Chapter 3

Seeing that I stayed silent, Selena drew in a breath, and her face turned impatient too.

"Bryce, I'm exhausted today. I'm not in the mood to fight with you."

"You just got back and you're already sulking at me. What's the point?"

"And didn't I tell you I don't like it when you drink? You just let everything I say go in one ear and out the other. Do you even care about me at all?"

Selena was about to say something more when her phone rang.

Right in front of me, without a moment's hesitation, she picked it up and her fingers flew across the screen.

She must have felt my eyes on her, because she suddenly hid the phone behind her back, and when she looked up again her whole face was thick with irritation.

"Are you done yet?"

"Honestly, you'd have been better off not coming back at all!"

"Fine. That's enough for tonight. I'm going to bed."

Not one word of explanation. She opened her mouth and it was nothing but blame and abuse.

In the past, no matter who was right or wrong, I'd have crossed the room the instant this happened, wrapped my arms around her, and apologized to her over and over.

But now.

I'd already turned before she could, walking straight for the study without a second's hesitation, never feeling the murky, unreadable look that landed on my back.

The moment I stepped into the study.

I opened my laptop and started organizing the evidence.

When it was finally in order, I got up and headed for the living room to pour myself a glass of water. Passing the balcony, I happened to see Selena on the phone.

She kept her voice low, but the night was too quiet, and I heard every word clearly.

"Mother, I'm so glad I've had your support and help all these years. If it hadn't been for you, I never would have managed to get the certificate and marry Jayden. We have to keep hiding it, we can't let Bryce find out. If he ever did, I'm afraid it could turn bad for Jayden..."

"And there's the company. I want to transfer Bryce's shares to Jayden. I might still need your help with that."

"Mm, actually that part I'm not worried about. Everyone can see how much Bryce loves me. He'll never leave me."

"All right, let's leave it there for now."

I stood in the dark, and even though I'd already made up my mind to give up on this relationship, my body still couldn't stop trembling.

I turned and left without a sound.

Early the next morning, I went to the marriage records office.

"Hello. Our records show that you're unmarried."

Even though I'd guessed it, I still froze where I stood.

It was as though a giant, invisible hand had clamped down hard around my heart, and for a moment the pain left me unable to breathe.

"So from the very start your marriage certificate was fake, and nobody on the outside knew. Then Selena, for Jayden's sake, publicly cut ties with you, and in the end the two of them got the certificate and married. And your mother had a hand in all of it?"

"Why bother? If that's how it is, wouldn't it have been simpler for them to just register in the first place?" On the other end of the line, my friend Colin couldn't help but grumble.

"I suppose with me as their touchstone, their love feels all the more precious."

I sat on a bench in the park and said it flatly.

After I hung up, I got up to leave and caught sight of a group of people camping not far off.

Right then.

My mother was leading a little boy around, laughing and playing with him.

And Selena and Jayden sat off to one side, chatting and laughing.

Without hesitation I raised my phone and pressed the shutter.

Just as I turned to go.

Jayden's voice came from behind me.

"Bryce? What are you doing here?"

"You came all this way and didn't say a word?"

Off to the side, Selena froze for a second, then, as if something had just occurred to her, she walked toward me, an edge of anger in her voice.

"Bryce, are you following us?"