Chapter 2

"Emma, you're so naive."

Daniel looked at me, his voice dripping with contempt.

"Your mother is dead. Your father is a drunk. Who else is going to marry you besides me? Or are you planning to grow old alone?"

My eyes stung instantly.

Daniel saw my reaction, and his expression stiffened. He grabbed my hand again, his voice lower.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. It slipped out."

But the things said without thinking are the most honest.

When I was seventeen, my father came home drunk and nearly beat me to death. Daniel was the one who rushed in and took a knife for me.

That day, bleeding, he stood in front of me and said, "As long as I'm here, no one will ever hurt you again."

The day my mother died, I cried at her grave until I couldn't stand. He held me and said, "I'm sorry I'm late. Emma, from now on, I'll love you the way your mother did."

It turns out even vows can rot.

Daniel's voice was cold. "You want to break up just because I went hiking with your best friend? You won't even go through with the wedding?"

I opened my mouth, numb. "Yes. Daniel, because I'm leaving—"

Before I could finish, a slender figure burst through the door, cutting me off.

Daniel let go of my hand almost on instinct.

Olivia looked at him first, then turned to me. Her eyes were brimming with tears, as if she'd suffered some terrible injustice.

"Emma, I'm so glad you're okay. I was afraid you'd do something rash, so I rushed back immediately."

She walked up to me, her voice choked.

"Haven't the three of us always been the best of friends? Those posts were just jokes between friends. Don't overthink it."

When I didn't speak, she added awkwardly, "How could I possibly steal your man?"

Right. Olivia was my best friend.

But at some point I couldn't pinpoint, I'd already been shut out of their world.

When we walked together, I was always squeezed to the back.

When we ordered food, no one heard what I wanted.

When we planned a trip and it rained, they changed the flight time and no one told me.

And they always brushed it off: "Emma, why are you so silly? We can't pay attention to you every second. Just speak up if something's wrong."

But I did speak up. Did anyone listen?

I looked at Olivia, my voice very quiet.

"I believe you. Let's end it here. I'm done with both of you."

Olivia's tear dropped to the floor with a splat.

In the past, I would have felt sorry for her.

But now, I couldn't.

When we were kids, Olivia and I lived on the same street in a poor neighborhood. She often couldn't even get a warm meal, so I'd sneak bread from home for her.

That one time, I was beaten black and blue by my father.

Olivia looked at the bruises on my body and cried, "Emma, thank you for being my friend. I'll spend my whole life repaying you."

I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled. "From now on, I've got your back."

Back then, I truly believed we'd be friends for life.

Olivia's voice trembled, each word stabbing into my heart.

"Today's wedding didn't happen because of me. So let's do it tomorrow, okay? Please don't be angry."

I flung her hand off and slapped her across the face.

"Tomorrow is my mother's death anniversary. Did you not know that?"

Olivia stared at me in shock, tears rolling down.

"I just forgot..."

Before she could finish, Daniel shoved me aside and pulled her behind him.

My back slammed hard against the shelf behind me.

Our high school graduation photo fell from the shelf. The glass shattered everywhere, and one shard sliced across my neck. Blood surged out immediately.

Daniel glanced up at me, his voice cold and hard.

"We're busy with work. Forgetting things is normal. Not everyone has as much free time as you. Did you really have to hit her over something like this?"

He stared at me, his eyes full of impatience.

"Emma Reed, you're acting like a lunatic right now. You've gone completely insane wanting to get married."

He was standing right in front of me. But it felt like there was an ocean between us.

I opened my mouth. "I—"

Olivia suddenly threw out a sentence, shoved Daniel aside, and bolted out the door.

"This is all my fault! I'll just leave. Don't fight because of me!"

Daniel immediately started after her, then stopped and turned back to look at me.

"Take care of the cut on your neck first. I'm going to find her. It's not safe out there at this hour. Cool off."

There was even tenderness in his voice.

My heart plummeted.

"Daniel, just go."

I looked at him calmly.

"I'm selling this house. You don't need to come back here anymore."