Chapter 3

Back when I followed Mason to this city, I was fired up, ready to take on the world.

But then he told me, "After we get married, it's best to settle down."

So I turned down the chance to study overseas—and just like that, I gave up on everything I'd dreamed of.

After having a kid, I got trapped in domestic life. Every family responsibility meant giving up my work hours and any chance to rest.

But no one ever acknowledged what I gave up.

Instead, Mason and Jamie treated me like I was nothing, day in and day out.

In the end, they chose another woman over me, crushing my dignity.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself, then walked into the director's office and told him I was quitting.

Mortimer's eyes widened in disbelief, but he nodded, like he'd always known this day would come.

"You were always meant to soar. So, where to? When do you leave?" he asked.

I felt the acceptance letter from Brentford College's architecture program in my bag, my fingers tracing its edges. "Brenton. The day after tomorrow," I said.

As I was packing up my desk, Tilda, a colleague, came over.

"Veronica, I heard you're heading to Brenton. So, what's going to happen to Mr. Burgess and Jamie?" she asked.

I turned the photo frame on my desk face down, letting the picture of our family embracing slip into darkness.

"We're getting divorced. They'll have a new wife and a new mom," I said.

Tilda looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just stayed quiet.

By the time I left the office, it was already late.

When I got home, the motion sensor lights flicked on.

I saw a suitcase sitting in the living room.

Mason was stuffing Jamie's coat into it, while Jamie stood nearby, clutching his brand-new dinosaur backpack, his eyes shining with excitement.

By the front door, a luxury gift box with a big brand logo was sitting there, bold and obvious.

It was the latest bag Adele had flaunted online, saying she wanted it.

When Mason heard me come in, he didn't even glance at me.

"Last-minute business trip. I'm taking Jamie with me," he said.

Suddenly, his phone rang, and he picked up right away.

I could hear Adele's laughter through the receiver, and Mason squinted with delight, just like a cat getting its chin scratched.

I knew that expression too well. He had that same look when he was courting me five years ago.

When he noticed me watching, he wiped the smile off his face and hung up.

"Since you haven't really been looking after Jamie lately, I'll take him with me. You don't have a problem with that, right?" he said.

I just stayed quiet.

No fight, no explanation.

He quickly tied his shoes, took Jamie by the hand, and headed out.

The front door slammed shut with a bang, hard enough to knock our wedding photo right off the wall.

The glass frame hit the floor and shattered, the sound oddly crisp and almost satisfying.

I crouched down, picking up the shards piece by piece—and for the first time in a long while, I felt unbelievably light.

Just as I was about to head to bed, Adele's social feed popped up on my phone.

[Someone who truly loves you remembers every little thing you like,] she wrote.

The picture showed Jamie squeezed between them, Adele leaning in close with her head nestled on Mason's shoulder.

They looked for all the world like a picture-perfect family of three.

And sitting right there on the dining table was that limited-edition bag Mason had taken yesterday.

The comments section was blowing up, like everyone was partying at a wedding.

Fred Fernandez, Mason's ride-or-die, kicked things off with a hype comment.

[Adele, that bag must've cost a fortune—at least a million! Mason really splurged just to make his girl smile!] he joked.

Out of nowhere, I remembered my birthday last year—Mason gave me a silk scarf he got on sale.

Fred was there too, cracking jokes, "300 bucks for a scarf? Mason, is that all Veronica gets from you?"

Mason just shrugged, totally calm. "She likes bargains."

I just clutched the scarf, staying silent.

None of them ever knew the real reason I was always hanging around the sale rack.

I just wanted to save up so I could get Mason and Jamie something nicer.

But all these years, Mason's buddies never even called me "Mrs. Burgess."

They never thought much of me, and behind my back, they'd gossip like this: "Adele's three years younger than Veronica, got a degree from a fancy college, and knows how to charm people."

"Veronica's always acting all paranoid. She's just annoying."

In Mason's circle, I was just the punchline, the ex who just wouldn't let go, the one everyone laughed at, the roadblock keeping him from his so-called true love.

My fingers froze on the screen.

Because I saw Mason's reply in the comments.

[If Adele's happy, it's worth it,] he wrote, with three sun emojis tacked on. Those words—and those emojis—burned right through me.

Fred followed up with another dig: [Someone's about to make a scene. She can play the queen all she wants. But one word from Adele, and no one cares about her.]

He didn't mention any names, but everyone knew who he meant.

Seeing that, I didn't even hesitate—just exited the feed.

After finishing a glass of milk, I slept soundly.

When I opened my eyes again, Mason was standing at the bedside, visibly angry, suitcase in hand, with Jamie beside him.

"Veronica, your husband and son were out all night, and you didn't even call or check on us? You just slept like you didn't care at all?" Mason snapped.

"Is that it? Me and Jamie don't mean anything to you anymore?" he pressed.

I stayed silent.

Back when I used to worry about his flight landing, whether he got to the hotel, or what he was eating, he thought I was a nuisance, always in the way.

Now that I've stopped caring, he says I don't care about him at all.

I said, "You told me you were on a business trip, so I figured I shouldn't interrupt you. And besides, you and Jamie had Adele there to keep you company, right?"

Mason stared at me, completely stunned. He never expected me to be so calm when I mentioned Adele.

After a moment, his face turned red as he tried to compose himself. "Veronica, there's really nothing between her and me. I'm just returning a favor, that's all. How many times do I have to say it?"

I gently raised my hand to cut him off, a calm, measured smile on my lips.

"No need to explain. I understand," I said.

He nudged Jamie, who was still standing off to the side.

Jamie, a bit stubborn, pulled out a plastic necklace. "Mom, I bought this for you with my own allowance.

"Even though you don't treat me well, Dad said I should still be nice to you."

I brushed Jamie's hand aside without much care. "Thanks, but you can give it to Ms. Ward instead."

Mason was fuming. "Veronica! Don't be so ungrateful. Jamie's trying to throw you a bone, and you're still putting on airs?"

I ignored him and went to the kitchen to fix myself a drink.

"You should get some sleep, Mason," I said.

With Mason still glaring at me, I locked the bedroom door behind me.

As the soft morning light filtered through the curtains, I woke in the bedroom.

I pulled my suitcase behind me.