Chapter 4

On the way home, Michelle and Rick chatted away like old friends.

I sat quietly in the back seat, listening, but my mind kept drifting back to the past.

Michelle and I met in college. That summer, a group of us took a road trip to go camping. We'd been out all day and were completely wiped out. By the time we headed back, it was already dark. I was driving, and Michelle naturally took the passenger seat.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her beautiful profile flickering in and out of the shadows as we passed under streetlights. There was something so alluring about the lazy look on her face, the faint, almost teasing smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

My heart started racing without my permission. That was when I first started paying attention to her.

Times had changed.

She was still sitting in the passenger seat—but it wasn't my passenger seat anymore.

As Michelle stretched her arms, I noticed her wedding ring was gone. In its place was a plain silver band. Rick had one on his finger too. One look was all it took to know they were a matching set.

My heart sank another degree.

When we dropped Rick off at his place, Michelle actually got out of the car to hug him goodbye. They lingered for a while, reluctant to part, before she finally climbed back in.

From that moment on, the atmosphere in the car went dead quiet.

There was nothing left to say between us.

When we got home, I walked straight into the study and started going over work documents for my new position. I was deliberately avoiding being alone with Michelle.

But she had zero ability to read the room.

"Where's my anniversary gift?"

She pushed the door open, stood in front of me, and held out her hand. Her tone was demanding, as if me getting her a gift was just something she was entitled to.

I guess that made sense. Every special occasion before this, I'd always gone out of my way to get her something thoughtful. But the night she ran off to Rick, I'd tossed that gift straight into the trash.

"I didn't get you anything," I said flatly.

Michelle's face soured. "Why? Is this still about Rick? Are you seriously mad at me over that?"

"No. I've still got work to do. Can you give me some space?"

I shook my head lightly. A flash of anger crossed her face, but she didn't say anything else. She just left and slammed the door behind her with as much force as she could muster.

Once she was gone, I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer. I asked him to start drafting divorce papers.

I was done holding onto a relationship that had already gone sour.

Michelle didn't come home that night—or the whole next day.

The following evening, while I was at work, she texted me asking to meet for dinner. I was about to turn her down, but when I got off work, she was already waiting outside the office.

"Cyrus, I know I've been getting on your nerves. I made a reservation at your favorite restaurant—think of it as my way of making it up to you."

She was all smiles, dressed to the nines with meticulous makeup. For a moment, I let myself believe she was genuinely sorry.

Then we got to the restaurant, and a familiar figure came strolling toward our table.

"Rick! Over here!"

Michelle lit up like a schoolgirl, threw her arms wide, and practically ran over to him. Rick scooped her up in a hug, his smug expression completely unguarded.

Right then and there, I felt like a complete clown. I turned around and started heading for the exit.

Michelle hurried after me and grabbed my sleeve, her face twisting with irritation. "What's with the attitude? I thought we agreed to have dinner together?"

I looked at her, my voice cold and serious. "Michelle, if you want to be with your boyfriend, I honestly couldn't care less. All I'm asking is that you stop dragging me into it. I'm done being your prop for a cheap thrill."