Chapter 3

Even after I found out that Sophie had deliberately dressed up as me to seduce Charles, and that they hadn't actually gone all the way. The crack in my heart was already there, and there was no mending it.

That year, when I loved Charles more than ever, it felt like he was starting to love me less.

What a cruel irony.

When we got home, Edward barely had a chance to be affectionate with me before his assistant called and whisked him away on a flight to Amerland.

Right before he left, he snuggled into my arms like a little kid, not wanting to let go. "We hardly even had a honeymoon," he grumbled. "We have to make up for it at the end of the year."

I watched him, looking so innocent and boyish, and couldn't help but think back to how cold and unapproachable he was when we first met. I smiled and shook my head helplessly.

Two months ago, after Charles once again confused Sophie for me and almost let things go too far, I'd had enough. I just packed up and flew off for a solo vacation abroad.

On a whim, I ended up marrying Edward, a guy I hit it off with in first class.

The marriage was partly out of spite, but I knew that even if it wasn't Charles, my future husband would be some rich guy from a powerful family anyway.

Edward was seriously good-looking, and the Moore family could give my family a real boost in business. Honestly, I had nothing to lose with this marriage.

After a whirlwind honeymoon that lasted just over a month, I came back home and realized that before I left, all I'd done was send Charles a breakup text.

I never actually ended things with him face-to-face. So when he sent me an invitation to his party, I figured I might as well show up.

And right before the party kicked off, his best friend Michael Reed casually dropped some hints about what was really going on.

"Natalia, Charles went all out for you this time. He had your favorite roses flown in from Virelia, spent over a month planning everything, just to give you a proposal you'll never forget.

"Yeah, he screwed up before, but you know how complicated his situation is. Don't be so petty. Just let it slide this time, okay?

"Besides, you know how wild everyone else in our circle is. Charles has kept himself just for you all these years. You can't seriously be thinking of dumping him just because he mixed up a few faces, right?

"Honestly, without him, who knows what kind of loser you'd end up with. Take my advice, cherish the guy in front of you and don't make a fuss," Michael said.

I sat through Michael's whole speech, biting my tongue, and when he finally wrapped it up, I just shot back a sarcastic asshole before hanging up. If that was not peak self-control, I didn't know what was.

Maybe I was blinded by love once, but I was never an idiot.

When Charles was at his sickest, he never mistook anyone else for me. But now that he was supposedly getting better, he kept confusing me with Sophie. Anyone who actually fell for that story was probably destined for at least three divorces.

It was not about mixing up faces. He was just bored after all these years with me, and now that Sophie was chasing after him like she was something new, he was using his illness as an excuse to mess around.

And then he tried to make it look like I was the one being dramatic and heartbroken. It made me want to gag.

With Edward off to Amerland, I lost my live-in manny, so I had no choice but to call a cab and treat myself to lunch at my old favorite restaurant.

But as soon as I walked in, sat down, and ordered, I turned my head and saw Sophie, wearing my clothes, already sitting across the aisle from me, clinging to Charles's arm and looking all smug.

She shot me a quick glance, but then pretended not to see me, smiling sweetly as she picked up some food with her fork and offered it to Charles. "Charles, are you still mad at Natalia?

"She was just joking, you know. As far as I know, she loves all the attention from other guys, but she'd never actually dump you that easily.

"Trust me, just go apologize to her and let it go, okay?" she said.

Listening to her babying Charles like that, I honestly wanted to throw up everything I'd eaten this morning.

It was disgusting.

And of all people, Charles, who usually hated it when women got all dramatic or needy, didn't even seem bothered by her act. Instead, he shot back, all annoyed, "Who says I'm gonna apologize to her?

"She just drops a breakup text out of nowhere and ghosts me for two months. What does she think I am, some kind of doormat?

"It's not like she just found out about my face blindness. We've been together for nine years, and it was never an issue. Now she's acting all dramatic about it?

"Honestly, I've spoiled her way too much. Now she thinks she can do whatever she wants. If she were even half as sweet as you, we wouldn't be dealing with all this drama."

Seeing Charles practically fuming, I was so done with it. I lost my appetite, couldn't stomach another bite, and just got up to leave.

But just as I started to walk away, Charles suddenly yanked my arm, his grip so fierce it stopped me in my tracks.