Chapter 4

Because the wedding was so close, I'd even paid extra to rush the edits.

But the wedding shoot I'd spent months planning had been handed to someone else behind my back.

The man who always said he hated taking pictures had patiently gone through five different sets with Paige.

For a second, I couldn't tell if he actually hated photos—

or just hated taking them with me.

The car rolled into the underground garage.

I opened Paige's social media.

Sure enough, she'd posted another batch of photos, carefully blurring Kelvin's face.

[Ta-da! The best early birthday gift this year is definitely these gorgeous photos. Thanks to a certain someone!]

Outside the car, Kelvin pulled out his phone.

A second later, his like appeared under her post.

I stared at that tiny red heart and laughed.

He had never liked a single one of my posts without me asking.

When I didn't move, Kelvin knocked on the window.

"We're home. Why are you still sitting there?"

I looked at him through the glass. "Since you already took photos with Paige, why didn't you just use my wedding shoot? You two looked good together anyway."

His face froze for half a second. Then he frowned.

"Zoey Zane, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"You changed my wedding shoot into birthday photos with another woman, and you're asking what's wrong with me? You're the one who lost it!"

I thought I could hold it in.

I couldn't.

All the hurt and anger spilled out anyway.

I stared at Kelvin, waiting for an answer.

He just clicked his tongue. "Paige is young and new to work. She had no one to celebrate her birthday with.

"As her supervising teacher, I'm supposed to look after her. Besides, it's just wedding photos.

"If we missed it this time, we'll do it next time. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

At his calm, careless face, my anger vanished.

"Forget it."

In my heart, I finished the sentence.

'It won't matter soon anyway.'

Only then did Kelvin relax.

He sent another text.

After I got out, Kelvin climbed back into the car.

"Go inside. Paige's birthday is tomorrow. She wants to have a few coworkers over for dinner, but there's too much to prep on her own. I'm heading over to help."

I blinked.

I'd planned to tell him tonight that I was canceling the wedding.

Now there didn't seem to be any point.

I nodded and walked into the apartment we'd bought together.

Alone.

I pulled out a suitcase.

Looking around at the home filled with pieces of my life, I realized I didn't want any of it.

The only things I packed were my pads and painkillers.

Then I called the venue and canceled the wedding.

The deposit was nonrefundable.

Every dollar Kelvin had given me for the wedding was still sitting in a separate account.

I left the bank card on the nightstand.

Untouched.

Then I slipped off my engagement ring and set it on top of the card.

Dragging my half-empty suitcase, I got into a car headed for the airport.

Right before takeoff, I sent Kelvin one last text.

[Kelvin, let's call off the wedding. I've already told both our parents. I hope you find the person you actually love.]

Then I switched my phone to airplane mode.

I leaned back and fell into a dead sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, I'd already landed.

The second I turned airplane mode off, hundreds of missed calls flooded my screen.