Chapter 3
On the nightstand sat a box of stomach medicine, the brand I always bought. Next to it was a note from Emily: [James, remember to eat, and don't drink too much ice water.]
Over the past eight years, I'd left him countless notes like this. He always said it was unnecessary and that a simple reminder would suffice.
I packed the medicine into the box.
"You're taking the medicine too?" James asked.
"I paid for it," I replied.
"You're taking back something you gave me?"
"Isn't Emily there to remind you?"
His tone softened. "Wait for me tonight. I'll delete the fingerprints and add yours. Just yours, okay?"
If it were a month ago, I might've bought that. But fingerprints were easy to erase, while Emily's name was still on the deed.
I didn't answer, turning to pack my things.
Our neighbor poked her head out. "Ms. Grant isn't here today? Are you her sister?"
"I'm James's ex-fiancée," I said.
She didn't say anything else.
James corrected me over the phone. "What do you mean by 'ex'? I never agreed to break up."
"I don't need your say to cancel the wedding," I replied.
"I'll come see you tonight," he said.
I turned to the property manager. "Can you get the lock records?"
"Yes. With the owner's permission, we can access those over the last three months," he said.
James called out from the phone. "Sophia, why are you checking that?"
I pushed the last box into the elevator. "To see who's actually living in this place we were supposed to share."
"Ms. Scott, your card has seven large transactions in the last three months." The bank manager showed me the records. "All were made using the subcard. Are you certain Mr. Lowie is the one holding it?"
"Yes," I replied.
"The total is 192,000 dollars. Most went to a decoration company, an appliance store, and a parking management office."
"How much is left?"
"Less than 10,000 dollars."
In fact, on the bank card, I saved 200,000 dollars that my dad gave me as a wedding gift.
When we got the card, James held my hand as we set up the password together.
He said the wedding would cost a lot, so keeping the money together made things easier. After the wedding, whatever was left would become our household savings.
I took a screenshot of the balance. "Can I freeze the subcard?"
"You're the primary cardholder. You can do it anytime," the manager said.
"Do it now," I said.
As the manager was handling it, James called. "Why's the subcard blocked?"
"I froze it," I replied.
"I am paying off the dining table."
"In which suite?"
He didn't answer right away. "Sophia, let's not do this childish card-blocking thing."
"The card is mine."
"You said the money was for the wedding when you put it in."
"I never agreed to use it to fix up your apartment with Emily."
"That is supposed to be our wedding room too."
"My name isn't on the deed."
He softened his tone. "I know you feel wronged. How about this? Let me cover it for now, and I'll write you an IOU later."
"How much did you spend?" I asked.
"I didn't keep track."
"192,000 dollars."
He paused. "Seriously, that much?"
"You really had no idea?" I asked.
"It was all little stuff for the decorations. I never really kept track."
"Every time you used the card, I got a text."
"I figured you saw them."
"You thought I wouldn't mind."
He didn't deny it.