Chapter 2

Linda's POV

"Oh!" Sarah exclaimed. "You've already packed half your things? And wow, your style is so much like mine! What a coincidence."

A chill spread through my chest.

Gerald's favorite thing was buying me clothes and jewelry. I used to think it was his way of spoiling me—proof that he loved me.

But now, looking around at the closet full of clothes and accessories that had never really suited me, the truth was impossible to ignore.

Every single piece looked as though it had been chosen for Sarah.

All along, I'd been the one wearing someone else's life.

I had no desire to question Gerald anymore, but he grabbed my wrist, his expression darkening.

"Why are you packing your things? Talk to me."

I turned my face away, refusing to answer.

Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sarah reach for my music box.

"Don't touch that!" I yelled.

The music box hit the floor with a loud crash. The lid flew off, the tiny figurines scattered in every direction, and shards littered the floor.

"Ah… I'm so sorry, Ms. Rye. I didn't mean to." Sarah's eyes immediately filled with tears. "Gerald, my hand… It hurts…"

Clutching her palm, she began to cry.

Gerald rushed over to check on her. His face darkened as he brought his foot down hard on the shattered music box.

He glared at me, fury blazing in his eyes. "It's just a stupid trinket! Did you really have to scare her? Get rid of this piece of junk. I don't want to see it anywhere in this house again!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he ground the broken pieces beneath his heel before scooping Sarah into his arms and walking away without so much as a backward glance.

My tears fell onto the shattered music box.

As I reached down to gather the pieces, a sharp shard sliced into my fingertip, but I didn't feel a thing.

When I was 16, my parents decided to get divorced.

Lost and not knowing where else to go, I went looking for my best friend, Luna Scott. She wasn't home. Instead, I ran into Gerald, who had just gotten back from playing basketball with his friends.

"Hey, aren't you Luna's friend? Why are you crying? Come on, tell me what's wrong."

My eyes burned with tears as I turned to leave, but Gerald caught my wrist. Frowning, he waved off his friends who were still trying to drag him away for another game.

"Wait here," he said.

Then he ran out into the pouring rain. By the time he came back, he was soaked to the skin, arms loaded with every dessert and cake he could get his hands on. He piled them onto the table in front of me.

He ruffled my hair, trying to cheer me up. Then, with a mysterious grin, he pulled something out from behind his back.

It was a music box.

As the melody drifted through the room, the tiny figurines slowly revolved together.

"Don't be afraid. No matter what happens, I'm always going to be here for you. Let's make this music box our promise."

Back then, Gerald's kindness was as simple as it was sincere. But to a helpless 16-year-old girl, it was enough to steal my heart.

From that day on, I loved him for ten years. I still remembered every word of the promise he'd made.

The only one who had forgotten… was the man who'd made it.

Cradling the shattered remains of the music box in my hands, I gave it one last look before dropping it into the trash.

If that was how things were, I didn't want the promise anymore.

And I didn't want Gerald, either. Not anymore.

By the time dawn broke the next morning, Gerald still hadn't come home.

After shipping my luggage back to my parents' house, I headed to the office. I printed out my resignation letter and made my way to Gerald's office to leave it on his desk.

My phone buzzed on the way there.

It was a message from Gerald that read, "Honey, I went too far yesterday. I ended up coming back to the office to catch up on work and just slept here. I only just woke up. I'll be home soon."

I looked up at the empty office in front of me. Without a word, I laid my resignation letter on Gerald's desk.

I didn't bother replying to his message. Instead, I closed the chat and unpinned our conversation.

A notification popped up. Sarah had sent me a friend request.

A new message came through the moment I accepted it.

It read, "Gerald, don't forget to grab a few more boxes of condoms from the convenience store on your way back. You were way too much last night. We used up every last one."

The message ended with a shy, blushing emoji.