Chapter 3
I was up all night, unable to get a single moment of sleep. When morning finally came, I got my act together and started packing up.
Most of the things in the house were items for couples to use.
There were matching pajamas, matching toothbrushes, and matching cups. Everything was in pairs.
I loved picking out anything that made Richard and me look like the sweetest couple ever.
Richard always teased me for being childish about it.
"This is way too cute. It's not really my style," he'd say.
His share of the cute stuff would just end up scattered all over the house, but I was the only one who stubbornly found joy in it.
Putting all that aside, I left behind all the dresses and jewelry Richard had given me over the years.
Turns out, the things that were actually mine were pathetically few. They couldn't even fill two suitcases.
After a moment's hesitation, I picked up the phone and called Richard.
Even if we were about to go our separate ways, I still hoped we could end things peacefully.
"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?" I asked.
Richard's voice sounded heavy, as if he were feeling down.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely be home tonight to keep my darling company," he said.
I lowered my eyes, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Richard, do you love me?" I asked.
After a brief silence at his end, I heard the faint sound of fabric rustling.
"Of course, I love you, Sophie," he replied.
After hanging up, I just sat there, stunned.
How could he just toss out those words like it was nothing?
Bitterness welled up in my mouth, and my empty stomach twisted with hunger.
I got up, got dressed, and decided to head out to buy some groceries. I wanted to cook one last dinner for Richard.
It was my own little way of saying goodbye.
When I walked in with bags of groceries, I just stood there, stunned.
Richard was already home, but he wasn't alone. A woman was standing by his side.
She wore a red dress that just skimmed her thighs, hugging every curve and showing off her figure.
She was holding a necklace against her neck, trying to see how it would look on her.
The light hit the oversized sapphire, making it glimmer with little sparks of blue.
I recognized that necklace.
Not long after Richard and I got together, he took me to an exclusive auction.
That aquamarine necklace was the star of the show.
The starting price had so many zeros I lost track, and the crowd was ruthless with their bids.
That deep, crystal blue had me utterly spellbound the moment I saw it.
Richard flashed me a reassuring smile, squeezed my hand, and lifted his paddle without a second thought.
"If you like it, Sophie, it's yours. I promise," Richard said without hesitation.
I stared at him, eyes wide, shaking my head in panic.
I shot Richard a desperate look, silently begging him to stop.
I was just a regular girl from a normal family. My parents were nothing special. There was no way I could ever accept something so extravagant.
But Richard didn't stop for a second. He kept raising his paddle until the auctioneer finally sealed the deal with three strikes of the gavel.
He didn't even glance my way, just curved his lips into a subtle smile, his eyes shining with an emotion I couldn't decipher.
"This necklace would look absolutely stunning on you, Sophie," Richard said, his voice full of certainty.
Back then, I was clueless. But now, everything makes sense.
The massive gemstone rested against her collarbone, making her look even more dazzling.
She stepped right up to me and held out her hand.
"Hi, I'm Sofia Summers," she said, her voice smooth and confident.
My lips lost all color as memories flashed through my mind.
I once asked Richard, "Everyone else calls me Soph, so why do you always call me Sophie?"
He'd just smile and stubbornly keep calling me Sophie.
It all made sense at that moment.
That priceless sapphire necklace was always meant for his Sofia.
The plastic bags were stretched to their limit, the thin handles digging painfully into my hands.
Richard Grant saw how pale I was and immediately moved to my side.
"Sofia is an old friend from high school. She just got back, so I invited her over to catch up," he explained.
Then, turning to Sofia, he wrapped my cold hand in his warm palm.
"This is Sophie Lane, my fiancée," he said, his voice steady and clear.
Something in my chest tightened for a moment.
Richard didn't hesitate to introduce me as his fiancée, making it clear he wasn't hiding anything.
Maybe I got it all wrong. Maybe Richard wasn't planning to cheat after all.
My palms started to sweat with nerves.
But when I looked up, I saw Richard, his lips pressed into a thin line, eyes fixed on Sofia.
Sofia's eyes flickered as she sized me up from head to toe.
Then she flashed Richard a dazzling smile.
"After all these years, your taste in women hasn't changed one bit," Sofia teased, her voice light and playful.
My hand trembled in Richard's grasp, and I lowered my head, unable to meet anyone's eyes.
Guess my hopes for a clean, drama-free goodbye just went up in smoke.