Chapter 2

Memories of happier times haunted me.

For five years, I had poured my heart into Blake, shielding him from even the smallest slights.

In return? He married another woman on the day I buried my father.

The signs were there the moment Megan came back from abroad. I just hadn't picked up.

That night, Blake didn't come home. When he finally stumbled in at dawn, his neck was dotted with red marks.

Alex noticed, asking him what was going on.

Blake exploded, blaming us for choking his freedom and doubting his fidelity.

I came home to find Alex on the couch. He hit his head and blamed himself for overstepping.

Blake was nowhere to be found.

The next day, he returned with even more marks.

I fought with him for the first time. I screamed, demanding answers, but he brushed it off, saying Megan was just a friend and calling us control freaks.

He conveniently forgot how Alex had welcomed him like a son when we first got together.

That fight planted a seed of pain in Alex's heart. His health spiraled until he slipped away.

All this time, Blake never once visited the hospital.

Holding Alex's cold hand in the sterile room, I realized how delusional I'd been to think Blake would come back to us.

Before the funeral, he had already booked a flight to Megan's hometown.

I lost it, calling him and demanding his immediate return.

His response was a slap in the face. "Megan's dad has cancer. It's tragic. I'm just helping fulfill his dying wish. Can you stop being so irrational?"

I laughed, a bitter, hollow sound.

When Alex was dying, Blake couldn't be bothered to see him one last time. Worse, he was planning to marry another woman.

Megan's dad had cancer, but my dad had just died!

That call snuffed out the last flicker of hope I had. Perhaps, we were never meant to be together.

After the funeral, I sorted through Alex's things.

My gaze fell on a ring tucked in a corner. It was a family heirloom passed down for generations, meant for the sons-in-law.

Even when we were scraping by, Alex refused to sell it, saying it was for my future. It should've been on Blake's finger.

I stroked the priceless ring and lost myself in thoughts.

Suddenly, my phone pinged.

It was a voice message from Blake, who hadn't reached out for a while.

"Hey, I've been crazy busy. We're off to Hawaii for honey moon, then dinner with Megan's family. You'll manage on your own for a bit, yeah?"

Instead of replying, I turned off the screen and stared at the ring until a bitter laugh escaped my mouth.

Thankfully, I hadn't given the ring to him. I'd rather smash it to dust than let it touch the hand of a cheater.

After wrapping things up, I collapsed onto the couch, ready to take a rest.

Then my phone pinged again. This time it was a message from a friend.

[Blake is a pig! Check out his FB posts.]

Curious, I clicked his profile, only to find a blank page. He had blocked me.

I told my friend about it, and she sent me a screenshot.

There was Blake holding Megan in her wedding gown. They were smiling and glowing under a golden sun.

The captions read, [So happy with you!]

I smiled bitterly, unable to describe my feelings.

Once, I'd have groveled, begging him to come back. Now, I just closed my eyes, unpinned him from my contacts, and erased him from my soul.

A week later, his call jolted me. "Where are you? Get to the train station and pick me up."

I frowned. "Didn't you take the car? Why do I need to pick you up?"

He didn't explain, just urging me to hurry up. I agreed, taking the chance to end things.

But when I arrived at the station, I was dumbfounded.

Dozens of elderly people were gathered, chattering loudly. It was chaotic.

Blake spotted me and sighed like I was his savior. "Finally, you're here. These are Megan's family. Find them a place to stay and show them around town."

My jaw tightened. The audacity of this man was sickening.

But he felt nothing about it. When I didn't move, he nudged me. "What are you standing there for? Go."

Megan sauntered over, smirking. "Kate, thanks for taking care of this. We're heading out."

She tugged at Blake, ready to ditch me with her entourage.

I stepped back. "Who said I'm helping?"

Blake paused, enraged by my defiance. He glared at me and snapped, "What's your problem? Can't follow simple instructions? Do it, you moron."

Megan's father, Michael Burns, strutted up, his tone dripping with superiority. "Blake, your driver's got an attitude. Teach her some manners."

Blake groveled instantly. "You're right. I'll deal with her later."

Michael nodded, satisfied. "Good. Tell her to hand over the car keys. She can take a cab. I'm beat."

His crass entitlement made me frown, but Blake just grinned like a loyal dog.

Turning back to me, he looked irritable as he reached out his hand. "You heard him. Give me the car keys and go. Don't embarrass me here."

My face blank, I tossed the keys to him.

He snorted and turned away, confident I would not leave no matter how harshly he treated me.

But he was dead wrong. I was leaving him for good.