Chapter 3

By the time I made it home through the pouring rain,

someone stopped me at the front gate of the complex.

The security guard said,

“Ms. Finch, Mr. Gilbert left word. He says there's a guest at the house right now, so it wouldn't be convenient for you to go up. He wants you to find a hotel and stay the night.”

The guard's eyes were full of pity. He seemed to hate having to say it.

“You and Mr. Gilbert are getting married soon, aren't you. The one he brought back is a woman.”

My mind went blank. For a moment I didn't know what to say.

Five years together.

Dean Gilbert had told me countless times that the moment he had money, he'd marry me first thing. He wanted a home with me.

When he earned his first ten million, he bought the place here, and back then he told me,

“Crystal, this is a home that belongs to just the two of us. I won't let anyone else set foot in here.”

But now...

I came back to myself and spoke, a little worn out.

“I understand. Thank you.”

As I turned to leave, the guard murmured behind me,

“Good thing you're not married. If you were, you'd have to divorce, and who knows how much trouble that'd be. Ah, hard to say whether finding out now is a good thing or a bad thing.”

I walked on, numb, and laughed without a sound.

Right. Good thing we're not married.

The ache inside me faded, bit by bit, until I even caught myself feeling grateful.

I found a hotel. I'd just finished checking in

when Dean Gilbert suddenly sent me a message.

“Crystal, I said this morning I had a surprise for you. I booked a restaurant, and I got you that piece of jewelry you liked at the auction.”

“It's pouring outside, and Brittany ran out without an umbrella and got soaked through, so I brought her home to shower and change. I was afraid seeing you would upset her, so I had the guard tell you not to come back for now. Don't get the wrong idea.”

I looked at his message and laughed, cold.

He was afraid Brittany would be upset, but not afraid of upsetting me.

On her social feed, Brittany had posted something new.

She was wearing Dean's pajamas in a selfie, pretending to complain,

“Somebody's clothes are so big, but honestly they're so comfy.”

The comments were all teasing her.

“When you become Mrs. Gilbert, you have to hand out wedding candy to all of us.”

And Dean had liked it, right there underneath.

I replied to Dean.

“I won't get the wrong idea. And when you and Brittany get married, you don't need to tell me either. I won't be chipping in a gift for you two.”

Dean called almost at once.

“Crystal, I look after her only because she has a bit of the old you in her. Don't get the wrong idea.”

“She's a lot like you were back then, clean and simple. If it bothers you, I'll take her home right now and come get you.”

Dean had said this kind of thing many times, and at first I even believed he was just fond of her for my sake.

But later, he put Brittany ahead of me every single time. He'd even wrong me for her sake.

I didn't want to keep lying to myself anymore.

I hung up on him straight off. Two hours later, Dean knocked on my hotel door.

“Crystal, I've come to take you home.”

His eyes were sincere and warm, the same as every other time he'd come just to pick me up.

I have trouble sleeping in strange places, I can never rest well in an unfamiliar bed, so I agreed.

At that, the tension eased out of Dean's face.