Chapter 3

I looked at him, waiting to see what kind of lie he would spin next.

"A few months ago, I went back to my hometown. I got too drunk... and I mistook her for you," he explained frantically, his words spilling out of him.

"It was just that one time. Who knew she would get pregnant? Her parents showed up at my family's house, threatening to make a scene at my office if I didn’t take responsibility. I had no choice, Chloe. I really had no choice."

I stared at him.

A few months ago.

He did go back to his hometown, claiming his mother was sick.

During that time, he kept saying how busy he was at work. He rarely came home, and whenever I called, he would hang up after just a few hurried words.

"You got married last month."

"You went back home to get married, and then you told me you were traveling for a business trip."

He fell silent.

"Did your parents know?"

He nodded slowly.

"So your entire family kept this from me."

"It wasn’t like that. I just... I didn’t know how to tell you." He grabbed my hand. His palm was slick with cold sweat. "I really love you, Chloe. Can’t you feel it after five years? She was just a mistake. Once the baby is born, we’ll get a divorce. Just wait for me, okay?"

I looked at him, feeling a chill run down my spine.

"You want me to wait for you?"

"Just one year. Two years at most. Once she gives birth, we'll get divorced."

"And then?"

"And then we’ll get married!" he said eagerly. "We’ll have the wedding exactly as planned. I’ll pay for everything, and we'll get the house. We have five years of history, Chloe. Can you really throw all of that away?"

I yanked my hand out of his grip.

"On the day of your wedding, I was out driving Uber to save up for our future."

He froze.

"I drove for three to four hours every single night. I took on freelance editing gigs on weekends just to save an extra few hundred dollars. I thought you were working hard, sleeping in a cramped company dorm, but you were actually cuddling with your pregnant wife."

"Chloe..."

"And now you’re asking me to wait? To wait for your divorce, wait for you to sort out your child, and then come back to marry me?"

I didn't wait for his answer. I reached over and pushed open the passenger door. "Get out."

"Chloe, let me finish."

"Finish what? Tell me more about when you got married? How you managed to lie to my face? Or how your parents helped you cover it up?" I looked at him, my voice deadly calm. "Actually, you reminded me of something. Your parents knew. So from the very beginning, your family never saw me as one of their own."

"Chloe, my mom really likes you."

"Likes me? Is that why she let you get married behind my back? Is that why she expects me to be your secret little option on the side?"

He had no answer.

"Get out."

"Chloe..."

"Get out!"

He sat there, stubborn and unmoving.

I got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, and yanked the door wide open. "Get out of my car!"

Only then did he slide out, standing by the curb, looking at me helplessly.

"Chloe, we've been together for five years. Our parents have met. How can you be so heartless to just end it like this?"

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