Chapter 5
She tugged Ryan along as they walked over. Ryan avoided my gaze, looking awkward and uneasy.
"You guys are shopping too?" Jessica said, beaming as she held up her hand. "Look, Ryan just bought me this ring. I told him I didn't need it, but he insisted and said he wanted me to have something to remember him by."
The diamond glittered under the store lights.
Sophie snorted. "What's there to remember? How you pretended to be sick and fooled everyone?"
Jessica's face went ghostly pale, her eyes instantly welling up. "Seriously, Sophie, how can you say that? I really am sick."
"Sick, but still got the energy to go shopping for diamonds?" Sophie shot back, dripping with sarcasm. "Honestly, you look better than Olivia does."
"That's enough, Sophie," Ryan said, frowning. "Jessica just finished chemo today. The doctor said she should get some fresh air. Can't you show a little compassion?"
"Chemo?" I chimed in, my gaze settling on Jessica's thick, shiny hair. "Shouldn't chemo make your hair fall out?"
Jessica stiffened, her hand flying to her hair.
"I'm on foreign meds, so the side effects are barely anything," she whispered, then turned to Ryan. "Let's just go, Ryan. I don't want Olivia to be upset because of me."
"You two should be the ones leaving," Sophie said, stepping in front of me. "Just seeing you makes me sick."
Ryan looked at me, hesitating. "Olivia, don't be like this. Jessica's really been through a lot. Her results came out today, and things got even worse."
"Is that so?" I asked calmly. "Which hospital? Who's her doctor? Can I see her medical records?"
Jessica's tears started falling. "Olivia, do you really not trust me at all? Would you only believe me if I died right in front of you?"
"Olivia!" Ryan snapped, anger in his voice. "This isn't the Olivia I used to know! When did you get so harsh?"
I looked at him, and suddenly, he seemed like a total stranger.
"Ryan, we've been together for two years. Have you ever really tried to understand me?" I asked. "Do you know I'm scared of heights? That I'm allergic to seafood? That I get leg cramps at night and need a massage?"
He froze.
"You don't," I said for him. "Because you never cared enough to truly know me. Your heart was never really with me. It was always with someone else."
"That's not true," he tried to argue.
"Whatever," I said with a smile. "Have fun shopping. Go wild, since you're running out of time."
With that, I grabbed Sophie's hand and turned to leave.
Once we were out of earshot, Sophie whispered, "That ring Jessica's wearing? It's at least 15 thousand dollars. When did Ryan get so generous? When he was with you, he'd hesitate for ages just to buy you a bag."
"Maybe he thinks people who are about to kick the bucket deserve the best," I said, my voice flat.
"Do you really believe she's sick?" Sophie asked.
"Doesn't matter," I replied. "Whether it's real or not, it's none of my business."
Even so, I could feel a pair of eyes burning into my back, following us every step of the way.
It was Jessica's gaze, carrying the superiority of a winner and a subtle hint of provocation.
That night, after I got home and finished my shower, I got a new friend request.
The profile picture was a shot of Jessica and Ryan, their faces pressed together, both grinning from ear to ear.
The request message said: [Olivia, I'm really sorry about today. Can I explain?]
I accepted the request.
She messaged me right away: [Olivia, you finally added me! Running into you at the mall today was just a coincidence, so please don't get the wrong idea about Ryan.]
Then she sent a photo, a close-up of that diamond ring.
[I picked out this ring myself. Ryan didn't even want to buy it at first, but I told him to just treat it as an early birthday present, so he finally caved. He said he'll return your real wedding ring in three months.]
I replied: [No need to return it. I don't want someone else's leftovers.]