Chapter 2

The riverbank was packed with people. Couples clung to each other, waiting for the New Year countdown.

Adam kept a firm hold on my hand, as if he was terrified I'd slip away in the crowd.

The warmth of his palm had once been the most reassuring comfort in my entire life.

"Claire," he whispered in my ear, "when this project wraps up, let's get married. I checked out that island resort you like, and they have availability next spring."

The first burst of fireworks lit up the sky, and his voice blended into the loud crackle of the explosions. In that fleeting moment, his promises felt utterly genuine.

I'd pictured this exact scene so many times before.

I'd dreamed of it when he was building his business with barely any money to his name, when I'd drop off meals for him at the office during his overtime shifts, and when he'd spun me around in excitement after landing his first round of funding.

I'd always believed our future would shine as bright and brilliant as tonight's fireworks.

Now, though, I could only wonder if he had whispered those exact same words to Emily.

"Okay," I said, my voice so faint that it vanished into the booming fireworks entirely.

Adam never caught my answer, his gaze fixed entirely on the glowing night sky.

He looked utterly devoted in that moment, exactly like a man who was truly ready to start a married life with me.

My phone kept vibrating inside my pocket.

I pulled it out and saw a new post from Emily on Twitter.

The caption read: [Spending New Year's Eve with someone who matters. We may not stand side by side tonight, but watching the same fireworks still feels like we're together.]

The photo showed fireworks across the river, taken from the same spot as us.

I zoomed into the frame and spotted the corner of Adam's gray scarf tucked at the edge of the picture.

I finally understood the hidden meaning behind her words. The reason she couldn't stand beside the person who mattered to her was simply that he was standing with me, his official girlfriend.

I couldn't help but wonder if her version of spending New Year's Eve together meant the three of us sharing the same night in secret.

I put away my phone and slipped my arm through Adam's.

"Are you cold?" Adam asked, gently pulling me closer and wrapping his coat around me.

"A little," I said. "Let's head home early."

"You don't want to stay and watch the rest of the show?"

"I've seen enough," I said with a smile. "Some things look breathtaking while they last, but all they leave behind is ash once they fade away."

Adam looked at me, confused, but nodded anyway.

His phone rang three separate times on our drive home, and he declined every single call without hesitation.

"Just some spam calls," he explained.

I didn't push him for more answers because I already knew exactly who was reaching out.

Emily was quickly losing her patience. She no longer wanted to stay hidden in the background of our relationship.

The pajamas she left in his car, the suggestive text message, and the carefully timed post taken from our exact spot were all deliberate moves.

She had laid out every subtle hint on purpose, waiting for Adam to end our relationship and make her his partner instead. And I was ready to walk away for good.

*****

When we got home, Adam went to take a shower, and his phone buzzed on the coffee table.

The screen lit up with Emily's messages.

Emily: [Did Claire see it? You promised you'd tell her after New Year's.

[Adam, I'm pregnant.]

The running water in the bathroom cut off abruptly.

I quickly put the phone back and stepped out onto the balcony, lighting a cigarette.

I exhaled my first cloud of smoke as Adam stepped out of the bathroom, drying his damp hair with a towel.

He froze the second he saw me smoking. "Since when do you smoke?"

"Started a minute ago," I said, flicking off a wisp of ash. "Work and life have been stressful. I needed something to calm down."

He hesitated to speak and finally let out a soft sigh. "Don't make a habit of it. It's bad for your health."

It struck me as utterly ridiculous. He could spend late nights with Emily in the neighboring apartment yet act genuinely concerned about me smoking a cigarette.

"Adam." I turned to face him. "Do you still love me?"

The question clearly caught him off guard. He hurried over and pulled me tightly into his arms. "Of course I do. What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing. I'm just curious," I said as I stubbed out the cigarette. "Let's go to bed. I have a party tomorrow."

Once we lay down in bed, Adam fell asleep almost instantly with steady, quiet breathing.

But I stayed wide awake in the dark, sorting through every detail of the past few months and piecing together the truth.

Half a year ago, he started working late almost every night.

Four months ago, Emily got transferred to his department.

Three months ago, I found a long strand of unfamiliar hair in his car.

He'd brushed it off as leftover from a female coworker he'd given a ride.

Two months ago, he changed his phone password.

One month ago, he told me he was leaving town for a three-day work trip.

I ran into his neighbor at the grocery store later, and the neighbor said they had seen Adam home the night before.

I had overlooked every single red flag and excused every inconsistency because I loved him.

Tonight, though, that familiar Wi-Fi connection unlocked every hidden lie and exposed the entire truth right in front of me.