, he had solemnly sworn to vet her for me, promising he wouldn't let any bad woman trick his best bro.

Looking back, every ounce of that trust had turned into barbed wire, wrapping around my throat, drawing blood with every breath.

Barefoot, I walked slowly into the bathroom.

On the wall, two towels hung side by side—one blue, one gray. The gray one was mine.

I remembered folding it perfectly before leaving this morning.

Now, one corner was draped messily, damp with a lingering, suspicious moisture.

On the sink, inside my gray rinsing cup, there was a faint, smudged streak of dark red on the rim.

It was lipstick. The exact shade Christine loved to wear.

I rushed to the toilet, my stomach violently churning, and dry-heaved until tears blurred my eyes.

All the signs had been there. I had just been blind.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed frantically in my pocket, like the dying spasms of a heart.

The screen lit up with 'Jennifer.'

Christine's mother.

I numbly swiped to answer.

There was a heavy, suffocating silence on the other end for several seconds.

"The Miller family cannot have any stain on our name."

Jennifer’s voice finally came through, cold and hard like iron.

"What happened at the engagement party made us the laughingstock of the city."

"We only agreed to this marriage because we thought you were a decent, honest man. Who knew you were such trash?"

"You’ve read the prenup. Cheating on Christine makes you the sole guilty party."

"You are leaving with absolutely nothing. Christine’s money, the cost of the party, and all the designer jewelry—I will have her retrieve them tomorrow."

"You better have every single item ready. If even one thing is missing, we will see you in court."

The line went dead.

The world fell back into silence.

I held my phone. The screen lit up again with a new text from Christine.

It was just five words: "Give me back the ring."