Chapter 4

My voice turned cold.

Every line of my face showed how much I despised him.

That smell clinging to him—I didn't even have to guess. He'd just been with Gina Harlow.

And he hadn't even bothered to go home and shower.

The thought of him touching her with those same hands made my skin crawl.

I pulled away, trying to shove him off me.

"Still mad? Gina said she's willing to give you this jewelry set. Can you stop making a fuss?" Jared Jenkins opened his hands as he spoke, taking the jewelry Gina handed him.

He stuffed the set into my arms, like it was some precious gift I should be grateful for.

Like I would be thrilled to receive it.

I stared at the jewelry with a sneer, then tossed it to the floor.

"Jared, we've been together over a decade, and you still don't understand me."

"I, Clara Hayes, hate secondhand things—whether it's jewelry or people."

I turned to walk into the elevator.

Gina grabbed my wrist and yanked me out before I could step inside.

She dragged me into the condo next door—one that looked exactly like the one Jared and I had decorated together.

Only on the wall, framed and proud, was a wedding photo of Jared with Gina.

Back when we were renovating, I'd known the unit next door was being worked on too. I just never thought much of it. Never stepped inside.

I had no idea Jared had built himself two homes. One wall apart.

A chill ran through me, sinking into my bones.

I gasped as I stared at the photo—same pose, same backdrop, even the same outfits I had picked for our shoot.

I collapsed onto the couch.

"Clara, what are you even upset about?" Gina's voice trembled with frustration.

"I've accepted you! Why can't you accept me?"

"We both love Jared. Why can't we just get along? He bought these two condos side-by-side and decorated them exactly the same. Doesn't that show we mean the same to him?"

She looked heartbroken as she gestured around the room.

She pointed out the furniture, the decorations, even the wedding photo theme.

"Did you know, I originally told Jared I wanted a modern wedding shoot—no vintage costumes. But because you liked them, he made me change it."

"When we got together, he promised me we'd get married, that he'd be with me forever. But later, he said you were better suited to be his legal wife. So I gave in."

"I didn't even like this neighborhood. But for his convenience—so he could go back and forth—I agreed. Again and again, I've compromised for you."

"You can't keep taking advantage of that!"

While she rambled on, I quietly turned on the voice recorder on my phone, hidden from view.

I sat there, watching her speak with proud righteousness, as if there was nothing wrong with any of this.

I did question myself—for a split second.

Was I the one being unreasonable?

Were they the ones who were right?

But the moment passed quickly.

Jared and Gina were warped. Their sense of right and wrong was twisted.

I wasn't wrong.

I held my phone tightly, recording the photo of them in their wedding attire.

"If you two really love each other, then fine. I'll step aside. I hope you're both happy now."

I'd never been calmer.

Looking at Jared, my face was blank.

It was strange—ever since I'd made up my mind to break things off, he'd become a stranger to me.

And when strangers did ridiculous, shameless things, it had nothing to do with me.

"You're the one breaking up! Don't come crawling back later! Even if you're on your knees begging, I won't take you back! Think this through!"

Jared's jaw clenched tight.

He hadn't expected me to be so firm, even after all of Gina's pathetic pleading.

He opened the front door and gestured for me to leave.

I walked past them both without a word.

"Connor, she's not my girlfriend anymore. You don't need to drive her anywhere! Let her walk!"

Jared spat the words out between clenched teeth.