Chapter 2

Caleb Taylor refused to believe it. The woman who once loved him so deeply, who would have given up everything for him, had fallen for someone else? It was incomprehensible to him. But when he followed me downstairs and spotted the striking black Escalade parked outside, he couldn't stop himself from exclaiming, "This... this can't be real!"

I rolled my eyes. "You've clearly never seen class before."

Ignoring the stunned expressions of everyone around, I slid into the passenger seat and left without a backward glance.

Caleb's face darkened, his anger nearly tangible.

Rebecca Hale sighed dramatically. "Emily really went too far this time. Even if she wanted to make you jealous, spending so much money hiring someone to play a role is just ridiculous! Renting a car like that must cost a fortune. She clearly doesn't care how hard you work to earn money."

Caleb seized the opportunity to save face, nodding and shaking his head in resignation. "She's always been so vain. If she weren't, I wouldn't have so many issues with her. But, as her husband-to-be, I have to tolerate it. That's what marriage is about, after all."

But when he finished his self-serving speech, the usual murmurs of agreement didn't follow. Instead, the crowd began to disperse, each person muttering an excuse to leave. After all, no one had respect for a man who abandoned his fiancée and flaunted a mistress in public.

Later that evening, as I was packing up my things at home, Caleb stormed in, reeking of alcohol. He kicked the door open, causing it to bang against the wall. "Emily Jensen! What the hell are you trying to pull?"

Startled by his sudden outburst, I spun around and glared at him. "Are you insane? What are you even doing here? Weren't you supposed to be staying with Rebecca tonight?"

Ever since his friend Ethan had passed, Caleb had used the excuse of "taking care of his friend's widow" to move in with Rebecca. For him to show up now, unannounced, could only mean trouble.

He slammed his fist against the wall, his voice dripping with accusation. "Did I interrupt your date with your new lover? Tell me, who was that guy today? Some actor you hired?"

I let out a cold laugh. "What part of 'that's my boyfriend' do you not understand? Are you deaf?"

He froze for a moment before his eyes darted away, calculating. "Do you really think I don't see through your game? You're mad because I've been ignoring you lately, so you pulled that stunt at the reunion to humiliate me."

He sneered. "Rebecca already warned me about your childish schemes. Stop pretending."

His words made me laugh in disbelief. "You two are out of your minds."

When I turned my back on him and continued packing, he walked over, frustrated. "Emily, can't you have some compassion? Rebecca's been through so much recently. I'm all she has left to rely on. If I abandon her too, how is she supposed to survive?"

I paused, setting down the box I was holding. Meeting his gaze, I asked calmly, "And what about my feelings? Did you ever think about how I would feel when you parade her around in front of everyone?"

For a split second, he looked taken aback, unable to find an answer. Then he quickly averted his eyes, muttering, "You're being unreasonable. It's not like I'm refusing to marry you..."

What on earth was going on in his head? Even after everything he'd done, he still expected me to marry him? I decided I was done wasting words on him. I extended my hand. "Give me the house keys."

He frowned. "Don't you already have a set?"

I slammed the property deed onto the table. "Take a good look. This house was paid for by my parents. Now that we're breaking up, are you seriously planning to stay here?"

Caleb's temper flared. He threw the keys onto the floor. "Your family has never respected me! Fine, Emily. Go ahead and act high and mighty. It won't be long before you're begging me to come back!"

I picked up the keys and pointed to the door. "Get out. Now. Or I'll call the cops."

His face turned crimson with rage as he stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls seemed to shake.