Chapter 3

Jason’s POV

I immediately removed Eunice’s hand from my arm. I looked at Patrick and saw the proud expression on his face. I smirked. So this was what he meant when he said I’d regret not coming because Eunice was here. But why didn’t I remember that we’d see each other again at Katrina and Kalil’s engagement celebration?

“Are you not happy to see Eunice, Jason?” Kalil asked, giving Patrick a high five.

“Yeah! We even kept this a secret for you,” Katrina said with a big smile. She went over to Eunice and clung to her arm.

I just shook my head. “I see. You really did surprise me.” But deep down, I knew I wasn’t happy at all.

“I told you Jason would be thrilled,” Patrick said cheerfully. I checked my watch. I’d been here for half an hour. I’d shown my face that was enough.

“Katrina, Kalil, congrats on your engagement. I won’t stay long. I have another appointment,” I said, about to walk away when Eunice stopped me.

“You’re leaving already?” she asked. I removed her hand from my arm again.

“Like I said, I have an appointment. I need to go.”

“Why are you leaving so soon? Can’t you move it to another day? This is Katrina and Kalil’s engagement celebration,” Patrick chimed in.

“I can’t. I promised Catheryn we’d eat out,” I said, though I hadn’t intended to mention Catheryn. But since they were trying to stop me from leaving, I said it anyways.

“What? You're meeting your wife?” asked one of our friends, Alvin. I nodded.

“Yes. I made her a promise.”

“I thought you didn’t like her? Now you’re going out to eat with her?” Kalil asked, clearly confused. I smiled.

“Why? Can’t feelings change?”

I heard Patrick laugh. “That’s not what you told me yesterday, Jason. You said when Eunice comes back, you’d leave your wife for her. What changed?”

I remembered we’d had that conversation, but it felt like a lifetime ago. So much has happened since then.

“Can’t everything change? Can’t I just wake up one day and realize... I don’t want her anymore?” I looked at Eunice and saw confusion on her face.

Did she really think I’d take her back? Maybe in another timeline, but now? No.

“Jason, get a grip! If it’s just out of a sense of obligation that you’re staying with Catheryn, well, Eunice is here now! She’s the one you love, right?” Katrina said, holding Eunice’s hand.

Katrina and Eunice were friends, but Eunice was also the reason Katrina’s relationship  with someone else ended when she helped Kalil hide his affair. And I, like a fool, supported Kalil’s cheating. Eunice stepped closer to me.

“Jason... I heard from Patrick that while I was gone, Catheryn took care of you. I’m sorry for leaving you. I just fell in love. But I hope you understand. Now that I’m back... can’t we bring things back to how they were?”

Bring things back? Her words gave me chills. She was so manipulative, acting innocent. But out of everyone here, she was the most toxic of all.

“Eunice, I’ll be honest. You left me. I was drowning in sadness when you told me you were marrying someone else. I fell into depression. But the one who helped me stand again was Catheryn. She worked hard to bring me back to who I was. And now you’re saying we should go back to how things were? There’s nothing to go back to, Eunice. Because you destroyed it.” I spoke plainly.

And it was true. Why would I leave Catheryn for her? She left me. Did she really think there’d be no consequences? That I’d just accept her back and not say no? I smirked. She was delusional. I looked at my watch. I was late!

“I’ve said my piece. I’m leaving,” I announced. “I’ll just send you your engagement gift, Katrina and Kalil.”

Katrina frowned. “No need. You ruined our night, Jason.”

I sighed. I felt a bit guilty but not much. “I’m sorry for that, but I hope you understand.”

I turned and left. I was already in the parking lot, inserting my key into the car door when Patrick called after me.

“Bro! Are you seriously leaving? Eunice is crying now. Do you even know what happened to her?” Patrick asked, clearly trying to guilt-trip me. Actually, no, he was guilt-tripping me. But I didn’t feel a shred of guilt.

“Pat... Whatever happened to her is none of my business.”

“Wait—did you hit your head? Did that woman put a spell on you or something? Should I find a folk healer to fix you?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine, Patrick. And I know for a fact I’m not under any spell or whatever that is. I just woke up and realized... I don’t love Eunice anymore.”

He looked shocked. “You’re serious? So now you're saying you love Catheryn?”

“Why not? She’s the one who sacrificed so much for me.”

“Bro, you’re out of your mind! Didn’t you say Catheryn trapped you in this relationship? If given the chance, would you file for annulment?”

“Now let me tell you something, Pat. I won’t. I was wrong about Catheryn. She’s a kind woman who stayed with me at my lowest. And where was Eunice? Off in another country with another man. Do you really think I should go back to her now that she’s done playing with her husband?”

I explained everything clearly.

Patrick stepped closer and grabbed my collar. “She was abused by that man!”

“So what? Then she should go to the authorities. Why come to me?” I pointed to myself. “Pat, you’re my friend. I’m the one who was left behind. It was a mistake to tell you that Catheryn trapped me in this relationship. But it was still my decision to marry her—yes, out of a sense of debt. But now… it’s not debt I feel anymore.”

I removed his hand from my collar. I knew what Patrick was feeling because I also knew he had feelings for Eunice. Just like me, he had been a fool for love.

“If I were you, I’d be careful around Eunice. I’m leaving.”

I got in my car and left Patrick in the parking lot. I drove straight to the address Catheryn had sent me. I kept trying to call her, telling her I’d be late but she wasn’t answering. I was stuck in traffic, and worry began to gnaw at me. Did something happen to her?

An hour later, I finally arrived. I was in front of a four-storey building with a logo that said “Bliss.” It was a familiar name, but I couldn’t remember where I had heard it before.

I got out and immediately looked for Catheryn.

But she wasn’t there. Where is she?