Chapter 2 02

Chapter 02

"That's spying!" I snapped, my voice rising in frustration.

Rose shrugged, pulling me along with her as if I were some child she could easily control. "He says he's at work, and you're his girlfriend anyways. It won't be spying," she retorted, her tone dismissive, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I nodded, though something about it didn't sit right with me. I felt uneasy in the pit of my stomach, an anxious gnawing that only seemed to grow the closer we got to James's house. Why? Why was I feeling like this? James would never do such a thing. Why would he? And he would never have married me for my money or my fortune; he just wasn't like that. James wasn't like those other guys who only cared about what they could get from someone.

But then again, maybe that was the problem. I was too trusting. I always believed the best in people, even when things didn't always add up. And now, as Rose led me through the side of the house instead of the front door, I had a creeping sense of doubt.

"Come on, Ivy," she muttered, pulling me along even faster. "You have to stop being so naive. You're twenty now, not some little girl who believes everyone is good. The world isn't like that. People lie. People cheat. And sometimes, those people are the ones closest to you."

I bit my lip, frowning, but I couldn't bring myself to argue. "But I'm not naive," I whispered back, almost pleading with myself more than with her.

"Says the girl who nearly gave a hundred dollars to that charity on the street that claimed pigs were endangered species," Rose shot back, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. "You believed that crap. You believed in it, Ivy."

I shrugged, unwilling to let her get under my skin. "You never know," I muttered. "They could be."

Rose rolled her eyes dramatically. "Please, you're a walking disaster. Come on, let's get this over with."

She yanked me to the side of the house and pushed me against the window. I could feel my heart beginning to race, a knot tightening in my stomach as my palms turned clammy. Why was I so nervous? What was the worst that could happen? I told myself it was nothing. Just a peek through the window. Just a little curiosity, that was all.

When we peered in, the house looked ordinary at first. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting warm light across the room. Nothing seemed out of place. Just a nice, cozy home, exactly as I had imagined it. But then I saw him.

James.

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart slammed against my chest. I saw him sitting there by the fire with... someone. A woman. My chest tightened, and for a split second, I thought I might faint. I blinked, rubbing my eyes, hoping it was just some trick of the light, some misunderstanding.

But no, I was seeing it clearly. James was sitting on the couch, his arm casually draped over the woman's shoulders, their heads turned toward each other. There was a small laugh between them, too familiar, too intimate.

My stomach dropped. This wasn't happening. Not to me.

I leaned in closer, unable to tear my eyes away, hoping I was just imagining things. But then it happened. He moved in, his lips brushing against hers, a soft, lingering kiss.

It was like a punch to my gut.

"I told you, Ivy," Rose's voice was a quiet whisper in my ear. Her arm rested heavily on my shoulder, but I barely noticed it. My mind was reeling, my vision blurring as tears threatened to spill. "I told you he wasn't the guy you thought he was."

"No..." I whispered hoarsely. "That's just his... friend. His... friend," I repeated, but the words felt hollow even to me.

I felt like I was drowning, like the very air was being sucked out of the room. I had never imagined that something like this could happen. James wasn't like that. I had trusted him with everything-my heart, my life. How could he do this? How could he betray me like this? How could he kiss someone else like that?

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away, refusing to let Rose see how much she was hurting me with every word.

I felt numb, the world spinning around me as I tried to process what I had just witnessed. It was surreal. Impossible. My heart was breaking in ways I hadn't thought possible. This was the moment I realized what true pain felt like.

But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was how I had ignored every sign. How I had let myself be swept up in the fantasy of a perfect relationship, ignoring the things that didn't quite add up.

"Ivy," Rose said, her voice softer now. "I hate to say I told you so, but... this was inevitable."

I shook my head violently. "No... no, it can't be. This isn't him. It's not..." My voice trailed off as I clutched the window ledge, fighting the overwhelming urge to run. I didn't want to see any more, but I couldn't tear myself away. I had to know, had to see the truth.

Rose didn't say anything. She just watched me, as if waiting for the inevitable breakdown that she knew was coming. I stood there, staring at James, the man I had married, as he continued to laugh and kiss that woman.

"Don't you think you deserve better, Ivy?" Rose asked, her voice low and serious now. "You deserve someone who will love you for you. Not someone who betrays your trust."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. There were no words for this kind of pain. The kind that felt like your entire world was shattering in front of your eyes.

Present Time

The sound of the door slamming open jolted me back to reality. I sat up quickly, my heart racing, but it was only Rose. I exhaled a shaky breath and laid back against the couch, trying to calm my frazzled nerves.

"I thought it was that stupid French lady," I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples to ease the tension in my head. The last thing I needed was another confrontation.

Rose 'tsk'ed me from across the room, shaking her head in that knowing way she always did. She sat down elegantly in the opposite chair, her posture perfect as always. If it weren't for her, I would have never survived the past six months. Her constant presence had been both a blessing and a curse. The endless tea parties, the parties every week, the gossip-if I had to endure another one of those ridiculous events, I might lose my mind.

"Are you excited?" Rose asked suddenly, her voice light and cheerful, as she picked up a cushion and began knitting. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Was this what rich people's lives were like? Boring, routine-filled existence with no escape?

I sighed. My body ached, and all I wanted was to slip into a hot pool, forget about the world for a few hours, and drift away.

"For what?" I asked, trying to summon some energy to even feign interest. My body felt like it was made of lead, and sleep seemed like the only thing worth pursuing at the moment.

Rose glared at me with exaggerated disapproval. "Are you forgetting something, Ivy?"

I frowned, trying to remember. "What?"

She leaned forward, the gleam of excitement in her eyes now unmistakable. "Darius is coming home!"

I blinked in confusion.

"Your husband, woman!" she added, raising her voice slightly, as if I had forgotten the most important thing in the world.

It took me a second, but then it hit me. Darius. Of course. How could I have forgotten?

I rubbed my face with my hands, groaning inwardly. As much as I hated to admit it, the only thing that could possibly distract me from the mess that was my life right now was the chaotic whirlwind that was Darius.

But still, my heart felt heavy. How could I go on with life after everything that had just happened? How could I pretend that nothing had changed when everything in my world had come crashing down around me?