Chapter 3

I caught a cab to the station and went back to my hometown.

This sorrowful San Francisco had no room for me,but at least I still had parents who loved me.

When I dragged my suitcase into the little courtyard of my family's home,my parents saw me and asked,confused.

"Zoey,why are you home?Weren't you doing just fine in San Francisco?"

I gripped the handle of my suitcase hard and told them everything that had happened.

I thought that when I finished,I'd get concern and comfort.But no.Instead,they blamed me.

"Zoey,this is you not knowing any better.Aileen's so pitiful after her crash.It's perfectly normal for Mike to take care of her."

"Your father's right.They were each other's first loves to begin with.If Aileen hadn't gotten hot-headed and gone abroad back then,you'd never have been the one to end up with a good man like Mike!Just turn a blind eye and let it go."

My mother took my arm,pleading me along with her earnest words,but everything they said was like a knife carving my heart into ruins.

My body shook,disbelief in my eyes,my voice choked.

"So you've known about him and Aileen all along?"

My father clasped his hands behind his back and walked into the house.

"Aileen is the child of an old friend of mine.She's kind-hearted,and her life has been pitiable.Zoey,you should know better and learn to give way.After all,you're the one who stole her lover in the first place."

I stared at his back,tears rising in my eyes,and swallowed them down hard.

"Then what about my seven years?He was the one who chased me.He told me he wanted to be with me forever.You pity her,so am I not worth pitying?"

My words came out so wounded,so full of grief,and yet to their ears they were light as a feather.

"You were Aileen's stand-in from the start.That's all I'll say.Think it over for yourself.Zoey,your father and I are getting old and need our peace.Go on back."

My mother saw me out the door and slammed it shut behind me.I stood there,stunned.

A stand-in,a lie...Love,family,all of it giving way to Aileen.And what about me?

Was I supposed to leave myself utterly alone for her sake?

No.I absolutely would not.

I took out my phone and opened a chat window that had gone quiet a long time ago.

"Mr.Weston,you once told me I could come on board anytime I was willing.Three days from now,I'll report to work in New York.And I'll bring the project results you wanted as my calling card."

In this world,losing love isn't worth grieving over,because I still have a career I'm proud of.

Three days from now,I'll never see any of you again.

The reply came quickly."Miss Henson,it would be my honor to have you."

I bought the fastest ticket back to San Francisco.As long as I wrapped up my resignation quickly,I could leave.

The next day,I went back to the company to resign.Aileen was standing down in the lobby.

The moment I saw her,my body froze.

What was she doing here?

I stepped forward,meaning to ignore her and leave her behind,when she suddenly grabbed my sleeve and shouted,"Everyone,come look.This is the shameless little slut!Not only did she seduce my husband,she crashed into my car on purpose to shake me down for money!"

At that,my coworkers gathered around,buzzing.

"I always said she was faking that high-and-mighty act.Never thought she was a bed-climbing homewrecker underneath."

"So disgusting.The boss brags every day about how sharp she is at work.They were probably sleeping together this whole time,ha!"

"If it were me,I'd have run far away.She's got the nerve to come back and get caught by the wife herself!"

In that moment,fury surged up in me,and I wrenched myself free of her grip.

"The homewrecker isn't me.It's you!"