Chapter 3

As I packed the nightstand, I spotted the matching mugs we'd picked out together.

Without hesitation, I put mine into the suitcase. As for Chase's, I left it for him and Ariya to use.

I finished packing quickly. Half the wardrobe was empty, and the vanity table had been stripped bare. Piece by piece, every trace of me in that home was erased.

My phone lit up again. A message from Chase appeared.

"Jenna, don't overthink things. I'm out celebrating with the guys. I'll be home later. You were so calm today that I thought you really didn't care. Tomorrow, after I divorce Ariya, I'll explain everything properly."

I stared at the message without replying.

He couldn't even be bothered to call me.

I opened our conversation, tapped the menu in the upper-right corner, and deleted it without hesitation.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

Dragging my suitcase to the door, I took one last look at the place I'd once believed would be my home for the rest of my life. I had decorated every corner by myself—the abstract painting we'd bought together at an art exhibition hung on the living room wall, the gardenia on the balcony almost ready to bloom, and even the ergonomic chair in his study that I had specially chosen to ease his neck pain.

When we first moved in, Chase had wrapped his arms around me and spun me around in the otherwise empty living room. "Jenna, from today on, this is our home. Our home for the rest of our lives."

Back then, I'd believed him.

Later, traces of someone else began appearing in our home more and more often.

Ariya's laughter, the hair ties she left lying around… Even the refrigerator was packed with the fruit-flavored sparkling water she loved.

The first time I voiced my displeasure was on our third anniversary.

I had booked a restaurant and prepared a gift, but Chase didn't call until the restaurant closed for the night.

"Jenna, I'm sorry. Ariya just went through a breakup today. I need to keep her company. I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone."

Through the phone, I could faintly hear Ariya's tearful voice. "Chase, am I interrupting your plans together? This is all my fault..."

Sitting in front of a table full of cold food, I said softly, "It's okay. Go keep her company."

I told myself to be generous, to understand his so-called loyalty to his best friend, but my patience only encouraged them to push their limits.

Last winter, I came down with a terrible cold. In the middle of the night, my fever climbed to 102 degrees, and I was shivering all over. I called Chase because I wanted him to take me to the hospital.

He answered, but the background noise was deafening. People were howling along to karaoke songs.

"Jenna? What's wrong?" He sounded impatient.

"I have a fever. I feel awful. Can you come home and take me to the hospital?"

He was silent for several seconds.

Then Ariya snatched the phone from him, her voice slurred with alcohol and dripping with affected sweetness. "Jenna, you're being so unreasonable! It's my birthday party tonight. Chase came all this way just to celebrate with me. You can't drag him away over a little cold, can you?"

A burst of laughter erupted from the other end.

Then Chase took the phone back and spoke in an irritated, dismissive tone, "Just call yourself a ride. We're all adults here. I can't leave right now. Ariya and all her friends are here. Stop making a fuss."

The call ended.