Chapter 2

Goosebumps swept over me. Before I could say anything, he added, "I do have an older brother, but he's dead." I screamed. Maybe I looked too terrified, because David immediately pulled me into his arms and apologized, admitting he was just messing with me. "Sorry, babe. I was only teasing you. I didn't think you'd take it seriously. I don't have a twin brother."

I was furious. After all that, he'd just been messing with me. I pinched his arm hard enough to leave it red, but he kept apologizing and telling me to go back to sleep. "Who the hell could sleep now?"

David tried to calm me down. As always, he blamed everything on Emily. After a pause, he said seriously, "I'm not bragging or anything, but I honestly think she's into me." My eyelid twitched. "And are you into her?" He looked disgusted. "A woman who loves stirring up trouble like that? No guy would want her. I'm not an idiot."

Yeah. Men always weighed the pros and cons. How could a man get involved with a woman he couldn't stand? Thinking about it that way, the weight on my chest eased a little. David touched my face and said, "I know you can't bear to lose a close friend like Emily, but friends aren't always forever. Sometimes they only walk with you for one part of the road."

I nodded. Some people just aren't meant to stay on the same path. As long as I held on to the happiness right in front of me, that was enough. With that in mind, I decided not to care anymore. No matter how many times my phone lit up, I refused to look. Anyone could guess what it was. Whatever. It was probably AI anyway.

I slept for a while, then woke up again for no reason. My phone was still flashing silently. This time, it was a call from David's childhood friend, Brian Parker. I slipped out to the balcony before answering, and his panicked voice came through at once. "Sophia, where are you right now? Something happened. You need to come over."

I tightened my grip on the phone and asked, "What happened? Who's in trouble?"

Brian kept hemming and hawing and refused to say what was going on.

"If you won't tell me, then I'm not coming."

"It's David! Just get over here. You'll understand when you see it."

I was completely confused and kept repeating that if he didn't explain, I wasn't going anywhere. Only then did he finally blurt out, "David's cheating. With your best friend, what's her name again? I forgot."

My heart dropped. "Emily Carter?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's her. Emily Carter."

I growled, "Brian, what the hell is this? Why are you and Emily teaming up to lie to me? What are you trying to pull?"

Brian sounded aggrieved. "If there's one person I wouldn't lie to, it's you."

"But you are lying to me right now!" I snapped. "Cut the act, okay? David is in the bedroom right now. Want me to wake him up so he can talk to you himself? You're his childhood friend, his brother, and you're out here saying he's cheating. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Brian shouted, "Sophia! I do like you, but I know you're David's wife. I've always kept that to myself. I swear to God, I'm not lying to you!"

I froze where I stood. Over the years, we'd shared plenty of meals, and Brian had always been attentive, but I'd never imagined he actually liked me. David's best friend liked me, and my best friend liked David. What kind of messed-up luck was that?

While I was still stunned, Brian said, "So no matter what I say, you're not going to believe me, right? Fine. I'll catch them in the act myself."

Then he sent me several photos of David and Emily together.

Brian: [It was stupid easy to catch them on camera. They're both shameless. When are you divorcing him? After that, will you consider me?]

My head felt like it was about to explode. He'd really seen my husband and my best friend together with his own eyes?

"What did you say? Are you sure?"

Brian said firmly, "I'm talking about whether you'll consider me after you divorce him. I know exactly what I'm saying. And yes, I'm sure."

"That's not what I meant. I mean, did you really... really see David and...?"

I was choking so hard I could barely get the words out.

"Yeah. I even recorded a video yesterday. I'm sending it now."

When I opened the video, David and Emily were wrapped around each other. Then Brian's voice came from behind the camera. "You two are disgusting! David, get your ass home right now, or we're done as friends!" David sneered. "Brian, aren’t you into Sophia? Then go after her. You’ve even got the key to my place. I’m doing you a favor here."

My hands shook uncontrollably. That voice, that expression, the way he moved... it was David himself. AI could never make something look that real. My husband really was involved with Emily?