Chapter 2 A Pendant Built on Lies

Theodore clapped once.

Moments later, a servant appeared, holding a velvet jewelry box. Inside, an emerald pendant rested against black satin, shimmering softly beneath the lamplight.

"Amanda," Theodore said, lifting it from the box, "I had this made for you. There's only one in the world. It's perfect for you."

His gaze lingered, wrapping me in warmth and tenderness.

"Tomorrow's your birthday. Let's spend the day at the lake with Noah and see the flowers."

His voice was low and gentle, almost like a caress against my skin.

I stared at the pendant in his hand.

Even with my limited knowledge of jewelry, I could tell it was valuable. The emerald was vivid, and the craftsmanship was exquisite.

I looked up at him. "Does anyone else have one like this?"

He did not even hesitate.

"Of course not," he replied with a smile. "I picked it out for you. It's one of a kind."

That was a lie.

I had already seen that same pendant on Ruby Sinclair.

A sharp twist gripped my chest, slowly melting into a heavy, lingering ache.

Theodore moved closer and fastened the necklace around my neck, his touch gentle and deliberate.

When I met his eyes, for a fleeting moment, I felt like the only person in his world.

I almost believed it.

By the time I came back to myself, he was already tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch as gentle as ever.

He was still tender, still close, still soft in all the ways that had once mattered most.

So why did he suddenly feel so unfamiliar, like a stranger in his own skin?

…

Six years ago, Theodore was still young—the admired eldest son of the Calloway family, born into privilege and raised with expectations so heavy they would shape the rest of his life.

He'd received an offer from one of the best universities in the world. His family had expected him to go abroad, build an impressive future, and come back with even more to his name.

Then, he met me.

I was an orphan, rootless, with no family, no history, and nothing that made me worthy in anyone's eyes.

His family opposed us from the beginning. They looked down on me, looked through me, and made it clear I would never be enough, but I refused to disappear.

I would not become just another woman forced to share her husband and call it love.

And for me, Theodore gave it all up.

He stayed.

He gave up the life his family had planned for him and married me instead.

To everyone else, Theodore was cold, distant, and unreadable.

However, I had come to know another side of him.

I knew the man who sulked for my attention, laughed with his head on my shoulder, and held me close while whispering love until I believed nothing could ever break us.

I looked at him now and saw the affection still shining in his eyes. For one heartbeat, it almost seemed as if nothing had changed.

But there was something else, faint and unnameable, like a hairline crack beneath flawless glass.

Theodore wrapped his hand around mine. "Amanda? What's wrong?"

I came back to myself and shook my head. "Nothing. Let's just go."

In five days, I would be gone.

Maybe this trip was my silent farewell.

After all, I had spent six years loving him.

…

The next morning, breakfast was already waiting for me downstairs.

I was still recovering, and my body hadn't fully regained its strength. Just sitting upright for too long made me tired.

We hadn't been in the car very long before Noah started whining in the back seat.

"Daddy, can we bring Ms. Sinclair, too?" he asked. "She said she'd finish the story she was telling me and promised me a new toy. It's boring when it's just Mommy. She never does anything fun."

The air in the car changed instantly.

Theodore's expression darkened.

"Noah." His voice turned sharp enough to make the boy freeze. "That's enough. Today is family time. Don't be rude."

Noah seemed to realize too late that he'd said the wrong thing. He turned to look at me, suddenly cautious.

"Mommy… I'm sorry."

I didn't answer.

I just turned toward the window and watched the scenery blur past.