Chapter 1

Julian did not come home alone.

Fiona came in right behind him, dragging a large suitcase.

She slipped on the slippers I kept by the door and greeted me with a smile.

"Chloe, USCIS might make a home visit. Julian said I should stay here for a while. You don't mind, do you?"

Julian and I had bought those slippers together.

The gray pair was one size too big for me. The white pair fit me perfectly.

The sales associate had packed them in a gift box designed for couples and handed it to Julian and Fiona.

Back then, I had laughed and explained, "I'm his girlfriend."

Now the white slippers fit Fiona as if they had always belonged to her.

Julian grabbed her suitcase.

"The inspection won't take more than a month. Don't overthink it."

I closed the export window on my laptop.

"Doesn't marriage automatically get her a green card?"

He wheeled the suitcase into the spare room without even looking at me.

"USCIS still has to verify that we're actually living together. Some of Fiona's clothes and toiletries need to be in the main bedroom so the officers don't get suspicious."

I looked at him.

"And so?"

Fiona immediately held up both hands.

"I can keep my things in the spare room. If they catch us, I'll say we sleep separately. It's only a formality anyway."

The more reasonable she tried to sound, the more unreasonable I looked.

"We're married but sleep in separate rooms? Who would believe that?"

Julian walked into our bedroom and opened my closet.

He shoved my dresses to one side, making room for Fiona's clothes.

"Chloe, pack up your toiletries and move into the spare room for now."

I did not move.

Fiona leaned against the doorway and murmured, "Forget it. Chloe has lived with you for years. Of course she'll be upset if you make her move."

Julian frowned.

"You're just switching rooms. Don't make it sound like I'm throwing you out."

I pulled up a photo of their marriage certificate and held my phone up to his face.

"You're married now. What does that make the woman who's lived with you for four years?"

He glanced at the screen and reached for my hand.

"You know this marriage is only on paper."

The instant his fingertips touched me, I stepped back.

His hand froze in midair.

"We'll be divorced next month. Don't make a scene until then."

Next month again.

Our wedding had always been next month. Now his divorce was next month too. When it came to me, everything was always put off.

Fiona started unpacking her clothes, then turned to me.

"By the way, USCIS will want photos of us as a married couple. Julian hates having his picture taken, and you're the best photographer among us. Would you take a few?"

I looked at Julian.

He avoided my gaze and picked up the camera I had given him.

"It'll only take a few minutes."

That camera held four years' worth of photos of us.

Fiona was in almost every one.

She was always in the middle or hanging on Julian's arm.

I was always pushed to the edge, like some stranger who had wandered into the picture.

Maybe the signs had been there all along.

Fiona propped up her phone and sat beside Julian.

"Chloe, USCIS may check the photos' timestamps and locations. It'll be easier if we use a phone. Use mine."

Julian held out his hand.

"Just help us this once."

I took the phone.

On the screen, I watched Julian brush a strand of hair from Fiona's face.

She leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Julian, smile. We don't look like newlyweds."

He did not push her away.

Just as I took the picture, Fiona turned and brushed her lips against his jaw.

Julian frowned but did nothing, as if the kiss really had been an accident.

My heart twisted.

After 20 shots, Fiona went through the photos one by one and nodded with satisfaction.

"Chloe, you're so good at this. Every one of these looks genuine."

I handed the phone back.

"That's because they are."

Julian's face darkened.

"Chloe, don't start. You've always been my girlfriend."

He set the camera on the table just as its screen lit up.

A notification popped up. Someone was being added to the shared family album.

Fiona's profile picture appeared among the members.

Beneath mine, another message appeared.

"Member limit reached. Remove one member to continue."

Julian frowned, hesitating over what to do.

I watched him struggle with the choice for a moment. Then I quietly opened the album on my own phone and removed myself.

If choosing between the three of us was that hard for him, I would make the choice for him.