Chapter 2

The car pulled up in front of the courthouse. Rosalie was already waiting on the steps.

She wore a white dress with a delicate pearl headband. She was even holding a fresh bouquet.

Ryan got out of the car, casually straightening his suit.

He was dressed formally today in a perfectly tailored suit, with his tie neatly in place. A silk pocket square matching Rosalie's dress was folded in his breast pocket.

I followed behind, wearing a washed-out knit sweater.

Standing in front of the pair of them, dressed as if they were about to walk into their own wedding, I felt like a stranger who had wandered onto the wrong movie set.

"Ryan, you're finally here," Rosalie called out. She darted into Ryan's arms like a butterfly.

Ryan caught her easily, giving her nose a playful tap. "Why are you in such a hurry? I'm not going anywhere."

Rosalie turned to me, her smile innocent and sweet. "Hazel, thank you for going along with us.

"Don't worry, I'm borrowing Ryan for a day. I'll give him back to you tomorrow."

I said nothing and walked straight into the courthouse.

The divorce process went by without a hitch. The staff asked the usual questions, barely paying attention.

Ryan picked up the pen and signed the papers without the slightest hesitation.

"Hazel, it's your turn." He passed me the pen.

I took it and signed my name on the wife's line.

For a moment, I was taken back to the day we had gotten married five years ago.

It was pouring rain that day, and he was wearing a wrinkled white T-shirt, dragging me into the city hall.

He said, "Hazel, the ceremony doesn't matter. What matters is that this is really happening. You're the only one I'll ever love."

Looking back now, I realized he wasn't clueless about romance. He simply saved all the careful planning and dressing up for someone else.

The official seal came down with a crisp thud. I took the divorce papers and slipped them into my bag.

Ryan turned and went to take care of the arrangements for his marriage to Rosalie.

Rosalie was already tugging him along to take wedding photos.

Half an hour later, they came back, their marriage officially recorded.

Ryan walked over to me with a smug smile, as if he had won some grand victory. "Hazel, see? I won again."

He had turned divorce and marriage into trophies from some game he was determined to beat.

"Let's go. I'll take you home." He reached out, trying to put his arm around my shoulder.

I sidestepped him and walked away.

I was about to open the passenger door when Rosalie slipped into the seat before I could.

"Hazel, I'm feeling a bit carsick today. Mind if I sit up front for some fresh air?" She blinked innocently while already adjusting the seat to her liking.

Ryan stood to the side, giving me an apologetic gesture. "Hazel, sit in the back. There's more room back there."

That was always how he made things up to me. He knew when something was wrong, but he would never change anything for my sake.

I opened the back door and got in.

The car started up again. Rosalie connected her phone to the car's Bluetooth.

The upbeat wedding march filled the cramped space.

She took out a bottle of water, took a sip, and then naturally handed it to Ryan.

Ryan didn't refuse. He took a drink from the bottle in her hand.

"Ryan, your tie is crooked." Rosalie leaned over and straightened it with her slender fingers.

Ryan didn't pull away. He only murmured, "Stop. I'm driving."

There was nothing but indulgence in his voice.

I leaned back in my seat and watched their intertwined figures in the rearview mirror. The nausea in my stomach surged again.

I swallowed the feeling and turned my face to the window.

Ryan, this was the last time you'd ever make me feel this sick.

*****

The car rolled into Lambert Manor.

It was Clara's birthday. She was my mother-in-law, and we'd said we'd come back for dinner after everything was done.

The moment I opened the door, I found the living room packed with family members.

Ryan walked in hand in hand with Rosalie, looking every bit like a real newlywed couple.

I followed behind them, carrying the gift I'd queued up for yesterday.

Clara was sitting in the main seat. The moment she saw Rosalie, she couldn't stop smiling. "Rosalie, come sit by me."

She took Rosalie's hand and handed her an emerald bracelet.

It was the Lambert family's treasure, meant for Ryan's wife. During the past five years, Clara had never once mentioned it to me.

"This bracelet is very beautiful. It looks perfect against your smooth skin." She slid the bracelet onto Rosalie's wrist. "If Ryan had picked right years ago, you'd have been wearing this already."

People around them laughed good-naturedly.

I stood at the entryway, unsure whether I should stay or leave.

Ryan sat on the couch peeling an orange, acting as though he hadn't heard a word Clara said.

He didn't stop her, and he didn't say anything to defend me. He simply accepted that Rosalie had the right to humiliate me in his family's home.

"Hazel, why are you standing there?" Rosalie played with the jade, her eyes drifting to mine. "Mrs. Lambert says she wants the tuna you make. Go help in the kitchen."

I set the gift box down on the cabinet and walked into the kitchen.