Chapter 3
He didn’t stop until he reached the underground garage.
The car door opened and Sloane jumped out, completely dropping her earlier poker face as she pouted and threw herself into
his arms.
“Mr. Donnelly, that fireworks show made me SO jealous.”
Blake tapped her nose playfully, looking helpless.
“Didn’t I do the same thing for your birthday a few days ago? What’s there to be jealous about?”
“I promised you-as long as you behave and don’t cause drama with my wife, you’ll get everything she gets.”
That’s when it hit me-five days ago, there was a fireworks display over the south side of town for half an hour.
Blake had said he was working late that night. I’d even sent him photos, joking about which “hopeless romantic” was trying to impress his girl.
Turns out, that romantic was HIM.
And me? I was a complete idiot.
Sloane huffed, tracing circles on his chest with her finger.
“Can’t a girl be a little jealous?”
Blake caught her wandering hand, his voice going husky.
“Didn’t you say you had something good to show me?”
Sloane grabbed his tie, pressing her body flush against his.
“Hehe, gonna need those hands of yours to open it~ Trust me, it’ll drive you completely… fucking… wild.”
Blake’s eyes darkened as he scooped her up and got in the car.
Sloane squealed as the windows rolled up and the car started rocking rhythmically.
I leaned against a pillar, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
Even though I’d seen them together yesterday, watching it again made my chest ache with that same dull pain.
When we first got married, Blake swore he’d spend every anniversary with me all day long. But one text from Sloane made him forget that promise completely. Was he really that obsessed with her?
I closed my eyes, forcing down the storm of emotions.
Three more days. Just three more days and this would all be over.
I didn’t go back to the ballroom. Instead, I went straight home to rest.
Around midnight, I was half-asleep when a loud BANG woke me up.
Blake stood in the doorway looking panicked. Only when he saw me did he let out a huge sigh of relief.
“Babe, why didn’t you tell me you came home? Do you have ANY idea how freaked out I was when I got back to the ballroom and couldn’t find you?”
I checked my phone: 3 AM. I’d left at 9 PM.
He’d spent six hours with Sloane before even thinking to look for me. How pathetic.
“I wasn’t feeling great, so I came home early. Forgot to tell you.”
Maybe living with lies for so long had taught me how to lie effortlessly too.
Blake looked shaken as he climbed into bed and pulled me tight against him, like he was afraid I’d disappear.
“Next time you HAVE to tell me where you’re going, babe. I’ll worry myself sick. If you went missing, I’d tear this whole city apart looking for you.”
I closed my eyes without responding.
Because in three days, he’d never find me again.
The next morning, probably feeling guilty about last night, Blake had jewelry delivered first thing.
“Babe, last night was my fault. Please don’t be mad.”
I glanced at the jewelry set and pushed it aside, picking up another box instead.
“I’m not mad. This is your anniversary gift. Don’t open it for two more days, okay?”
Originally, I’d had a custom brooch designed by an overseas artist. But after catching him cheating, I’d thrown it away and put my wedding ring in the box instead.
This would be the only thing I’d leave him.
Blake took the box curiously.
“Yesterday was our anniversary, babe. Why wait two more days to open it?”
I smiled.
“There’s a special surprise inside. It’ll only make sense if you open it in two days.”
Blake’s eyes lit up with anticipation.
“Okay, I’ll definitely wait like you said.”
Right then, the doorbell rang.
I opened it to find Sloane standing there, tears streaming down her face.
