Chapter 2 - The Love I Thought Was Real

Evelyn

I woke up the next morning with puffy, dark under-eyes, the memory of last night sitting heavy in my chest. It wasn’t a blur. I remembered everything. Tessa finding me, pulling me out of Damon’s hands like she already knew I wouldn’t leave on my own.

I reached for my phone. The screen lit up, and the wallpaper hit me instantly.

Me and Sebastian in the Maldives smiling. I looked at him and he looked so excited.

What went wrong??

My mouth flattened slightly as I stared at it.

It didn’t sit right anymore.

I unlocked my phone and changed it without thinking twice. Then I opened my gallery and started deleting every picture of us, my fingers moving fast, not letting myself pause long enough to rethink it.

“You didn't mean what you said last night right???” Tessa’s voice cut in.

I stopped, then looked up at her, “No,” I said. “I was serious. Start working on it.”

By the time I got back to the house, he was already at the door, like he had been waiting. His eyes were slightly red, his hair messy in a way that looked almost convincing, like he hadn’t slept.

“Why didn’t you come home last night?” he asked immediately, his voice tight with something that might have sounded like worry if I didn’t know better.

I walked past him without answering, irritated.

His hand shot out, gripping my wrist and pulling me back. “I asked you something. Where did you spend the night?”

I let out a short, humorless laugh, pulling my hand free. “What do you care?” I turned to face him fully, my eyes locking onto his. “Where were you on my birthday? Can you answer that?” My voice rose slightly, the anger slipping through before I could stop it. “But of course, what matters to you is where I slept.”

He froze for a second, clearly not expecting that.

“I’m sorry,” he said quickly, his tone softening as he ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just… I got paranoid. Thinking you might have spent the night with another man.”

I blinked at him, almost laughing again. Paranoid?

“That’s interesting,” I said slowly, tilting my head as I studied him. “Why would you think that? Did you spend the night with another woman?”

His expression flickered. Just for a second.

Then he smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes as he looked away. “No. Why would I do that when I have a beautiful wife at home?” He stepped closer, his voice smooth, practiced. “I was at a business meeting. You know how work is—it’s been taking most of my time lately.”

Of course it has. I watched him, really watched him this time. The ease in his tone, the confidence, the way he didn’t even hesitate.

Honestly, he deserved an award. The version of me from yesterday would have believed every word.

“I’m sorry for overreacting,” he added. “Anyway, I got you your favorite cake to make up for missing your birthday.”

Before I could respond, he disappeared briefly and came back holding a cake, lighting it quickly like this was just another normal moment. Then he started singing, smiling like nothing had ever gone wrong.

This was his pattern. Miss something important, then show up with a grand gesture and expect everything to reset.

“And,” he said, brightening as if he had saved the best part for last, “I have a gift for you.”

He opened a small box, revealing a diamond ring that caught the light instantly.

“This should be your new wedding ring,” he said, his voice softening as he looked at me. “With this, everyone will know you’re my wife.”

I forced a smile onto my lips, though it felt stiff, unnatural.

He took my hand, gently removing the old ring before kneeling down, sliding the new one onto my finger like this was some romantic renewal instead of a performance. He pressed a kiss to my hand, lingering just enough to make it convincing.

Then he stood, leaning in for a kiss. And just like that, the image hit me again.

The basement. The woman. His hand in her hair.

My stomach turned. I stepped back quickly.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, frowning as he moved closer again.

I moved back again. The confusion on his face deepened, and for the first time, I saw something close to unease flicker in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his hand lifting slightly like he wanted to touch me.

“You should get ready for work,” I said, my voice controlled, even though my chest felt tight.

He hesitated, studying me for a moment before nodding slowly. “Yeah… you’re right.” He paused, then added, “You’ve been acting a little weird.”

“And don’t miss the company party tonight,” he continued as he turned away. “Be there. I got you a dress—it’s in that package.”

My gaze followed where he pointed before he disappeared into the bathroom.

The sound of the door closing echoed faintly.

I bit down on my lower lip, my eyes drifting slowly to the wall. Our wedding photos. The smiles.

The way he looked at me back then, like I was everything.

I remembered how excited he had been, how he couldn’t even stay still during the ceremony, the way he fumbled with the rings because he was too excited.

He had even made a joke about it, pulling everyone into his happiness. It had all felt real.

Was all of that fake?

My phone buzzed in my hand, snapping me back.

That number again. I hesitated for a second before opening it.

[ Did you see the gifts he gave you? It was picked by his mistress. Here’s proof.]

My breath caught as I opened the images.

Sebastian with her standing side by side, choosing the ring.

Then another image of her in a kitchen, smiling as she made the cake.

I stared at the screen, my fingers tightening slowly around the phone.

He really brought me a ring she chose and a cake she made.

A sharp, bitter laugh almost escaped my lips, but I swallowed it down, my chest tightening instead.

The humiliation sat heavy, suffocating, like something lodged deep inside me that I couldn’t pull out no matter how hard I tried.

My phone chirped again. This was a new number.

For a second, I just stared at it, my heartbeat picking up slightly.Then I unlocked the screen.

A new message.

[ Save my number. —Damon ]

My brows pulling together slightly.

“…What the hell?”