Chapter 1

My husband loved watching me get jealous.

He said the more I minded his childhood friend getting close to him, the more it proved I loved him.

So, every year on our wedding anniversary, he would let his childhood friend, Megan Cole, take my place as "Mrs. McAdams" for a few days.

Then, he and his friends would bet on how many days I could endure it.

The first year, Megan wore my nightgown and leaned into his arms for a photo.

I snatched the dress back in anger, but he kissed me and laughed, saying I really couldn't live without him.

The second year, he gave the master bedroom to Megan and made me sleep in the guest room.

Only when my eyes were rimmed with red outside the door did he open it, saying she was just staying for one night.

Last year, he took Megan to his parents' house for dinner, let her sit in my seat, and played along when his parents called her "Mrs. McAdams."

He didn't grab my hand until I turned to leave the table.

"It's just a title. Do you really have to make a fuss over this?"

But this year, they took the game even further.

Megan moved into our house with her suitcase, pulled out a new set of keys, and asked me in front of all our friends:

"Hunter said he's letting me experience life as the lady of the house for seven days. You aren't mad, are you?"

Hunter McAdams wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his eyes full of anticipation.

"If she really loves me, she'll definitely get jealous."

Everyone waited for me to cry and make a scene like in previous years, before he would laugh and announce the end of the game.

But this time, I just went back to the room and packed my things.

Before leaving, I placed my wedding ring and the house key into Hunter's palm.

"Seven days is too short."

"She can have this position from now on."

***

After I left, Hunter didn't chase after me.

His friends behind him were still jeering.

"Liv upgraded her tactics this year."

"Hunter, don't admit defeat too early."

Hunter gave a low chuckle.

"She can't bear to leave me."

"She'll come back on her own in three days at most."

That night, he started a new bet in his private group chat with his friends.

Hunter bet three thousand dollars that I wouldn't last seventy-two hours.

To force me to give in first, he officially registered Megan's fingerprint in the door lock and gave her the spare key that symbolized the lady of the house.

Wearing my slippers, Megan posted a picture of the keys and her breakfast in the group chat.

The caption read: "Mrs. McAdams experience day, day one."

The friends quickly chimed in.

"Challenge the master bedroom tonight."

"Shouldn't Mrs. McAdams wear the lady of the house's nightgown?"

Hunter didn't stop them. Instead, he replied to her:

"The nightgown is on the second shelf in the walk-in closet."

When I saw that post, I was unpacking my bags in the small house my parents left me.

The house hadn't been lived in for years. The windowsills were covered in dust, and the faucets were a bit rusty.

But at least here, no one treated my place as a game reward.

The first year, after Megan wore my nightgown, I cried in front of everyone.

Hunter held me and coaxed me for a long time.

He said he just wanted to see if I would get jealous over him.

He even promised, "This is the first and last time."

Now, the clothes that belonged to me in the closet were being tried on one by one by Megan.

She even started an Instagram live stream, asking friends to help her pick the outfit that looked most like "Mrs. McAdams."

She put on my silk nightgown and twirled in front of the camera.

"What about this one?"

Hunter sat nearby and looked up.

"It looks livelier on you than on her."

Laughter filled the live stream. Someone asked why I hadn't shown up.

Tears immediately pricked Megan's eyes.

"Liv just can't take a joke. It's just a challenge."

"I was just doing Hunter a favor. Who knew she would actually get mad and move out."

"But everyone knows she'll come back sooner or later anyway."

Hunter pulled a tissue and handed it to her. Then he sent me a message.

"Married life needs a little novelty too. There's no need to get mad over a small joke."

"If you're going to keep playing this runaway game, then come and take the rest of your things too."

When I went back, the door lock could no longer recognize my fingerprint.

In the end, Megan opened the door for me.

She was wearing my nightgown, and my slippers were on her feet.

The master bedroom's bedding had also been changed to her favorite cream color.

My skincare products were swept into a cardboard box.

The wedding photo from above the bed had been taken down and leaned against the corner of the wall.

Half of my face in the photo was blocked by the box.

Hunter pushed the cardboard box in front of me.

"Liv, this playing hard to get routine of yours will only work once."

Megan bit her lip and said softly:

"Maybe I should just sleep in the guest room."

She said that, but she stayed standing in the master bedroom without the slightest intention of moving out.

Sure enough, Hunter held her back.

"The lady of the house should sleep in the master bedroom."

After saying that, he looked at me. His eyes held that familiar smile.

As if waiting for me to lunge forward to take back the bed, or cry and demand to know who he really loved.

But I just picked up the box.

"Is there anything else I missed?"

The smile on Hunter's lips faded for the first time.

He stared at me for a few seconds before saying coldly:

"Olivia, you're putting on quite an act this time."

"I want to see how many more days you can hold out."

I didn't answer.

I turned and closed the door.