Chapter 3

Ian closed the distance in a few strides, grabbing my wrist and staring at me intensely. "Where are you going?

I struggled but couldn't break his grip. Anxious about making good time, my impatience flared.

"I'm going back to my hometown for the holidays this year," I snapped. "I haven't been back in three years. I'm going whether you like it or not, so let go of me."

Ian's grip tightened even more as he yanked my suitcase away.

He pulled me back upstairs with him. "I'm coming with you. Just give me five minutes. Five minutes."

Terrified I'd make a run for it, he literally locked me in the study while he scrambled to pack his things.

But I didn't feel a single ounce of emotion.

So Ian actually was capable of visiting my family for the holidays.

He always claimed he was an only child and couldn't leave his parents all alone. That was his excuse for never letting me go back.

Ian packed in record time. He even pulled some strings to score a last minute ticket on my exact flight.

But on the drive to the airport, his phone kept ringing. I had lost count of how many times it went off.

The noise was grating. He wouldn't answer it, but he wouldn't turn it off either. Right as we were about to board, it rang again.

I couldn't hold back anymore. "Can you make it stop?" I asked coldly. "It's incredibly annoying. If you have other things to deal with, you don't have to come with me."

I used to fantasize about bringing Ian home with me. Now that the day was actually here, I realized I didn't even want it anymore.

If he came with me, I'd just have to force a smile and put on an act for my parents.

Ian still couldn't bring himself to hit decline.

After a brief internal struggle, he pushed his luggage toward me. "I'm going to take this. I'll be quick."

I had caught a glimpse of his screen in the car earlier. The person calling him relentlessly was Nora.

Watching his anxious, retreating back, I didn't even know why I suddenly called out to him.

"Ian, can you just ignore it? We're boarding," I said.

Gripping the buzzing phone, he paused for a few seconds before giving me a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. It's just a few words. I won't be long."

A suffocating ache spread through my chest. But at the same time, the chains that had been binding me finally started to loosen.

Ian never made the flight. He called me over and over, but I never picked up.

Then he sent a massive voice memo trying to explain.

I didn't even listen to it. I just hit delete.

It was obviously just another story about some crisis Nora was having, followed by a demand that I understand his difficult position.

Ian was never a good liar. That was why I had a front row seat to watch him choose Nora over me, time and time again.

This time was no different.

*****

On Christmas Eve, I was in the kitchen helping my mom prep dinner while holiday movies played on the TV.

Suddenly, my phone blew up with a barrage of notifications.

At first, I assumed they were merry wishes from friends.

But when I opened them, I saw that Nora had uncharacteristically spammed me with over a dozen photos.

Curious, I clicked on them.

Staring back at me was Ian, the husband who missed his flight.

He was currently spending the holidays with Nora in her hometown.

Pathetic tears welled up in my eyes. Through blurred vision, I managed to screenshot everything right before she unsent the messages.

A moment later, Nora's explanation came through. [I am so sorry, Mrs. Caldwell. I sent those to you by mistake.]

[I meant to send them to my family group chat. It was my first time bringing a guy home for the holidays, and my relatives assumed Ian was my boyfriend. I am so clumsy.]

It read like an apology, but the gloating between the lines was obvious.

Still, she had every right to show off. After all, she was the one who managed to get Ian to spend Christmas Eve with her.

My finger slipped, accidentally playing the short audio message she had sent right after the text.

It sounded like Nora's family warmly welcoming Ian to their holiday dinner.

I knew Nora had done this on purpose because I could clearly hear the playful tone in Ian's voice in the background.

He said, "Well, Nora, I hope you are happy now."

I refused to cry. Crying on Christmas Eve meant crying for the rest of the year, and I was not going to let that happen.

Just as I collected myself, another message from Ian lit up my screen.

I had promised myself I would not let his affairs bother me anymore, but my chest still tightened painfully when I read his words.

Ian: [[Stella, didn't you want to know the truth about the baby?

[I'm coming over tonight to tell you everything. Wait for me.]

What truth? Was my miscarriage not an accident?

Did Nora push me? If she really did, that was Ian's child too.