Chapter 4

Cole didn't even wait for me to speak.

“Can you tell my parents what happened? And handle the hotel cancellation too.”

“I can't get away right now. Mia's thrown up a few times and her stomach's still messed up. I'm taking her to the hospital for an IV.”

Not one apology.

He simply assumed I'd do it.

Just like I'd done for the last seven years.

I'd always backed him up.

I'd always cleaned up after his decisions.

“Okay.”

I hung up.

Then I found an empty cardboard box.

I started packing everything that reminded me of Cole.

The scrapbook he'd handwritten for me back years ago. He'd stayed up for nights putting it together.

A few dried rose petals were still tucked between the pages.

I touched one.

It crumbled into red dust.

Then there were the first matching mugs we'd ever made together.

He'd carved our initials into the bottoms himself.

C & G.

The letters were already faded.

And then I found the pearl bracelet.

That one hurt the most.

Seven years ago, a few of us had gone to one of Cole's underground operations.

His family had been negotiating for a shipment of giant clam shells.

Most of the people there thought one particular shell was worthless.

Too rough. Too scarred. Too ugly.

Cole disagreed.

He fought everyone on it.

Then I emptied my savings and helped him buy it.

When the shell was finally pried open, the room went crazy.

The pearl inside was flawless—deep pink and the size of a quail's egg.

Cole had lifted me off the ground and kissed me like we'd just won the lottery.

"Grace, I'm going to have the best bracelet made for you."

"Jewelry is valuable because it lasts."

"You're priceless to me."

Seven years.

More than twenty-five hundred days and nights.

I thought we'd already won.

I never imagined he'd gamble our future away.

I put everything into the box.

One piece at a time.

Then I dragged it downstairs.

The woman who collected discarded goods stared at the box.

“Sweetheart, did you make a mistake? These are such nice things.”

I smiled. "No. I don't want any of it anymore."

“If you want it, you can take the whole box.”

She thanked me over and over as she took it.

I slipped off my engagement ring.

For a second, I held it in my palm.

Then I dropped it into the box too.

“This one too.”

The woman froze.

She stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

I called a cab and went to the hotel.

The manager saw me walk in alone.

“Ms. Carter, are you here by yourself?”

I nodded.

“My fiancé is busy telling our families about the new wedding date.”

The manager's face lit up.

“Oh! So you're postponing it?”

“I thought you'd canceled.”

“What date are we moving it to? I can take care of everything right now.”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

I walked out of the hotel.

The sunlight hit my eyes so hard I had to squint.

I looked up at the clear blue sky.

For the first time in seven years, something inside me finally settled.

The dream I'd been living in for seven years was over.

I was finally awake.

...

When I got home that night, Cole was sitting on the couch waiting for me.

I stopped.

“What are you doing here?”

His brows were drawn tight.

His voice was full of anger he was barely holding back.

“The hotel called me.”

“They said you didn't cancel the wedding.”

“You moved it to the day after tomorrow?”