Chapter 4

Calvin suddenly spoke up as if he had heard my voice. "I'll go and check out her apartment."

"I'm going too," Susan said immediately.

Calvin hesitated for a moment. "Stay at home and rest."

"No." Susan grabbed his arm, tears welling up in her eyes again. "I want to ask Charlotte to her face... why she hates me so much... "

Look, what a perfect victim!

I was floating in the air as I watched and suddenly felt like laughing, if souls could laugh.

...

Calvin stood outside my apartment door, hesitantly looking at the combination lock. I never told anyone the password because it was my only sanctuary and refuge from reality.

He tried my birthday and his birthday—both incorrect. Finally, he entered 0713, and the door opened. I saw a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth before he pulled open the door.

Susan followed him into my apartment.

My bedroom was exactly as I had left it. On the bedside table was a photo of Calvin and me from last year in Venico… He was holding me while I smiled like a fool.

Below the photo was my diary. I had deliberately placed it there.

He opened the first page...

[List of Disappointments

[1. At eight years old, Susan broke the vase Mom left behind and accused me of it. Dad punished me by making me kneel all night.]

...

[23. At 15 years old, I was shot and hospitalized. My family was with Susan for her birthday. Only the butler came to see me.]

...

[51. Calvin forgot our anniversary for the first time. He said he was 'busy with family matters,' but I later found out he was shopping with Susan.]

...

[69. I hid in a garbage can for eight hours to avoid being kidnapped. Barry kept blaming me for dirtying his car but wouldn't listen to my explanation.]

...

[81. Yesterday, Susan poisoned my coffee. I told everyone, but no one believed me.]

...

[99. I've decided to die and use my life to bring you all to your senses. Once it reaches my 100th disappointment, I'll choose death.]

I saw Calvin's hands trembling. He kept flipping through the pages until he reached the last page, which I had written last night.

[To the person reading this diary,

[If it's you, Barry, I'm sorry. Forcing you to come to your senses in this way might be frightening, but I had no other choice.

[If it's you, Calvin, I love you, and that has never changed. But I don't know who you love.

[If it's Susan, congratulations. You've won, but the game isn't over yet.

[If I'm already dead... The show enters its second act.]

Calvin slammed my diary shut and rushed out of the room.

Susan stopped him at the door. "Calvin, where are you going?"

"Charlotte might be in trouble. She wrote a lot of strange things in her diary..."

Susan's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her sweet smile. "No, she's probably jealous because she knows you celebrated my coming-of-age ceremony and forgot her birthday.

"She's probably drowning her sorrows in some bar now. You know how much she loves to drink."

Calvin paused. "Charlotte's birthday?"

Susan smiled. "Yes, but you're all busy and forgot. Knowing Charlotte, she might be spending her birthday with other men."

Calvin fell silent.

He always did this—choosing to doubt me over believing me.

Did he not know that I never drank? I had been allergic to alcohol since I was a child. I had not seen any other men since our engagement.

Calvin remembered Susan's birthday, preferences, and menstrual cycle, but he never remembered anything about me or even believed me.

It was fine, though. He would never forget what was to come.