Chapter 3

3

Tristan didn't come home that night. He didn't even send a text.

Why would he? He was wrapped up in the arms of his true love. He had no reason to remember the "maid."

Just as I was about to turn off my light, Sienna sent me a video.

It was recorded from a hidden angle, grainy and voyeuristic.

In the video, Tristan was pinned against her. He looked like a predator, consumed by lust.

Sienna's nails left red tracks down his back as the room filled with the sounds of their intimacy.

I tried to close the app, but my eyes caught something in the trash can by their bed.

It was the woven bracelet. The one I had made with my own hands.

He had acted like it was his most prized possession. Now, it was garbage.

Sienna sent a follow-up text.

"He wanted to go all the way tonight. Do you know what my condition was?"

I didn't reply, but she didn't care.

"I told him to take that hideous string off and throw it away."

"Do you know what he said? He said he'd been wanting to get rid of that ugly thing for ages."

"Don't you get it? Tristan Thorne doesn't love you. He never did."

I stared at the black screen of my phone. I remembered how he had begged me to make that bracelet.

He said every other guy had one from his girlfriend. He wanted to belong to me.

"Willa, every lucky man has a hand-braided charm. It means the two people will never be parted."

I spent three nights straight learning how to weave it from a tutorial.

I remembered how he smiled when I slid it onto his wrist. He looked like a kid on Christmas.

"Finally! Now everyone will know I'm taken!"

He even posted a photo of us on his feed. It was the first time he'd ever shared his personal life.

His caption was: "I finally have my own little princess."

Now, that post was gone. His entire social media was blocked from my view.

When I had asked him about it, he just brushed it off.

"It's all boring work stuff, Willa. I don't want to clutter your mind with corporate drama."

I believe he was sincere in that one moment years ago. I believe he wanted a future once.

But hearts change. Sincerity has an expiration date.

The next morning, Lukas Yale called to discuss the wedding details.

"Should we go with white roses? Or maybe pink lilies? Is white too traditional for a ceremony like this?"

"But I know white roses are your favorite. This is the biggest day of your life..."

I cut through his nervous rambling.

"Can't we just use both?"

He went silent for a moment.

"Willa... do you actually want this? Or do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you, Lukas. I just think one color is too plain."

"Right! Okay! I'll get the florists on it immediately!" He sounded like he was about to jump for joy.

I sighed as the line went dead. "Marriage is such a hassle."

The door to my room swung open. Tristan was standing there.

"Marriage? Who's getting married?"