Chapter 2

I took the $2,000 and headed straight to the pet store downstairs with Mochi.

“Give him your most expensive grooming package, with the essential-oil massage. And throw in two sticks of premium beef cat treats.”

I slapped the money down on the counter, feeling more confident than I ever had in my life.

While Mochi enjoyed his spa treatment, I sat in the waiting area, replaying the past few months in my head like scenes from a movie.

Logan’s silent treatment. Chloe’s constant provocations. The way all those so-called friends watched from the sidelines, enjoying the show.

It turned out I was the only fool in this whole mess.

When Mochi finally finished his treatment, he strutted out with his fur glossy and perfectly groomed, looking like a king inspecting his territory.

I scooped him into my arms and took a cab back to the apartment Logan and I shared.

The moment we stepped inside, Mochi’s fur stood on end.

He jumped out of my arms and bolted toward the bedroom, letting out a series of angry hisses at my vanity.

“What is it?” I followed him inside.

The sight before me sent my blood pressure through the roof.

My vanity was a complete mess. The cap on my most prized bottle of limited-edition perfume hadn’t been screwed on properly, and the bottle had tipped over, spilling perfume all over the tabletop. The sharp scent filled the entire room.

But what disgusted me even more was the open closet.

The silk nightgown I’d bought just last week and hadn’t even gotten around to wearing was now crumpled up in the corner of the laundry basket.

There was a suspicious stain on it.

Mochi jumped onto the vanity, sniffed twice, and that fierce little voice sounded in my head again.

“Human, not only are you being cheated on, but you’ve got a neon sign over your head.”

I clenched my fists.

“She was here?”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

Mochi licked his paw, his eyes sweeping disdainfully over the pile of cosmetics.

“That woman was here this morning. She tried your lipstick, decided the color was too old-fashioned, and deliberately twisted the lipstick all the way up before putting the cap back on and ruining it.”

I picked up the lipstick and opened it.

Sure enough, the lipstick had been snapped clean in half.

“And that dress,” Mochi continued, twisting the knife, “she wore it in front of Logan and asked him if she looked better in it than you would. That blind idiot told her you looked like a middle-aged housewife, while she looked like a goddess.”

I was shaking with anger, my stomach churning.

They’d actually been using my things in my own home while I was at work, only to turn around and humiliate me on top of it.

Just then, Logan’s video call came through.

I took a deep breath and answered.

Logan was driving, with trees flashing past in the background.

“Sienna, are you done with this tantrum?”

His brows were drawn together, his voice thick with irritation.

“Get a cab and come apologize to Chloe. Everyone’s waiting at the campsite, and the whole mood is ruined because of you.”

The camera shifted accidentally, briefly revealing Chloe in the passenger seat.

She had already wiped the water off her face and was now sitting there with red-rimmed eyes, looking utterly pitiful.

But in that brief glimpse, I noticed the necklace around her neck.

It was mine.

I’d bought it and hadn’t even taken it out of the box yet.

“Logan, that’s my necklace.”

My voice turned icy.

Logan froze and instinctively looked at Chloe.

Chloe hurriedly covered her neckline, tears welling up in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Sienna. I saw this necklace in the gap between the car seats and thought Logan had bought it as some little gift. I just put it on to see how it looked. I didn’t know it was yours. I’ll take it off right now.”

She fumbled with the clasp, but her long nails made it impossible to undo. Her face flushed with panic.

Logan couldn’t stand watching her struggle. He reached over and stopped her hand.

“Enough! It’s just a stupid necklace. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?”

He turned and glared into the camera.

“Sienna, you waste money on this junk all the time, and now that Chloe found it for you, you’re still making a fuss? Do you have no manners?”

Junk?

That necklace was a custom-made, globally limited-edition piece I’d spent two months pulling strings to get. I’d bought it as a birthday present for myself.

Mochi suddenly leaned toward the phone and bared his teeth at the camera.

His voice rang in my head, dripping with sarcasm.

“Wow. This is getting good. She’s thinking, ‘What a loser. I stole this necklace from your drawer while Logan was in the bathroom. The craftsmanship isn’t bad. It’ll go perfectly with my outfit tonight.’

“And your idiot boyfriend is thinking, ‘Why has Sienna become so petty? She’s nothing like Chloe. I just hope Chloe drinks a few more rounds with me tonight. She could use some comfort after being so upset.’”

I looked at the faces of those two cheaters on my screen.

Strangely, I wasn’t angry anymore.

Instead, I felt calmer than I ever had before.

If you two wanted to play games, fine.

I’d play along.

And this time, I was going to make it a big one.