Chapter 3

A meeting at a breakfast stand? That's a new one.

By eight in the morning, Piper had posted again on social media: [The man who buys you diamonds might not love you — but the man who gets up at six to buy you breakfast? That's love.]

'Great. She's got the diamond. She's got the breakfast. I hope they're happy.'

I got up and started packing. It didn't take long — just one suitcase. I didn't have much. Everything I didn't want was already thrown out. You couldn't find a single trace of me left in that house.

At six in the evening, Jason actually came home. This might have been one of the few times he'd ever kept his word.

But now, I had only twelve hours left before my flight home.

He was carrying a box, out of breath. "Shae, I'm so sorry I've been so busy. I got you something. Happy ninth anniversary."

I looked inside. It was a designer handbag — the one I'd once mentioned I liked.

But there's a difference between something you can buy with money and something you have to put your heart into. Breakfast at dawn versus a bag from a store. I could still tell which one was love.

"Thanks," I said flatly.

Jason let out a long breath. "See? I knew you'd love it."

He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. "Shae, once things calm down at work, I'll take you to Scandinavia. You've always wanted to see the northern lights, haven't you?"

"Mm-hmm," I said softly.

But I didn't believe him anymore.

The northern lights thing was a dream from when I was still in school. Then life got busy. The dream got shelved.

Every little wish I'd mentioned to him over the years — none of them ever came true.

We stayed close for a little while, just like that. Then Jason said he had to leave again.

Ten hours before my flight took off.

I watched his back as he walked away. Then I called out to him.

"Jason."

He stopped and turned around. "What is it?"

I looked into his eyes — those beautiful eyes — and asked one last time, "Do you still love me?"

He laughed like I'd said something funny, came back over, patted my head, and answered without missing a beat. "Of course I do. Don't overthink it. I'll be back tomorrow. We'll celebrate our anniversary then — I already made a reservation."

He sounded so sure of himself.

I nodded. "Okay. I'll wait for you."

For the first time in nine years, I lied to him.

I turned and started walking back to my room.

But Jason — who had been in such a hurry to leave — was still standing by the door. He hadn't moved.

"Shae..."

He could sense something. He just stood there staring at me, unable to walk away.

I stopped at the turn of the staircase, halfway up to the second floor. "Go on," I said. "Someone's waiting for you."

He looked at me for a long time after that. He didn't leave until I had gone all the way up and back into my room.

From the second floor, I watched his back as the door closed behind him.

Nine years of loving the wrong person. It was finally over.

Nine hours before my flight.

I couldn't sleep. I knew I was leaving first thing in the morning.

Three hours left. I printed out all the evidence — Piper's taunts, the intimate photos of her and Jason — and left them on the coffee table.

Two hours left. I took off the necklace I'd worn for nine years. It was the first gift Jason ever gave me — back when we were eighteen. He'd worked five part-time jobs to buy it. Back then, he said he would turn that necklace into a ring and put it on my finger.

One hour left. On top of the pile of evidence, I left a white sheet of paper.

On it, I had written: [Nine years of loving the wrong person. No need to say goodbye. — Shae]

Then, alone in that huge house, I waited until six in the morning.

The car I'd booked was waiting outside. I took one last look at the place I'd called home. Then I turned and left.

In the car, I deleted and deactivated every account tied to Jason. Every single one.

I snapped my SIM card in half and tossed it out the window.

Just like that, my story with Jason reached an end.

I made it to the airport, checked in, and walked toward security with my ticket and passport in hand.

Past that gate, my new life was waiting.

I lifted my chin and started to smile as I walked forward.

Then I heard a voice behind me, a very familiar voice.

"Shae!"