“Get out,” I snapped, fighting to keep the rawness out of my tone, though the sting was too deep to hide.
James’ face darkened, and his eyes flared with anger.
“Rachel, don’t push it! Lily’s just here for work. Why are you freaking out about it?”
“Really? You’re three years older than her, but you act like the child here?”
The man who used to fight tooth and nail to defend me now tore me down in front of *her*. Just like that.
I steadied myself, feeling every inch of me quiver under the weight of what he’d become. I locked eyes with him, my voice coming slow, almost cold.
“Do you even remember the promises you made me? You said you’d never betray me.”
His neck muscles bulged as he seethed, his voice dripping with condescension.
“Rachel, take a look at yourself! You’re acting insane. Lily’s just being nice, congratulating you, and this is how you react?” He scoffed, eyes full of judgment.
“Why do you always have to dig up old crap? No wonder your dad cheated. If your mom was as paranoid as you, who could blame him? You’re making problems where there are none. Who could live with a crazy person forever?”
Those words hit like a sucker punch.
The disgust in his eyes mirrored my father’s when he had that look toward my mother. The man who’d promised to protect me, to be my forever, was now the one ripping me apart.
He knew exactly what betrayal meant to me, what it did to my heart. And yet, here he was, doing it all over again.
I fought the burning tears, but they were already welling up, pushing at the back of my throat. My hands shook as I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, trying to hold myself together.
His gaze dropped to my bare wrist, brows furrowed.
“Where’s your bracelet?”
I bit back a bitter laugh.
“Forget it. We’ll buy a new one. But first, go apologize to Lily. If you really want to move on, that’s how you do it.”
A small, mocking smile tugged at the corners of my mouth.
“Apologize? Get out. Both of you. Now.”
This was my home. The one I’d worked so hard to get. The place I’d bought with my own damn money.
He’d convinced me to put it in his name at first, promising that we’d upgrade to a bigger house later on, *my* name on the deed.
But now? Now I realized it was all just a stepping stone for *Lily*.
I couldn’t believe I’d wasted five years.
James’ eyes widened at the firmness in my tone. Shock was the first crack in his demeanor.
Lily, on the other hand, started sniffling, tears welling up in her eyes like she hadn’t just been the one trying to take everything from me.
The diamond ring on her finger caught the light, and I had to look away, it was blinding.
“I’m sorry, Rachel,” she sniffed, her voice sickeningly sweet. “I didn’t mean to make things worse. I’ll leave now, really. We’ll just keep things professional from now on.”
She hurried toward the door, almost tripping in her high heels.
James didn’t even blink. He just stared after her, concern etched all over his face.
“It’s late. I can’t let her go home alone,” he muttered, his voice suddenly soft and protective.
And just like that, he was gone, leaving me alone.
I stood there, paralyzed, the reality of it all crashing down. I had spent months working late abroad, desperate to make things work between us. And in all that time, not once did he ask if I was okay.
Not a single message.
Not one word of concern.
But now, when it came to her? He was rushing out the door, chasing after her.
The last flicker of hope I’d held onto for this relationship was gone with his footsteps.
I slid down the wall, completely drained. My body felt like it was shutting down, and my heart had already cracked too many times to feel anything anymore.
Five years. Gone. Not even with a bang, but a whimper.
I pulled out my phone and booked a flight for the day after tomorrow, the day of our wedding.
Then I cleaned the house. Every trace of James and Lily was gone, thrown into bags, ready to be forgotten.
That night, James didn’t come home. No apology. No explanation.
Only one message.
[Lily’s not mad at you. She’ll be at the wedding too. You can talk to her there. I didn’t finish my work, so I’m staying late. I won’t be back tonight.]
I stared at the words, numb. My fingers trembled, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel anything anymore.
