Chapter 4

That evening, I received an email from Marcus. I stared at the screen for a long time before finally opening it.

"Claire, I've been thinking all day. You're right. I did put Lily first.

"But I didn't do it because I love her. I did it because she needs me.

"Claire, you're too strong. You can handle everything on your own. You don't need me to go to the doctor with you, and you don't need me to comfort you.

"But Lily needs me for everything. She makes me feel needed, important.

"I've decided Lily will continue staying at my apartment. Her mental state isn't suited for living alone, and the doctor also recommended she have someone to look after her.

"Claire, I need to do the right thing. I need to take care of Lily until she gets better."

After reading the email, I laughed. It was not a happy laugh, but a laugh of relief. He finally said it. What he wanted wasn't me, but that feeling of being needed.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time. Finally, I typed just one line.

"Marcus, thank you for your honesty. I wish you and Lily the best."

After that, I blocked his email address.

I suddenly felt hollow. Not because I lost Marcus, but because I'd spent two years with the wrong person.

My phone vibrated again. This time it wasn't an email. It was an Instagram notification highlighting that Lily had posted something new.

I opened it. In the photo, Lily stood on a modern minimalist balcony with the city skyline in the background. That was Marcus's apartment. I'd been there many times.

She wore a silk robe, held a coffee mug, and had a serene smile on her face. The golden glow of the setting sun bathed her, making her look gentle and blissful.

The caption read, "Thank you, Marcus, for giving me a warm home. In my darkest moments, having you by my side is what kept me going. The feeling of home and new beginnings feels amazing!"

The comments section exploded.

"Isn't this Marcus Harrison's apartment? I saw it in an architecture magazine!"

"So they're living together now?"

"Claire White just called off the engagement, and this woman moves right in?"

"That was fast."

"She's not even trying to be subtle."

There were people defending Lily too.

"She just lost her husband. What's wrong with needing a little care?"

"Marcus is her cousin. Taking care of family is normal."

"Claire's just too cold. She doesn't understand other people's pain."

I stared at the photo. We'd had drinks on that balcony together, admired the nighttime view of the skyline, and talked about our future. Now another woman stood there, staking her claim.

I opened Lily's profile. She'd posted many photos recently.

She was making breakfast in Marcus's kitchen, reading in Marcus's study, and even curled up on the couch wearing Marcus's shirt. Every single photo told a single message—that this was her territory now.

And in the comments, she always replied in a similar way, "Marcus is so good to me. I'm so lucky to have family like this. He said he'll always take care of me."

Each sentence was like a needle jabbing at my heart. No, it didn't hurt, but it woke me up to the truth.

I finally saw it clearly. Marcus didn't want love. He wanted a sense of achievement. Meanwhile, Lily didn't want help. She wanted a replacement.

And I didn't need any part of this circus.