Chapter 4

For the next two weeks, Callum came home every day.

But he never truly came back.

He stopped demanding that I apologize to Brielle.

On the surface, everything seemed to return to normal.

But he started taking his phone into the bathroom, and his rehearsals increased from twice a week to four times.

Sometimes he came home late at night with sweat soaking the back of his shirt and that same familiar sweetness clinging to his skin.

I stopped asking questions.

I saved the last of my hope for our anniversary party.

It was the night of our third wedding anniversary.

I had reserved the upstairs floor of the restaurant where Callum and I had gone on our first date. We invited only a dozen close friends.

Our wedding photo stood beside the window, and the tables were decorated with the same white roses Callum had chosen for our wedding.

I told myself that if he was still willing to dance that song with me, then there were at least some parts of our marriage Brielle hadn't taken.

Callum arrived twenty minutes late.

Brielle walked in behind him.

She wore a long ivory dress, almost the exact same color as mine. When she saw me, she glanced down at her skirt and gave a carefully practiced look of surprise.

"Oh my God. It's like we planned this."

I didn't laugh.

Callum came over and hugged me, pressing a hurried kiss to my forehead.

"Happy anniversary."

I looked at his empty hands.

No flowers.

No gift.

Brielle, meanwhile, carried an elegantly wrapped box and announced that she had prepared a special anniversary surprise for us.

Throughout dinner, she sat on Callum's right.

She ordered his wine for him. She knew he had stopped eating dessert, and she knew he had injured his left ankle during rehearsal.

Those small details were the kind of things a wife was supposed to know.

Coming so naturally from her lips, they made me feel like someone who had only just met Callum.

When the plates were cleared away, the lights dimmed.

The opening notes of At Last began to play.

My heart skipped a beat.

Callum finally stood and walked toward me.

For one brief moment, I nearly forgave everything that had happened over the past two weeks.

I even began to wonder whether I had been too distant. Maybe when he held out his hand, I should give our marriage one more chance.

He came closer.

Then he walked straight past me.

He didn't pause.

He didn't even look at me.

Brielle was already waiting in the center of the dance floor, her white skirt spread around her feet. She held out her hand to Callum like a bride waiting for her groom.

I remained in my seat as my husband placed his hand on her waist.

They performed a fully choreographed competition routine. Every turn, every touch, every lingering look was executed without the slightest hesitation.

All those late nights, all those closed bathroom doors, all those traces of perfume he never bothered to explain had become the chemistry they displayed tonight.

As the song neared its end, Callum supported Brielle's back and lowered her into a dip. She rose and spun.

Then he suddenly dropped to one knee and took her left hand.

Some of the guests began clapping and cheering.

It looked so much like a proposal that everyone seemed to forget whose wedding anniversary we were supposed to be celebrating.

Callum quickly stood and laughed it off.

"It's just part of the choreography."

Brielle leaned against his shoulder, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

I had no idea how I managed to stand.

Three months ago, I had chosen this song because I believed it belonged to us.

Brielle walked toward me and reached out as if she meant to hug me.

"Were you surprised?"

I stepped back.

Her smile stiffened.

As she withdrew her hand, a ring slipped from her left ring finger.

It rolled across the floor and stopped beside my shoe.

The color drained from Callum's face.

I bent down and picked it up.

It was a delicate gold band, clearly made to fit her finger.

When I turned it over, I saw two letters engraved inside.

C + B.

Callum and Brielle.

I raised my head and looked at my husband.

The first words out of his mouth were:

"Give her the ring back."