Chapter 3

When I got to the winery, I reached for a bottle of red wine and drank the whole thing myself.

The surveillance feed on my phone was recording in real time. Katherine had hired movers to pack her things.

Perhaps she sensed that I was watching her through the camera. She turned to it and asked, "What now? Afraid I'll steal your stuff?"

I said over the feed, chuckling, "You've misunderstood me. I just wanted to remind you to take all those suits you gave me out of the room."

Katherine gritted her teeth in anger.

I exited the surveillance feed to answer Brandon's call. Before I could even say anything, he asked coldly, "Katherine postponed the wedding again, didn't she? I bet she didn't even show up for today's rehearsal, right?"

When I said nothing, he grew angrier. "You idiot! Are you just going to accept this without fighting back? Just you wait. I'm going to make Katherine pay for this!"

It wasn't that I didn't know how to fight back. I had simply given up on Katherine and wanted nothing to do with her.

After I kept reassuring Brandon, he finally calmed down.

"I'm glad you and Katherine broke up. I could tell long ago that she was no longer into you. I just couldn't say it because we're all in the same circle."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Just don't let this affect your relationship with Layla."

"That'll never happen. My wife and I are meant to be."

After ending the call, I stumbled back home. Seeing the empty house, I finally felt a weight lift off my chest.

I looked around the place and threw the photo album and perfume she had left behind out of the window. Then I slumped onto the bed and fell into a deep slumber.

To avoid running into Katherine at the celebration on Saturday, I took Friday off and went to Brandon's house.

He opened the door, put a finger to his lips, and led me to the backyard. Katherine was there, using a toy to amuse the baby while talking with Layla.

"I've already moved all my things out. I refuse to believe that this won't get to Edison. How dare he raise his voice at me!

"Who does he think he is? He must be out of his mind!"

All these years, I had kept my head down and put up with her temper. I didn't think she would actually take that as a sign of weakness.

Brandon furrowed his brows, looking even angrier than I was. I patted him on the shoulder and just smiled.

Katherine's phone rang, interrupting her conversation with Layla. She smiled, answered it, nodded at Layla, and ran out through the villa gate.

Brandon and I quickly hid ourselves. Once Katherine was gone, we followed her.

"Gavin, didn't I give you the day off? Why aren't you resting?"

Gavin pulled her into his arms, ignoring everyone around them. "I missed you. I thought about how you kept postponing your wedding with Edison for me, and I couldn't help but want to see you. I wish I could be with you all the time."

Katherine playfully swatted him on the chest. "Wasn't that your idea? How could you be so mean?"

Hearing that made my blood boil. Even though I had already guessed it, I still felt a sudden pang in my heart to hear the truth from them directly.

Gavin pinched her cheeks. "Was I really that mean? But you still like me, don't you? Also, you were the one who said you didn't want to marry Edison in the first place.

"That's why I came up with this idea. You even went along with it."

Things started getting flirty between Gavin and Katherine. If they weren't right in front of Brandon's house, I bet they would have jumped each other's bones right then and there.

I was holding Brandon back tightly, preventing him from rushing out. Once Katherine and Gavin got in the car and drove off, he started yelling at me.

"Why are you putting up with this crap? You should've just fought him!"

I shook my head, my face pale. "No need for that. I'm glad it's over between us."

The next day, I did not show up for the celebration at Brandon's house. As lunchtime approached, Katherine gave me a call.

"What kind of friend are you, Edison? Why aren't you here to celebrate such a special occasion? You're so rude!"

I knew Katherine was trying to rile me up, so I said nothing.