Chapter 1

UNFAITHFUL

My heart sank right into my stomach when I heard that Ryan went on a date with Sylvia, his boss's daughter, the same girl he told me not to worry about. 

Ryan's secretary, Edna, who was also my childhood friend, gave me the information.

Apparently, she was the one who made the reservations and felt it wasn’t fair to keep it from me. 

“Please don’t let him know I told you,” she said. “But I think it’s only fair that you know.”

I was skeptical, yet curious. Edna had hinted about Ryan and Sylvia before, but I never took her serious. I trusted Ryan. Or maybe I wanted to. 

This time, something pushed me to verify her information, just once. I took an excuse from the hotel management where I worked and drove my old 80’s model Honda Civic to the location she mentioned. 

Deep down, I prayed it wasn’t true. I had already pictured the perfect vacation Ryan and I were going to have. We had been saving up for it, mostly me. If he was truly out with Sylvia, then our relationship was about to take a bad turn, or worse, end completely.

I parked in front of the restaurant, took a deep breath, and whispered a short prayer before walking inside.

 As much as I wanted to deny what I saw, it was clear, clear like it was showing in 4K.

 Ryan and Sylvia sat across from each other at a table, but close enough to feel intimate. They were smooching, feeding each other, laughing like nothing else in the world mattered. Ryan had ordered the most expensive dish on the menu for her. Just by looking at it, I could tell it was intercontinental and far beyond what he ever spent on me.

I watched them for a few minutes while standing in a corner. My thoughts turned to all the times I pleaded with Ryan to take me out, even if it was just to a nearby restaurant. He consistently declined, claiming to be busy with his job.

 It wasn't until a waitress came up to me and gave me a tissue that I realised I was crying.

"We don't let just anybody in here," she stated icily. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, wiping my nose and eyes.

"To make a reservation with us, you need a special membership card," she answered."And based on your appearance, I don't think you can afford one." 

Her words hit more than I expected. That’s when I caught a glimpse of myself in a glass reflection. A wrinkled uniform, hair all over the place, exhaustion stamped on my face.

I didn’t bother saying anything. I just turned to go. One last look at Ryan and his date and he was still caught up in her, didn’t even look elsewhere or glance my way.

“We really need to tighten our security. Strays just walk in now,” the waitress muttered as I walked out but that was the least of my worries.

I sat in my car, feeling sad and empty. I never pictured my life without Ryan. We have been together for a long time, from the time I arrived in New York from Vermont. Our meeting was as though it was predestined, he was so charming and sweet until he landed his first role at a Marketing firm and suspiciously got promoted in a very short time then everything changed.  He even suggested we start saving for our wedding. Excited, I agreed without hesitation and poured almost ninety percent of my salary into the account he created, an account he promised he’d add me as a signatory later. That never happened.

I loved him so much, I actually begged him everyday to take me on a vacation, it didn't matter where. He finally agreed, but only if I covered eighty percent of the cost. I rejoiced. took on extra shifts, worked late, wore myself out just to get the money.

I was obsessed with him. Still am, if I’m honest.

I didn’t realize I had been crying for almost thirty minutes until someone tapped my car window.

It was the same waitress.

“Ma’am, I’ve told you already,” she snapped. “You don’t belong here. Leave before I call the cops.”

She looked down on me, I could tell she’d been watching ever since I walked out. I didn’t bother arguing. I just started my car and drove away.

Right before I left, I saw Ryan step out with Sylvia.

He’s probably heading home, I thought. I should go home too. But first, I had to go back to work and ask for the rest of the day off.

When I got there, I lied to management, told them my mom was sick and needed me. They didn’t ask questions, they just let me go. Honestly, they seemed almost too understanding. First time I ever asked for time off.

I drove as fast as I could, hoping I’d beat Ryan home. But I couldn’t get the image of him feeding Sylvia, out of my mind,  the way he looked at her made me sad. I tried to shake it, but it just hurt more.

Am I making this bigger than it is or did I only see what I was afraid to see? I asked as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, pressing harder on the accelerator.

 I was driving beyond the speed limit but I didn't mind. Everything inside me felt heavy, my mind drifted a bit. Before I could regain focus

Screech!.

My car slammed into a metal and everything went black.