Chapter 2

2

Behind my calm face, I was biting my lip so hard it bled.

I truly believed Cade loved me.

When I had a fever, he drove a hundred miles just to take care of me.

When I got drunk and made a mess, he cleaned it up without a word of complaint.

I saw those acts of kindness and thought they were real.

That was why I, a woman who never wanted to marry, finally stepped into this cage.

But it was all a lie.

If he wanted to discard me, fine.

I would leave on my own.

I would disappear and never bother him again.

When I got home, I couldn't stop shaking.

I looked at our furniture, every piece chosen by us together.

My heart ached with every breath.

I wished this was all a nightmare.

Why did he have to do this to me?

I grabbed a vase to smash it, but my hand froze.

We had painted this together on our first date at a street fair.

It held all my hopes for our future.

My phone buzzed. The caller ID "Hubby" felt like a slap in the face.

I wanted to scream at him.

I wanted to demand answers.

But I didn't.

"Hey babe, why didn't you call me?" his voice sounded tipsy.

"Do you miss me? Or are you mad? Don't be mad, I've just been so busy tonight! I'll make it up to you soon."

I didn't say a word.

I just watched his car's GPS location on my screen.

He wasn't coming home.

He was moving away from our house.

I prayed he wouldn't go there, but he did.

The car stopped right in front of Mila Jenson's house.

It was after midnight.

A man and a woman alone in a house―it wasn't hard to guess what was happening.

I let out a soft sigh.

"It's fine. I'm just tired. Get home safe."

He must have seen Mila because his voice suddenly sounded much happier.

"Don't worry, babe. I'm always thinking of you! I'll bring you some breakfast burritos in the morning!"

He hung up instantly.

He didn't want to talk to me for even a second longer.

I sat in the cold room, my body stiff.

How many times had he stayed with other women while I worried myself sick?

I used to stay up all night, crying into my pillow, terrified he'd been in an accident.

Then he'd come home with my favorite breakfast, and I'd convince myself he still cared.

Now I knew it was just his way of dealing with the guilt of cheating.

Suddenly, Mila posted a new update on social media.

The photo showed a man in an apron, cooking under soft kitchen lights.

Mila's face was half-visible, wearing a satisfied smile.

The caption read: "He said he'll never leave me again. Should I believe this big liar?"

I recognized the ring on his finger.

I recognized his profile.

The man busy in her kitchen was my husband.

I should have been furious, but I actually laughed.

My marriage was a scam, and I was the punchline of everyone's joke.

I had given him my heart, the one thing he never wanted.

I knew Mila posted that to hurt me, but I didn't care anymore.

There was no point in begging someone to stay.

I liked her post and called my lawyer.

Cade, if you love her that much, I'll help you make it official.