Chapter 3
Early on Saturday morning, Sophie texted me. [Emily, what time are you guys going to the aquarium? I also want to come there. Ethan won't be back for a couple of days, and I'm so bored at home alone.]
I stared at the message, my finger hovering over the screen, unable to type a reply.
Ethan was a name that had appeared in our chats countless times.
Sophie: [Ethan sent me a gift today.]
Sophie: [Ethan said he misses me.]
Sophie: [Ethan will come back next week and will bring me a bag.]
Sophie used that made-up guy to fake her perfect marriage every single time.
She leaned on my sympathy and support to cover up her affair with Edward.
And every time, my heart ached for her.
I treated her like family.
But she treated me like an idiot.
I kept typing and erasing, unable to settle on what to say.
This went on again and again.
In the end, I sent her: [We're leaving at nine.]
Sophie replied instantly with a happy emoji.
Then she sent a voice message.
I hesitated for a second, then tapped to play it.
"Emily, I'll wait for you guys at the aquarium entrance. Love you," she said. Her voice was bright and bubbly, like a carefree little girl.
I let myself get tricked by that voice, thinking she was innocent and sweet.
I believed she was my best friend.
I poured out all my secrets to her: every argument I had with Edward, every time we patched things up, and every single sweet moment.
She always listened, comforted me, and gave me advice.
Then, behind my back, she'd turn my vulnerabilities into pillow talk jokes with Edward.
Leo and Milo climbed onto my bed.
Leo grabbed my arm and shook it.
Milo crawled onto my stomach and nibbled at my chin.
Milo mumbled in his baby voice, "Mommy, let's go."
They pulled me out of my shattered dream.
Looking at their sweet, angelic faces, my heart hurt all over again.
I promised myself I'd hang in there for them.
I forced a smile and sat up. "Come on, let's go to the amusement park."
Edward showed up, too.
He stood at the doorway, wearing a dark blue polo shirt.
His wedding ring on his left ring finger caught the light for a moment.
He smiled and reached out, pulling me in by the waist, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Let's go, Emily," he said.
I turned away, pretending to reach for my bag on the shoe cabinet by the door.
I dodged his hand.
He bent down, picked up Milo as he rushed over, and nuzzled Milo's nose with his forehead.
"Sweetie, did you miss Daddy?" Edward asked.
Milo wrapped his arms around his neck, speaking in his baby voice. "Yeah."
The amusement park was packed, with kids' laughter echoing everywhere.
Leo grabbed my hand and rushed us over to the carousel.
Milo clung to Edward's neck, refusing to let go.
After two spins on the carousel, Leo's cheeks were bright red with excitement.
When I got off the carousel, I looked over to find Edward, who should've been waiting for us on the bench, but the bench was empty.
Only Milo was sitting there by himself.
He clutched a stick of cotton candy, with a couple of bites missing.
He was glancing around in confusion, not sure what was going on.
I crouched down beside him and asked, "Where's Daddy?"
Milo had cotton candy smeared all over his face.
"Daddy said he was going to make a phone call," Milo mumbled.
I stood up and looked around.
The amusement park was packed, so many people that everywhere I looked, everyone's silhouette looked the same.
But I didn't have to look to know where he was.
Sophie must've shown up.
"Mommy, where's Daddy?" Leo called out.
Leo jumped off the carousel and tugged at my shirt.
"Daddy's busy," I said.
I forced a smile and took both kids by the hand.
"Come on, let's go ride the little train," I said.
As I led the kids toward the little train, I kept scanning the crowd out of the corner of my eye.
As we walked past a cluster of fake rocks, I spotted two all-too-familiar figures entwined together in the narrow gap behind them.