Chapter 2
I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
Rich was drunk when he turned downstairs at my place in the middle of the night, his eyes sparkling, full of affection.
It was winter, and he took off his scarf and gently put it around my neck.
"Sophie, I really like you. Will you be with me?" he asked.
I was caught off guard, but then, blushing, I nodded shyly.
Then, I scrolled back to the wedding photos she'd posted.
That day, surrounded by family and friends, the groom slipped the ring onto her finger.
And that was the day I slept with Richard for the first time.
That night, he held me close, his touch trembling at first, then growing rough and intense. The pain was so sharp, it felt like I was being ripped apart inside.
The next day, he came to me, looking all guilty and sorry, and apologized.
I kept scrolling until my finger landed on her latest post.
She wrote: [Breaking up on good terms is the least we owe each other.]
There was a photo of the annulment papers, and her side profile, looking a bit sad, reflected in the airplane window.
The post was from a week ago.
I chuckled to myself, a memory coming to mind.
It was late at night after a company team-building event, and Richard came to pick me up.
His eyes were soft with a gentle smile, but he looked a little absent-minded.
"Rich, are you even listening to me?" I asked, a little annoyed.
When he didn't answer again, I complained, feeling a bit annoyed.
Richard gave me an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Sophie. I was just thinking about work and ended up ignoring you," he said.
Just then, the car's Bluetooth lit up with an incoming call.
I glanced at the screen. It was his best friend from way back calling.
I reached out to answer it for him, but Richard quickly reached over and declined the call before I could.
He never hid his calls from me, so I'd never have to worry.
But in that moment, I caught a flicker of panic in his eyes.
I gave him a confused look, and Richard gave me a tight, awkward smile.
"They asked me to hang out tonight, but I'm not really in the mood, so I'll just ignore it," he said.
Then his tone softened. "Being with you is what makes me happiest, Sophie."
Honestly, I didn't give it much thought back then. Instead, my cheeks turned red.
Richard's deep voice broke the silence. "Sophie, work's been pretty hectic lately. I might not be able to give you as much attention as I'd like."
I nodded, letting him know I understood.
For the next week, he was almost impossible to reach.
He'd skip dinner at home and sneak in around midnight.
Sometimes, he wouldn't come home the whole night.
Thinking about it at that moment, I found out that the clues were all right in front of me.
All those little things, all those moments I shared with Richard, all seemed like our story alone.
But in reality, even in the places I thought were just ours, someone else had already left their mark.
Once that idea crept in, it just kept growing, out of control.
Staring at the photo, I saw her wild, wavy hair and that fiery red dress. She looked so confident, so alluring.
For a moment, I couldn't tell. Was she the one who looked like me, or was it the other way around?
With trembling hands, I sent Richard a message.
[Where are you right now?]
Richard replied almost instantly.
[Working late at the office. What's up?]
Tears started to fall from my eyes.
Just then, the page refreshed, and a new update appeared.
She wrote: [Never be afraid. Love boldly.]
The photo showed two hands, fingers intertwined.
I'd recognize those knuckles anywhere, and that matching couple ring on his finger, identical to the one on my own, was so familiar it made my heart ache.
He'd even switched the ring from his middle finger to his index finger.
How thoughtful he was.
I let out a bitter laugh, but the tears just wouldn't stop.
I opened my phone and dialed a number.
"Mom... I want to come home," I said, my voice trembling.
There's a bond between mothers and daughters. I didn't even have to say a word, and she just got it. After a brief silence, she understood.
She didn't ask anything, just softened her voice.
"Okay, we'll come pick you up tomorrow," she said.
She paused, then gently reassured me, her voice full of concern.
"Don't cry, my good girl. Mom's always here for you," she said.