Chapter 2

I tore the photo into tiny pieces and tossed them into the trash.

Outside, the fireworks kept coming, one after another, their crackling sounds as if laughing at how naive I was.

Another text message popped up. This time, it was from Madeline: [Sophie, Garth said you're home alone. Want to come over and join us for a Christmas dinner?]

I stared at that phony invitation, feeling nothing but irony.

In this carefully staged scam, I was just the most ridiculous side character.

I replied: [No, thanks.]

After turning off my phone, I opened a folder on my computer. Inside were all the photos Garth and I had taken over the past three years, our wedding pictures, shots from our trips together, and last year's family reunion during Christmas.

Back then, Garth only had eyes for me. But now...

I let out a sigh, deleted all those photos, and then sent an email to my professor overseas, asking about the exact start date for classes.

It was past midnight when Garth finally came home. He reeked of alcohol and paused for a moment when he saw me still sitting in the living room. "Why are you still up?"

I looked up at him, and the questions I wanted to ask just died on my lips when I saw how drunk he was.

Garth staggered over and tossed me a silver necklace. "Here, this is for you. I know I didn't spend the holiday with you, and I'm sorry. Consider this my apology."

I stared at the silver necklace, numb. The design was unusual. The pendant was shaped like a piece of candy.

"Come on, Sophie, don't be upset," Garth said as he flopped onto the couch, rubbing his brow with that self-righteous tone. "You have to understand me. My head's a mess right now. Honestly, even when I'm with Madeline, I still feel guilty about you. But I need time to adjust to being with you. It's not something I can just control."

I gripped the necklace so tightly my knuckles went white, trying to keep myself together.

He was still faking it, acting like he truly believed his own amnesia.

"Oh, and my parents want to see you. They asked me to bring you back to the family home tomorrow morning," he said, rubbing his brow. "After all, you're still their daughter-in-law."

I pressed my lips together and nodded. "Okay."

"Alright, that's settled." Garth let out a sigh of relief and staggered to his feet. "I'm gonna take a shower. Try to get some sleep."

I watched him walk away, then set the necklace on the table.

I glanced down at my phone. My professor had already replied: September, still enough time to start over.

On the morning of the first day of the new year, Garth waited until I finished my makeup, then fastened the silver necklace around my neck himself.

He moved so gently, like he was making a whole ceremony out of it, but all I felt was a cold shiver on my neck.

When the car pulled up in front of the family estate, I spotted Madeline already waiting outside.

She wore a soft pink dress, her smile gentle and warm, with a golden retriever sitting obediently by her side.

"Hey, Sophie!" Madeline called out with enthusiasm. "Come on in. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are waiting for you."

After I finished greeting my parents-in-law, I noticed the way they looked at Madeline—unusually warm, almost as if she were their real daughter-in-law.

The dog was wiggling in Madeline's arms, and I said politely, "Your dog is so cute."

"Yeah, I've had her for three months. Her name's Candy," Madeline replied, lifting the dog toward me. "Do you want to hold her?"

I reached out and patted the puppy's head. Around its neck was a gold necklace. The style struck me as strangely familiar.

Madeline caught me eyeing the necklace, and for a split second, there was a sly glimmer in her eyes, so quick you'd almost miss it. Then she flashed a smile and said, "Oh, let me show you a picture."

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her photos like it was no big deal. "Look, this is when Candy first came to live with me."

My heart sank.

In the photo, the puppy was wearing a silver necklace that looked all too familiar. The timestamp showed it was taken two months ago.

It hit me: the necklace Garth gave me last night was the very one he'd taken off the dog's neck. And together with the gold necklace the puppy wore now, they were a matching set.

A wave of nausea hit me.

He didn't just fake amnesia. He literally gave me an apology gift he'd taken off the dog's neck.

And now, here I was, sitting in his house, me and the dog both wearing matching necklaces.