Chapter 2

Night had fallen by the time we returned to the rental house.

A grill glowed red in the courtyard. Everyone sat around a long table opening beers, their laughter loud enough to erase the afternoon's unpleasantness.

I rolled my suitcase toward the stairs. As I passed the living room, I saw Anna sitting on the couch touching up her makeup. My rejected hat sat perfectly straight on her head.

"This really does suit me," she said, admiring herself in the mirror. She looked over at Ethan as he came in drying his hands. "Don't you think?"

His gaze lingered on her face. A smile touched his mouth.

"It does. Since Claire thinks it's too dirty to keep, you might as well have it. She owns plenty of hats."

I stopped on the landing and tightened my grip on the suitcase handle.

That hat had been my anniversary gift. One careless sentence from him had turned it into a favor he could bestow on my sister.

I said nothing and continued upstairs.

In the dark bedroom, I sat on the edge of the bed and called our wedding planner.

"Claire, your hair and makeup trial is booked for next month. Did you need to change the appointment?"

"Cancel it."

She paused. "Cancel? Ethan called yesterday to confirm the floral arrangements."

"Cancel everything," I repeated. "Keep the deposit and stop all further work. If he asks, tell him I terminated the contract on my own."

After hanging up, I messaged our realtor a copy of the deed to the house Ethan and I had bought together.

Get me a valuation. I want to sell my ownership interest as soon as possible.

The bedroom door opened. Hallway light spilled in as Ethan entered carrying a plate of grilled wings. He nudged the door shut with his foot, set the plate on the nightstand, and sat beside me.

"Still angry?" He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and softened his voice. "I only said that downstairs because I wasn't going to embarrass your sister in front of everyone. She just went through a breakup. You know she's having a hard time. Of course I'm going to look out for her a little."

Three years ago, in this very house, he had thrown out a friend for making a joke at my expense.

Now I was the one expected to protect someone else's dignity.

I pushed his arm away. "Does looking out for her include holding her like your girlfriend for pictures?"

Ethan sighed and pulled a navy velvet jewelry box from his pocket. He pressed it into my hand.

"Stop being jealous. I bought this especially for our anniversary."

Inside lay a red carnelian Van Cleef necklace.

I did not take it out.

Downstairs, I had clearly seen an identical necklace around Anna's neck. The only difference was that the clasp on hers had been engraved with the letter A.

Mine had no engraving at all.

He thought an expensive gift could make up for anything. He did not care whether it had been chosen for me or whether it meant anything at all.

"Why don't you put it on?" he urged, reaching into the box.

"I don't like red." I pushed it back at him.

His hand stopped. His face went cold.

"How long are you going to keep this up? I planned a surprise for you, and you insist on acting like some tragic victim. Who is this performance for?"

Zach shouted from downstairs. "Ethan! Anna wants the scallops you made. Get down here!"

Ethan drew a deep breath and slammed the jewelry box onto the table.

"Stay here and think about your behavior. If you're going to keep acting like this, don't bother coming with us tomorrow."

He left and slammed the door.

Darkness swallowed the room again.

I picked up the box and dropped it, necklace and all, into the trash.

My phone lit up with a text from my mother.

Anna finally got a chance to get away and clear her head. Please keep your temper under control and stop putting Ethan in the middle. If she hadn't gotten sick back then, the two of them would probably still be together.

I stared until my eyes burned.

Everyone thought I should step aside. Everyone wanted to remind me that I had only ever been the consolation prize.

I locked my phone, took every piece of clothing out of my suitcase, and folded it again with steady hands.