Chapter 2

I slowly wiped away my tears, staring at the sign lying in ruins on the ground. It still read: [Isabel and Wayne. May Your Love Last Forever.]

The beautiful sign had a crack running through it, just like my love.

I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them again, clarity filled my gaze.

I didn't want this flawed love anymore.

Wayne wasn't worthy of the love I gave him.

I was heading home, dragging my tired body along, when my slender heels snagged on my dress and I went tumbling down the steps.

Pain shot through me as I lay sprawled on the floor, unable to move, my body scraped and bruised.

Lying there, the icy floor seeped into my bones, and the tears I had fought so hard to hold back came rushing out again.

I remembered my friend's words before she left, trying to comfort me.

She said, "Isabel, Wayne will end up marrying you.

"He's just hung up on Mabel right now. He'll come around once he sorts out his feelings."

But it had been six years.

Had he still not figured it out?

By the time I got home, it was already half past ten. I was just about to walk into the bedroom when I saw something that completely broke my heart.

Mabel was snuggled up to Wayne, her voice soft. "Didn't you say you don't love me anymore?

"Then why are you still interested in me?"

Wayne didn't answer. His eyes were red as he kept kissing Mabel, unable to stop.

"Hold up. If you want to make up with me, break up with that ugly hag," Mabel said.

Just as things were heating up, Mabel pulled away.

Her eyes sparkled with mischief, her smile flirtatious.

"Please, I'm Mabel. I'm not desperate enough to be the mistress," she scoffed.

Wayne's Adam's apple bobbed as he rasped out.

"Fine. You have my word," he said.

Wayne scooped Mabel into his arms and slammed the door shut behind them.

The bang of the door snapped me out of my daze.

Wayne's answer kept replaying in my head, bitterness churning in my chest.

Wayne, what did I even mean to you?

And these seven years, did they mean anything at all?

I sat numbly on the couch all night until my tears finally ran dry.

Early the next morning, I steadied myself and knocked on the bedroom door.

When Wayne opened the door and saw me, I saw a flicker of guilt and panic in his eyes.

"Isabel, what are you doing back here?" he asked, his voice uneasy.

I retorted, "I live here. Why can't I come back?"

Wayne hesitated for a moment.

"N-No, it's just you didn't come home last night, so I thought you must've stayed somewhere else," he stammered.

"Actually, how about we go get some breakfast?" he said, trying to change the subject.

He stood in front of the door, blocking my way in.

I let out a bitter laugh. "Got something to hide in there?"

Then I shoved past him and strode right in, only to lock eyes with Mabel, who was lounging in nothing but a towel.

Mabel was perched on the bed, looking every bit like she was queen of the place.

"Well, well, the stand-in finally showed up. Don't you feel ashamed standing here in front of the original?" Mabel taunted.

"Isabel, don't overthink it. She had nowhere else to go, so I just let her stay here for the night," Wayne said.

Wayne's face went pale, his explanation weak and unconvincing.

"Do you really think I'm blind?" I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

I pointed at the marks on Mabel's body, my face twisted in scorn.

Mabel, as arrogant as ever, gave me a careless glance.

"If you had any self-awareness, you'd just get out of here," she scoffed.

"Do you even know what Wayne says about you to me?" she added.

"Mabel, shut up!" Wayne said sharply.

Wayne quickly interrupted her, his nerves showing all over his face.

"Oh, so now you're taking her side?" Mabel snapped.

"Funny, you sure weren't acting like this last night," she continued.

Mabel shot Wayne a furious look, clearly pissed off.

She suddenly stood up, pointing around the living room.

"This couch? It's exactly the style and color I love," Mabel said, her tone sharp.

"That painting on the wall? It's from my favorite artist," she added with a smirk.

"Even the lilies on the coffee table? Those are my favorite, too," she finished, her voice full of mockery.

Mabel looked at me like I was a total joke, her eyes full of scorn.

She said, "Seriously, you still don't get it? This place you've called your sweet home for seven years.

"Every inch of it screams me. It's all my traces left behind.

"He lives with you, but trust me, he can't stop thinking about me, not even for a second!

"Do I even need to tell you who he really loves?"

My ears were ringing, and I stood there, lost and confused, staring blankly at everything around me.

No wonder every time I wanted to swap out the furniture or change up the layout, Wayne would always say he was attached to the old stuff.

I thought he just hated change, but never did I expect it was because seeing those things brought her to mind.

I thought I'd just come back home to pack my things.

But now? I didn't want any of this anymore.

It was all disgusting to me.

"Cut the crap!" Wayne snapped, his face going pale.

He shoved Mabel back into the bedroom, then turned to me, looking desperate as he tried to explain.

"She's just being crazy. Don't listen to her," he said quickly.