Chapter 1

The day we got our divorce papers, I asked James Foster, "Next time we meet, can you bring me a bouquet?"

Before James could answer, Emily Lane, standing behind him, slipped her arm through his and raised an eyebrow. "Claire, you and James have divorced. He can't give you flowers anymore."

I looked at James, but he looked away and stayed silent.

I lowered my gaze.

For the past three years, James had never bought me a single flower, but Emily's place was always overflowing with bouquets.

Every time I asked, he'd say, "Emily is my late mentor's daughter. I have to look after her. Flowers make her happy, so she won't miss her father so much. Claire, it's only a decoration."

Later on, I stopped bringing it up. I finally realized that, to James, I was probably nothing more than an ornament.

So this time, James asked me, "Emily is in a bad mood. She is crying and throwing a fit, demanding I get a divorce.

"Claire, can you go along with the divorce to calm her down? Once she is feeling better, we'll remarry."

I agreed.

But he had no idea this would be the last time we met each other because the bouquet I asked him for was meant for my funeral.

*****

Emily flashed a smug grin. "Claire, is there anything else you need? James and I booked a restaurant. Too bad it's only for two people. We can't bring you along"

I let out a self-mocking laugh. "I never planned to go with you two."

I hitched my bag higher on my shoulder. "Nothing else. I'm heading off now. Enjoy your date."

My cold attitude, nothing like how I'd acted before, made James frown. He grabbed my wrist. "Don't take it the wrong way. I'm only looking out for Emily as my little sister.

"I made some extra dishes this morning. They're in the fridge. You can heat them when you get home.

"Your period is coming up, and I won't be home tonight. No iced coffee, okay?"

Seeing how serious James looked, I couldn't help but feel a wave of hurt.

He was always like that. He kept saying Emily was like a sister to him, yet he left me over and over again because of her.

I forced a bitter smile. "Got it."

James's lips twitched as he was about to say something more, but Emily stepped forward and linked her arm through his.

She laced her fingers between his. "James, I'm starving. Let's go eat.

"When my dad was still around, he never made me wait this long for dinner."

James's attention snapped to Emily. "Silly girl!

"Why didn't you tell me you were hungry earlier? Don't you remember you have low blood sugar?"

Seeing Emily grinning, he tapped her forehead with his other hand. "Still laughing? If something terrible happened to you, how would I explain it to your mom?"

Emily bit her lip. "My bad."

As she spoke, she threw me an indifferent look.

James didn't spare me another glance.

I watched them walk away and then calmly headed in the opposite direction.

A moment later, my phone buzzed with a message from James as usual: [Emily is too young. She has no bad intentions. Don't take it to heart.]

I turned off my phone screen, suddenly feeling like it was all so pointless.

Emily pulled this stunt almost every other day, but James never failed to fall for it.

She'd throw a fit, and he'd spoil her. If I weren't around, they'd totally look like a couple.

*****

By the time I got home, it was already 8 PM. My stomach was hurting, so I held it and opened the fridge to find something to eat.

When I saw the empty plate inside, I froze for a second. The extra food James said he'd made had been dumped in the trash.