Chapter 4
I heard Riley fall silent on the other end of the line.
Just as he was about to speak, a woman’s voice cut in, calling out, “Riley, everyone’s looking for you!”
Then Riley said to me.
“Alora, I have to go. I’m busy.”
He hung up without another word.
When I tried calling back, his phone was already off. I looked down at the hotel security footage Nicole had sent me. She texted, “The date’s set.
“First week of next month.
“Riley’s officially stepping into his new role as stepdad.”
Well, if that’s how it is, there’s no reason for me to hold back anymore.
I told Nicole to move forward with the plan.
If I’d still been wavering about our relationship before today, Riley had just made the decision for both of us.
I started preparing for the divorce, selling off all my shares at a loss.
Riley took Jasmine to Miami for a seaside vacation, eating fresh seafood and soaking up the sun.
I reached out to our business partners, terminated all our contracts, and made it clear I was going solo.
Meanwhile, Riley was busy helping Jasmine hire the best designer in town to renovate Simon’s new home. They looked like one big, happy family.
I bought a brand-new apartment and began moving my things out, bit by bit.
Riley had already booked the engagement party for exactly nine o’clock.
I had just one last box left to take when Riley walked in unexpectedly.
We ran right into each other. He glanced around, noticing how empty the living room had become, and frowned at
“Alora, what are you doing?”
The strong scent of jasmine lingered in the air, his tie clip still a delicate white blossom. Looking at the man I’d loved for so many years, my chest still ached.
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“You’re moving things out?”
For a moment, I thought Riley had finally figured it out.
But he just shrugged it off, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “A lot of this stuff is old anyway.”
He eyed the box in my hands.
“I used to tell you to throw it away, but you never could. Now that we have everything we could want, there’s no rea- son to hold on to the past.”
“That’s right.”
I met Riley’s gaze. “No reason at all.”
A flicker of guilt flashed across his eyes, but he quickly covered it up. “I’m just grabbing a few things and heading out. Once I finish up this week, I’ll spend some real time with you.”
I didn’t stop him or ask any questions.
I watched as Riley picked up his ID, then turned to leave. I called out to him.
“Riley.”
He paused, looking back at me.
Our eyes met.
For a split second, he seemed uneasy, as if he could sense something was changing but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. The next moment, I smiled at him.
“Goodbye.”
Eighteen-year-old Riley.
Thirty-year-old Riley.
Goodbye.
Riley seemed to think I was just being dramatic. He laughed lightly, “I’ll be back as soon as I’m done.”
I moved everything out.
I put the house up with a realtor, leaving nothing behind. Everything I owned went to my new place. Riley’s things had already been delivered to Jasmine’s house.
On the day of Simon’s engagement party—
It was held at the grandest hotel in Orlando, the kind of luxury I once dreamed of for my own wedding with Riley. I watched him fussing over Simon, greeting guests, Simon beaming with pride alongside his fiancée, the whole room brimming with joy.
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Then I picked up the microphone and spoke to the control room.
“You can start now.”
The lights went out.
The entire ballroom was plunged into darkness.
People started shouting, “What’s going on? The power’s out!”
“Seriously? A hotel this fancy doesn’t have a backup generator?”
“Riley, what’s happening?”
I heard Riley trying to calm everyone down, “It’s alright, let me check on it.”
And then-
The screen lit up, suddenly and blindingly bright.
Crystal-clear videos of Riley and Jasmine together-in every corner of my house-played for everyone to see.
Jasmine’s face went ghostly pale.
The bride’s parents flipped the table in a rage.
Riley could only look around the room in shock.
And I stood center stage, microphone in hand, facing Riley.
“Riley.
“How do you like my gift?”
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