Chapter 3

I pushed the door open and went straight to the bedroom, where I pulled my suitcase out of the closet.

Logan followed me in, his expression darkening.

"Keira, what's your problem now?"

"I'm moving out," I said, tossing my clothes into the suitcase one by one.

"Over a parking spot?"

I didn't stop packing, but he grabbed the suitcase.

"Why didn't you talk to me before you sold the spot?" he asked, his voice rising with frustration.

"It was my parking spot." I looked at him. "Why did I need to discuss it with you?"

Rendered speechless, Logan looked as if he'd swallowed a lemon.

"We're getting married soon," he finally said. "Do you really have to make such a big deal about what's yours and what's mine?"

"Did you buy the parking spot?" I asked, staring at him.

"I did. So what?" His answer came without hesitation. "You'd already decided to sell it. I wasn't going to let someone else buy it. Genevieve has trouble parking, so keeping the spot between ours made the most sense."

"Made the most sense?" I echoed. "For who?"

Logan's patience finally ran out.

"Stop overthinking this!" he snapped. "It's just a parking spot. I'll buy you another one if that's what you want."

Somehow, he made it sound like I was the petty one for being upset.

"Logan, forget the wedding." I looked at him with a sneer as I zipped up my suitcase. "I don't want to marry you anymore."

The moment the words left my mouth, Logan's expression turned grim.

"The wedding is in two weeks, and you're telling me this now?"

Genevieve appeared in the doorway, her gaze tearful.

"Keira, don't do this. This is all my fault."

I turned toward her.

"If it's your fault, then do you even know what you did wrong?"

The color drained from her face.

"If you walk out of that door tonight, we're not going to be able to talk this through," Logan warned, his voice turning cold as he blocked the doorway.

I ignored him and looked at my phone instead.

The screen showed an email from the overseas division.

"Overseas Assignment Confirmation: Please confirm whether you accept the position by the end of this week."

In truth, I'd been staring at that email for three days. I'd been torn about whether to accept it, but now, I'd made up my mind.

With both of them watching, I clicked on the email and typed, "I accept."

The moment I hit send, Mom called.

"Keira, have you lost your mind?" she cried. "You're making this much of a fuss over a parking lot? Your wedding's just around the corner. Imagine what our family and friends would say!"

Dad took the phone next.

"Keira, enough. Stop making a scene. You're getting married soon. You can't be this unreasonable."

They hadn't even asked why I was leaving, but they had already decided that I was in the wrong. Apparently, I wasn't allowed to embarrass our families.

I hung up.

…

Not long after the altercation, the doorbell rang.

Genevieve was standing outside with a thermal bag.

"Keira, I made you soup."

I didn't let her in.

"Just get to the point."

She lowered her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"Why do you have to end things with Logan? If this is about the parking spot, I'll stop parking there. Is that what you want? You can have the spot."

I almost laughed.

"Have it? It was mine to begin with."

She faltered, then plastered a smile on her face.

"We've been friends for so many years. We don't have to let something this trivial come between us."

"Then, why did you let Logan buy it?" I demanded.

"I never asked him to buy it," Genevieve cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He just felt bad for me. You know I'm a terrible driver. You've always been understanding about it."

I nodded.

"So, I was supposed to tolerate you taking my fiance away from me, too?"

She fell silent, and I looked her in the eye.

"All these years, were you really taking over my parking spot because you were a bad driver, or were you trying to make some kind of point?"

The hurt expression on her face finally cracked.

"Do you really have to make it sound so awful?"

"What exactly is awful?" I shot back. "Are you referring to my words or what you did?"

Genevieve wiped away her tears, finally giving up on her facade.

"I never meant to take anything from you," she said. "Logan and I work at the same company, and we just happen to be on the same route."

The last thread of my patience snapped.

"Right. You always have an explanation," I said, a sneer tugging at my lips. "Whether it was coincidental or intentional, you know the truth."

She had nothing to say. Before leaving, she set the thermal bag on the floor and gave me one last look.

"Keira, you'll regret this."

"I do regret something," I said before closing the door. "I regret not seeing the truth sooner."

…

The next morning at work, I overheard people talking in the break room about a business meeting.

"I heard we're going to Crestmont today."

"I was in the parking garage last time. Mr. Poole was always parked next to one of the female employees' cars."

"You mean Genevieve? They're always getting coffee together at work, too. Wait, isn't Logan Poole Keira's fiance?"

Several people turned to look at me, but I said nothing.

Just then, my manager, Sean Goldwin, came out of his office.

"Keira, head to Crestmont this afternoon and finalize the details for the new project."

"Got it," I said.

At that moment, I suddenly found the whole thing almost laughable.

Even the people around me had noticed the signs before I did, but I'd been the only one foolish enough to miss them.