Chapter 4

I wrote in my diary:

[Today a woman called him Travis in that special way. I felt a bit jealous, but Travis was honest with me. I forgive him and I'm looking forward to our wedding.]

—

That night, Travis's phone kept ringing while he was in the shower.

"Sarah, can you answer my phone?"

I picked it up to see Elaine Henderson calling.

Without hesitation, I answered.

Elaine's voice came through, “I’ve been thinking, and you made a good point today. If you truly loved her, you wouldn't fake your death at the wedding."

"Travis, can I come to the wedding to watch this little show of yours?"

My hand trembled, and the phone slipped to the floor.

"Sarah, who was that?" Travis called out loudly.

Elaine must have heard him and realized I had answered. She hung up immediately.

When Travis came out and saw my hurt expression, he knew something was wrong.

Guilty, he checked the call history and saw it was Elaine.

"Sarah, don't misunderstand. There's nothing between us, I swear. I'll block her right now."

He proceeded to add Elaine to his blacklist.

When he tried to take my hand, I pulled away.

Travis looked wounded.

He handed me his phone, "From now on, you can check my phone anytime. I'll never keep secrets from you."

"Travis, Elaine said—"

Travis cut me off at the mention of her name, "Don't believe anything she says. She's just trying to drive a wedge between us."

I looked him in the eyes, "Elaine said you're planning to leave me at the altar."

The moment I said it, Travis froze.

His hand holding mine trembled slightly as he tried to avoid my gaze.

Then he looked up with determination.

"That's not true, Sarah. I really want to marry you."

He gazed at me with eyes like the first time we met, seemingly filled with a galaxy of stars.

Travis, why can't you just admit you're playing me?

I have no value to Travis anymore.

Yet he still chooses to humiliate and hurt me when leaving, just to satisfy his twisted sense of fun.

That night, I took out my diary and wrote:

[Elaine called Travis and said he's planning to fake his death at our wedding. She wants to come watch the spectacle. I'm sad, but I believe Travis would never do something so hurtful. He's a good person!]

After putting away the diary, Travis embraced me from behind.

He pressed against my neck, his breath heavy.

"Sarah, let's..."

Every touch from him made me feel sick to my stomach.

"Travis, it's not a good time for me today."

He wrapped his arms around my waist but didn't push further, just leaning against me.

"Okay. Don't leave me. Just stay by my side like this, will you?"

I once wanted to stay with him forever, but he destroyed that future with his own hands.

Since the wedding was approaching, Travis and I started living separately.

This made it easier for me to prepare for Milan.

Just a few days ago, I passed an online interview, submitted my design drafts, and received an invitation from a Milan design company.

On our wedding day, during their livestream, I would fake my suicide out of love for him—then head straight to Milan.

Let the farce between Travis and me end with such an absurd finale.

—

But the night before the wedding, I went to Travis's bachelor party.