Chapter 3

Three years ago, right around our graduation, Seth went behind everyone's back to set up a grand proposal, keeping it a total surprise.

He decorated the place himself, but on that very day, he got the devastating news that Douglas had jumped from the top floor of the tallest building.

I was right there when it happened.

The police checked the security footage. In the video, Douglas and I were more than 30 feet apart, and they couldn't make out a single word we said.

The video showed Douglas closing his eyes and jumping on his own. That was why the police called it suicide.

Overnight, all the Jennings family's business partners left them, and the once-thriving family declared bankruptcy just like that.

The creditors of the Jennings Group stormed into the house, demanding their money back.

They sprayed red paint on the door, the windows, and across the floor.

Seth stared at my packed suitcase, his eyes searching. "Are you just leaving? Not even a word for me?"

I looked at the chaos scattered everywhere, stepped over the trash, and walked up to him. "What do you want to hear?"

"Why did my dad jump?" Seth asked.

I gripped the handle of my suitcase a little tighter and looked up at him. "Didn't the police already tell you?"

"What did you say to him?" He lunged at me, his grip on my shoulders so tight that his fingers nearly left marks. "Macy, please, I'm begging you. Just tell me what happened."

I looked up at him.

His eyes were tearful, brimming with pure despair.

My voice shook as I said, "Seth, I want to break up with you."

Seth staggered, his eyes filled with shock and despair. "Why? Macy, did something happen? Why did my dad jump? Why are you breaking up with me? Why now?"

I pried his fingers off, forcing myself to stay calm. "I just don't like you anymore."

"No, Macy, please, just tell me what happened. I'll believe anything you say. Don't leave me now, okay? I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with this," he said.

The wind was raging outside.

I fought to keep my voice from shaking. "Your dad is gone. Just look around the Jennings residence. What's left here for me? Do you expect me to stick around in this wreck and scrape by with you?"

"Macy, this isn't you. You weren't like this before," Seth said.

"People change, Seth." I tightened my grip on my suitcase and headed for the door.

Seth grabbed a red box and threw it hard against my back.

The pain shot straight to my heart.

The diamond ring tumbled out of the box and landed right at my feet.

Seth yelled, "Macy, I'm giving you one last chance. What did my dad say to you that day? If you tell me, I'll believe you."

I stopped, pulling my gaze away from the diamond ring at my feet.

I said slowly, every word cold and clear, "Your dad took his own life. It had nothing to do with me. And as for us, I'm just over it."

The wind was howling that day as I dragged my suitcase along, my legs aching and my heart hurting even more. Sand stung my eyes, making them burn.

For years, I kept having the same nightmare over and over.

In my dreams, Seth was always on that rooftop, watching Douglas jump, then turning to me and asking, "Why?"

Douglas, covered in blood, would look at me and ask, "Are you satisfied now?"

When I finally managed to wake up, I was soaked in cold sweat.

All these years, Seth had been obsessed with uncovering the truth about what had happened back then.

He watched the security footage countless times, even hired lip-reading experts, and managed to piece together what his dad said right before he jumped.

Douglas said, "I promise you."

Since my back was to the cameras, no one ever knew what I said to him. And nobody ever learned what Douglas agreed to before he died.

The day his dad died, I broke up with him, so naturally, Seth couldn't help but think his father's death had everything to do with me.

I thought I'd never have anything to do with Seth ever again.

However, because of Matteo, I got pulled right back into all that drama with him.