Chapter 4

Three people at the same table, and for the first time the air was this heavy.

Ebony had put the shirt back on, the one covered in lipstick marks.

Christian had crushed out his cigarette too.

And I sat by the balcony in silence, my voice cold as I demanded an answer.

"Talk. When exactly did the two of you start?"

Ebony was quiet for a long time, then sighed.

"Guy, the truth is, Christian and I knew each other before you."

I froze. "What did you say?"

"You two only became buddies in college, but he and I knew each other back in high school." She lifted her head and looked at me. "He was my first love."

Something in my stomach churned violently.

Her eyes were the picture of sincerity.

"I never wanted to hide it from you. I just didn't know how to bring any of it up."

"He and I broke up, and then I met you in college."

"Guy, you were so wonderful, you made my heart race, and after we got together, you were the only person I loved."

A wave of nausea rose in me.

"And that stopped the two of you from sleeping together?"

Ebony didn't argue. She lowered her head in silence.

"I just never imagined fate could be this cruel. After everything, you turned out to be Christian's best friend."

"Christian and I broke up a long time ago. Every time our paths crossed after that, it was because of you."

Listening to her earnest lies, I let out a cold laugh.

"All because of me?"

"Going to the county clerk's office with Christian and registering a marriage, was that because of me too?"

"Ebony, how much longer do you plan to lie to me?"

Ebony's head jerked up, stunned.

"You already know?"

She spun toward Christian. "You told Guy?"

"It wasn't me." Christian sighed. "Ebony, I told you a long time ago. You can't keep a fire wrapped in paper."

I closed my eyes in despair. She'd admitted it herself.

Next month we were supposed to hold our wedding.

Both sets of parents had already met each other.

I thought getting married would go smoothly. I never imagined Ebony was already another man's wife.

I was the only outsider here. What was there left to face off over? I grabbed my bag and turned to leave the hotel.

But Ebony chased after me.

"Guy Pruitt, let me explain."

The panic on her was plain to see.

"Christian only came to me for help getting that license so he could deal with his family."

"And we already agreed. The moment things blow over on his end, we'll go straight to the county clerk's office and file for divorce. No one will ever know, no one will ever find out…"

"Besides, it's just a piece of paper. You don't care about that either, do you?"

The nerve in her tone almost made me laugh.

I didn't care.

That was because our love didn't need a piece of paper to hold it together.

But that didn't mean she could go register a marriage with someone else.

"Fine, Ebony. So in your eyes registering a marriage is that simple. I guess I overcomplicated it."

If it was that simple.

Then me registering a marriage certificate with someone else, that wouldn't be a problem either, would it?

But hearing me say that, Ebony's tone finally softened.

She thought I'd come around.

"Guy, I knew you'd be reasonable. I knew you'd never take a little thing like this to heart."

"Don't worry, I've already booked the appointment to file for divorce with Christian."

"It absolutely won't get in the way of our wedding next month."

Seeing that I stayed silent, she added gently,

"I promise you, after tonight I will never have anything to do with Christian again. I swear it."

But a woman without a shred of honesty.

Her oaths were worth no more than a dog barking.

Once Ebony turned and left, I dialed someone's number.

"Free tomorrow? Come with me to register a marriage."

The next day, the moment my license was done, I announced it publicly on social media.

Plenty of mutual friends left comments and congratulations.

And a few calls made their way to Ebony.

"Ebony, look at you. Didn't you say the wedding wasn't till next month, the license not till year-end?"

"Locked down Pruitt, the campus heartthrob, already? Should we start calling you Mrs. Pruitt ahead of schedule?"

Ebony's grip tightened on her phone. "What license?"