Chapter 8

"Switching it up isn't a bad thing," Vanessa said, stirring her coffee. "Keeps life interesting. Relationships too—spend too long together, and it's easy for things to feel stale."

Scott reached across the table, gently taking her hand. His voice softened. "Babe, are you feeling stressed? Or... maybe someone's been saying things to you?"

His grip tightened, just a little. "Look, other people's relationships might fall apart, but not us. What we have? It's different. We worked hard for this, and every day with you still feels fresh.

"Vanessa, don't overthink it. I'm not like those guys. I'm different."

His earnest act didn't land—it just made the bitterness in Vanessa's heart grow sharper. She slipped her hand away and gave him a faint smile.

"Let's eat. Didn't you say we were going out today?"

"Yeah, let's go."

***

Vanessa and Scott spent the morning wandering a high-end mall, with Scott keeping close and Vanessa playing her part. When they passed Lora's, the iconic luxury jewelry store, she slowed down, eyeing the display.

"Let's check it out," she said casually. "I heard they just dropped some new designs."

Scott nodded quickly. "Sure."

Inside, Vanessa's gaze went straight to a diamond ring in the center of the case. It had to be the one Cindy wanted.

Scott slid an arm around her waist, leaning in. "See anything you like?"

Without hesitation, Vanessa pointed at the ring. "I want that one."

For a split second, Scott froze. Then he smoothed it over with a too-casual laugh. "I don't think that's really your style. How about this necklace instead?"

"I don't want the necklace. I want the ring."

Vanessa's tone was firm. She was deliberately pushing, just to see how far he'd go.

Scott's face twitched. He struggled to keep his composure—he'd promised Cindy that ring less than 24 hours ago.

"What's wrong?" Vanessa asked, teasing. "Don't want to buy it for me?"

Scott forced a laugh. "Of course not! If I'm not buying it for you, who else would it be for?"

He waved at the sales associate to take the ring out, but then, as if struck by a sudden thought, turned to Vanessa. "Babe, I'm feeling kind of thirsty. Could you grab me a drink?"

"Sure."

Vanessa knew exactly what he was trying to do, but she played along.

When she returned with a juice, Scott greeted her with a look that screamed guilty.

"Sorry, babe. The sales associate accidentally dropped the ring, and it broke. How about we pick something else?"

Vanessa's grip on the cup tightened until her knuckles went white, but her face stayed calm. She smiled faintly. "No problem. It's fine."

In the end, she picked a necklace instead. By the time they got home, she used the first excuse she could think of about being tired and went straight inside. Scott didn't even stick around, leaving almost immediately.

Not long after, her phone buzzed. A message from Cindy.

Attached: A photo of her wearing the diamond ring.

[Vanessa, this ring is mine. He lied to you just to keep me happy. You're pathetic.]

Another message popped up seconds later:

[Oh, and I heard he got you a necklace? That ugly thing? Yeah, I rejected it. Even a dog wouldn't wear it.]

Vanessa's hand clenched around the phone as she stared at the messages. Her reply was cool, sharp.

[Trying to prove you're important through me? Cute, but it won't work. If you really want to win, get Scott to leave me and marry you. What's wrong? He won't? Looks like you're the pathetic one.]

The reply came fast.

[You shameless woman! What are you even smug about? He WILL leave you! I'm carrying his child. Do you really think you stand a chance?]

Vanessa could almost feel Cindy's rage bleeding through the screen. It only made her smirk. Tossing her phone onto the couch, she headed to the study.

The anniversary gift she was putting together for Scott kept growing—a box packed tight with screenshots.