Chapter 3

A mutual acquaintance posted a photo on social media.

It was a photo of James and Chloe at a wedding.

Chloe was wearing a flowy dress and the wig made from my hair, curled up next to James.

I clicked 'like' on the post.

My phone rang almost immediately.

James's voice was tense. "Emily, a friend's brother was getting married, and they were short a bridesmaid at the last minute. I brought Chloe along to help out. Don't read into it."

In the background, Chloe's voice floated through, syrupy sweet. "James, can you help me with my zipper? It's stuck."

"We'll talk later. I have to go," James said quickly, and the line went dead.

I put down my phone and pulled the IV needle out of my arm.

I changed out of the hospital gown into my own clothes and walked out.

In the hallway, two nurses were huddled together, giggling at a phone.

"Did you see those photos from that big wedding?" one nurse asked. "The best part wasn't the bride and groom. It was Mr. Goodwin and his girlfriend. The media says they're childhood sweethearts who reconnected. I'm totally shipping them."

"Wait, isn't Mr. Goodwin married?" The other nurse frowned. "I heard his wife is a patient here."

The first nurse waved a dismissive hand. "Just a business thing. No real feelings. Have you ever seen him visit her?"

Just then, I walked right past them.

They stared at me, their mouths hanging open in shock.

*****

Outside, I grabbed a cab, planning to head back to the Goodwin house for my necklace.

I'd barely settled into the back seat when a friend request from Chloe popped up on my phone.

I accepted, and she immediately sent me a video.

A few seconds in, the screen showed a man and a woman tangled up together.

James's profile was unmistakable.

I sent back a thumbs-up emoji.

A little while later, James called.

I didn't answer.

A voice message popped up. He sounded furious. "Emily, where the hell are you? Why aren't you answering? You know the baby's in a fragile state, and you're just running around?"

I kept ignoring him.

I asked the driver to drop me off on a quiet street and walked into a small diner.

I'd barely taken a few bites of my club sandwich when James stormed in, his face dark, with Chloe trailing behind him.

"Didn't I tell you not to leave the hospital?" James grabbed my wrist. "You didn't answer my calls? If I hadn't tracked your phone, I wouldn't have found you!"

He started pulling me toward the door. "Stop eating. We're going home. Now."

As James grabbed my wrist, I saw jealousy flash in Chloe's eyes.

She raised her voice, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Emily, you actually eat in a place like this? I hope it's clean."

Everyone in the diner turned to look at her.

I pulled my hand free from James's grip. "If you're not eating, then get out. Stop making a scene. I'm trying to eat in peace."

James looked furious.

"I'll wait outside. You have five minutes," he said, taking Chloe with him.

I just turned back to my sandwich.

James's car was parked at the curb.

When I finished and walked out, I saw them through the windshield, kissing.

James saw me out of the corner of his eye. He pushed Chloe aside and hurried out to open the back door for me.

Seeing my calm expression, he frowned, visibly irritated.

Once I was settled in the back, Chloe twisted around from the passenger seat, her smile fake. "Emily, after all these years married to James, you still eat at greasy spoon diners?"

I just smiled and didn't say anything.

Suddenly, Chloe squealed, "Careful! That's my new bag!"

I shifted in my seat, and my hand brushed against something slick and crinkly on the leather.

I picked it up. It was a used condom.

Chloe gasped. "Oh my, so that's where that one went. I've been looking everywhere."

She turned to James, pouting. "See? It's your fault. You always go through so many..."

James's face darkened, and he slammed his foot on the gas, the car lurching forward.

Fighting back a wave of nausea, I dropped that thing onto the floor mat.

James kept glancing at me in the rearview mirror. When he saw I was focused on my phone, he finally asked, "Who are you talking to?"

"A friend," I replied.

"That friend you're always up all night talking to?" he pushed.

"Mm," I answered absent-mindedly.

James, frustrated, slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

*****

When we got home, Chloe said she felt carsick and made James carry her inside.

As they went up the stairs, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "James," she murmured, "do you think I might be pregnant?"

James didn't answer.

I walked alone to the small guest room at the end of the hall.

My clothes were scattered all over the floor, many of them cut to shreds.

Thankfully, the lottery ticket I had hidden in the secret compartment of my suitcase was still there, untouched.

Just as I started to clean up, James appeared in the doorway. "Leave it. The staff will handle it."

That was when he noticed the bedding had been swapped for thin, musty-smelling blankets.

He frowned and opened his mouth, probably to call someone, but I cut him off. "Don't bother. Just go."

He stood in the doorway for a long time before finally leaving.

*****

A little later, someone knocked at the door. It was Chloe.

She was wrapped in a silk robe, leaning against the doorframe, a cold smile on her lips. "You're so pathetic. After everything he's done to you, you're still here."

I ignored her and kept cleaning up the mess.

"So," she said, her voice dripping with venom, "how do you like my revenge?"