Chapter 2

Reading the care behind every line of words, I could no longer run away from the truth.

The seven years I shared with Jordan meant nothing.

…

I sat in the study all through the night.

The next day, I took time off work and sought the company of my best friend, Kendra Doodle, while I went about canceling all the vendors.

“Eve, are you absolutely sure about this?”

That was the first thing Kendra asked when she saw me.

“I’ve never been more certain.”

“You guys have been together for seven years. Your wedding is in two days. Are you going to call off the whole thing on your own before he comes back?”

“Yes.”

“Does Jordan know?”

“He’s busy.”

“With what?”

I didn’t answer.

Kendra fell silent for a bit.

“If you can’t bring yourself to, I’ll give him a call.

“You guys go way back. Marriage is a huge thing. I can’t let you face this all alone…”

“He’s busy getting married,” I murmured.

Kendra was stunned, the look of disapproval frozen on her face.

“What did you say?”

I smiled to myself.

Pulling out the chat logs I had saved from Jordan’s computer last night, I showed them to Kendra.

“Jordan got married.

“It happened yesterday in Slandsdeca.

“He married Molly Powell, his ex.”

Kendra had no words.

Her eyes turned bloodshot.

“Just yesterday, I recalled you were rehearsing with the lighting crew until midnight. You even texted me in the middle of it, asking me to go to the pharmacy to get you some painkillers because your stomach hurt.

“And the whole time Jordan was getting married to another woman in Slandsdeca?”

I curled my lips.

“Yeah.”

Without another word from her, Kendra drove me to the wedding planning agency.

During the drive, she held my hand really tight.

…

Once I got home from canceling the wedding plans, I packed my bags.

The plan was to move out of the home I was supposed to share with Jordan as husband and wife.

Jordan sent me a text.

It was a photo taken inside an airport terminal.

He added a message. “Just finished my business trip. I’m exhausted.”

Instead of replying to his text, I stared blankly at the bottom left edge of the photo.

A slender, fair hand accidentally came into frame, a diamond ring gleaming on the ring finger.

I recognized the ring.

During our hunt for a wedding last year, the jeweler recommended the most expensive piece to Jordan and me.

There was only one set of matching wedding bands available in the entire city.

I was in love with the wedding band, but Jordan shut the idea down, saying the ring was too extravagant for me.

As it turned out, the ring was meant for Molly all along.

Setting the phone aside, I took out my clothes one by one and folded them carefully before packing them into my suitcase.

My brows furrowed the moment I pulled one of Jordan’s shirts.

A heavy scent of perfume clung to the fabric.

The fragrance carried hints of peony.

Tucked into the collar was a small note scribbled in red lipstick.

“Molly’s pajamas.”

Despite dating Jordan for seven years, I was only finding out now that he had brought Molly to our home.

He even left a shirt stained with another woman’s scent in our closet.

I put the shirt back where it was before turning around to clear out the bathroom.

The phone in my pocket rang.

Once again, it was a call from Jordan.

He requested a video call.

I answered.

On the screen, he wore a black overcoat. For once, his usual cold, detached expression softened with a hint of affection.

“What are you doing?”

“Packing up.”

“Is the wedding prep going well?”

“…I guess so.”

“I’m flying out today. I’ll be back by tomorrow morning, in time for our wedding happening the day after.”

“Okay.”

“What’s the matter? Are you upset?”

“No, I’m just tired.”

“I brought you a gift.”

He leaned in and fished out a white box with a ribbon from his briefcase.

“I got a wedding favor from attending a friend’s wedding here. I saved it for you to share the joy.”

“A friend?”

I repeated the word.

Jordan chuckled without a hint of guilt.

“That’s right. It was a friend’s wedding.”