Chapter 2

I handed over the completed application form, my voice perfectly steady.

Chase took it and stared at me for several seconds, apparently hoping to find even the slightest sign that I'd been hurt, but he found nothing.

I simply met his gaze calmly and even offered a thoughtful reminder, "Make sure you smile in the photos. After all, it's a wedding."

When they returned with their freshly printed marriage certificate photo, I took it from them.

My eyes lingered on the photo, where Ariya leaned against Chase with a painfully happy smile. Then I reached for the official stamp on my desk.

Thump!

The stamp came down firmly on their marriage paperwork.

I handed their newly issued marriage certificate back to them and said in my usual professional tone, "Congratulations to you both. Happy wedding day."

When I opened the door, the apartment was pitch-black.

Chase's shoes were missing from the entryway. The house slippers I'd prepared for him were still sitting neatly beside the door. He wasn't coming home tonight.

I changed my shoes without turning on the lights and walked straight to the couch.

The darkness blurred all the traces of him around the apartment, giving me a brief chance to breathe.

Out of habit, I pulled out my phone and unlocked it. The little red notification dot at the top of my social media feed stood out painfully.

I tapped it.

Chase had posted an update half an hour earlier.

There were nine photos in a carousel, every single one showing him and Ariya being intimate.

In one, they were feeding each other cake at a restaurant. In another, they were laughing heartily together in the wind by the river.

And in the last, they were holding up their newly issued marriage certificate for the camera, Ariya's head resting happily on Chase's shoulder. They looked far more radiant in those photos than they had at the county clerk's office that day.

The caption read: "The best dare is turning a joke into reality."

There were already hundreds of comments and likes.

"Holy shit! Chase, you actually went through with it? Congratulations!"

"I always said you two were perfect for each other! You should've gotten together ages ago!"

"Happy newlyweds! When are we celebrating?"

Ariya replied to everyone with the same boastful enthusiasm, "Hehe, thanks, everyone! We'll treat you all to lunch sometime soon."

I scrolled through the screen expressionlessly, as though watching a farce that had nothing to do with me.

My phone vibrated. A mutual friend had sent me a private message. "Jenna, what's going on with Chase and Ariya? Have you two... broken up?"

Before I could figure out how to respond, Dawn Baldwin, my mother, called. Her voice was full of anxiety. "Jenna, did you see Chase's post? What does it mean? Did you two have a fight? How could he do this with Ariya..."

"Mom," I interrupted, my voice so calm it sounded strange even to me. "We've broken up."

There was silence on the other end for several seconds. Then my mother spoke again, struggling to contain her anger, "When did this happen? Why didn't you tell us? Did Ariya..."

"It's nothing," I said softly. "We just weren't right for each other. Please don't bring him up again."

I didn't want to explain the filthy, ridiculous reasons behind it all, and I didn't want my parents worrying about me.

After reassuring her briefly, I hung up.

The whole world seemed to fall silent.

I stood up and switched on every light in the living room. The harsh brightness illuminated the entire apartment, exposing every ugly thing about this relationship.

I went into the bedroom, pulled my suitcase out from beneath the wardrobe, and began packing my belongings one by one.