Chapter 1

Clink.

The ninety-seventh coin dropped into the jar.

The sound echoed through the empty living room.

I looked at the glass jar on the shelf.

It was almost full.

Ninety-seven coins.

Ninety-seven promises Gavin had broken.

Three coins remained.

Three more times before I finally walked away from my husband.

I never thought the little game we created when we were young would become a countdown to our marriage ending.

That morning, Gavin kissed my forehead before leaving.

His voice was still as gentle as the man I fell in love with years ago.

“Baby, I cleared my schedule today. I’m coming home early for your birthday.”

He held my hands and smiled.

“Just wait for me.”

I believed him.

I always believed him.

Because of that promise, I ignored every message from work.

For one day, I didn't want to be the woman who solved problems and carried everything on her shoulders.

I only wanted to be Gavin’s wife.

I spent the afternoon cooking.

Eight dishes.

All his favorites.

By evening, the apartment was filled with the smell of the dinner I had spent hours preparing.

I changed into the black velvet dress Gavin loved and checked the mirror one last time.

The candles on the table were already waiting.

So was I.

Six o’clock passed.

The front door stayed closed.

Seven.

Still nothing.

The food slowly lost its warmth.

At eight, I picked up my phone.

Before I could call him, Gavin’s name appeared on the screen.

For a moment, I smiled.

I thought he was finally coming home.

I answered.

“Allison.”

His voice sounded tired.

“There’s a problem at the lab. Something happened, and everyone has to stay.”

I looked at the untouched birthday dinner.

“You can’t leave?”

“Baby, I really can’t.”

He sighed.

“The whole team is here.”

Then I heard it.

Music.

Laughter.

A child’s voice.

“Daddy! Blow out the candles!”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

The little boy laughed again.

“Daddy, you promised you’d cut the cake with me!”

I froze.

I knew that voice.

Lucas.

Madeline’s son.

The child of the woman who had once been Gavin’s first love.

My husband wasn’t trapped at the lab.

He was celebrating a birthday with another woman and her child.

While I sat alone at home, waiting for him.

The silence on my end lasted too long.

Gavin knew I had heard everything.

“Allison, listen—”

But he never finished.

The call ended.

The room became completely quiet again.

I stared at the table.

The eight dishes I had prepared were still there.

The candles had burned lower.

The birthday I had spent all day planning had become a joke.

I didn’t throw anything.

I didn’t call him back.

I simply carried each plate to the kitchen and poured the food into the trash.

Watching his favorite dishes disappear felt easier than admitting how much I had hoped.

Then I walked toward the glass jar.

Years ago, those coins represented every promise Gavin made when we were young.

Now they only represented every time he chose someone else.

I opened the drawer.

Took out one coin.

And dropped it inside.

Clink.

The ninety-seventh coin.

Ninety-seven broken promises.

Three coins left.

I closed the lid.

This time, I didn’t cry.