Chapter 2

My phone vibrated constantly after I set it on the table the entire night.

Nora's messages came one after another. The screen lit up, went dark, then lit up again. I didn't read any of them and muted my phone instead.

At nine the next morning, someone knocked.

Shane pushed the door open and came in, followed by the makeup artist. He had already changed into a dark gray suit, and his tie was the one I had bought especially for him. "It's time for your makeup. It's almost time."

I sat there without moving and said, "I told you. The wedding is canceled."

His expression darkened, and he frowned. "The guests are almost here. What are you trying to do now?"

I looked up and met his eyes, then laughed coldly. "I can't pretend nothing has happened. I can't marry a man who slept with my best friend. Shane… Don't you find yourself disgusting?"

Just as he opened his mouth and prepared to speak, the door was pushed open, and Nora rushed in. She wore a loose outfit, and her hair had been pinned up carelessly.

"Yuna, listen to me..." She said, rushing forward and grabbing my wrist. "It was an accident!"

I pulled my hand free. "There's no need to explain. Even if what happened four years ago was an accident, was the child also an accident? I treated you as my best friend all this time while you were secretly sleeping with Shane."

Nora opened her mouth, and tears spilled from her eyes. "Yuna, I..."

I lowered my head, and my eyes fell on the loose outfit she was wearing. A line of small words was embroidered on the collar.

Bayview Saint Anne Postnatal Retreat.

I suddenly laughed and turned to look at Shane. "No wonder you kept going to Bayview for business trips every few days and you wouldn't answer my calls or reply to my messages. You were there taking care of her. You were there seeing her.

"And here I was stupidly praying every day that your flight would land safely. I couldn't even close my eyes and rest until I saw your messages."

Shane pressed his lips together tightly and lowered his head.

Meanwhile, Nora started sobbing out loud. "Yuna, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hide it from you..."

Shane hastily crossed the room and supported Nora. "You just gave birth to a baby. Don't stand for too long."

He helped her sit on the couch, then half-crouched in front of her and patted her back.

My gaze fell on the wedding ring on Nora's hand. It was three times larger than mine, the diamond catching the light with a dazzling shimmer. No wonder she thought mine was too cheap and did not mind letting me have it.

"Shane, I stayed with you for eight years." For a moment, I did not know whether to be angry at being looked down on or furious at their betrayal. "From that leaking rental apartment to the penthouse, from being unable to afford instant noodles to your million-dollar annual salary…

"The ring on my finger is not even a third of what you gave her. Am I worth that little to you?"

Shane shot to his feet, his expression dark. "Enough! She just gave birth, and she hasn't recovered yet! Stop it already."

"Fine. I'll stop." I turned around, took my phone from the bedside table, and walked toward the door.

Before I had taken more than a few steps, I ran straight into Joanna, who was wearing a wine-red traditional dress. The smile on her face vanished when she saw me. "Yuna, what time do you think it is? You haven't even started with your makeup? Where are you running off to?"

"Home. I'm not getting married," I said.

Joanna froze for a second. "What did you say?"

"I said the wedding is off. I'm not getting married," I said.

Joanna's face flushed red. "Yuna Sutton! Are you toying with…"

Before she could finish, she looked over my shoulder and saw the people inside the room. Nora was sitting there in a loose outfit, tears still on her face.

Joanna paused, and her expression changed. "Nora, you just gave birth. Why are you here?"

I froze.

Then, I understood everything. All I could feel was how laughable this whole affair was.

Everyone knew.

Everyone except me.