Chapter 2

Reading her texts, I almost burst out laughing.

From start to finish, Derek hadn't uttered a single word.

The evidence of his betrayal was right in front of them, yet they chose blindness. They only believed what served their family pride.

I couldn't be bothered to reply.

I tossed my phone aside and looked down at the photograph once more.

In the picture, Derek wore the grey hoodie I bought him, the collar pulled slightly open, exposing a dark, undeniable mark on his collarbone.

The woman leaned against him, their fingers intertwined, looking like a real, devoted couple.

And what was I? Nothing.

Five years together. How long had he been seeing her?

One year? Two years?

Or had he never been genuine with me from the very start?

My phone buzzed again.

It wasn't the group chat. It was a friend request on SnapChat.

The profile picture was a side profile of a girl. The username was simply the letter "Y."

I accepted.

A message popped up immediately: "Hello. I'm Ivy."

"Derek's girlfriend."

Girlfriend.

She introduced herself as Derek's girlfriend.

Then what on earth was I?

Before I could type a reply, another message appeared:

"That bag belonged to me. I slipped that picture inside on purpose. Derek had no idea."

"We've been together for three years. He promised he’d break up with you, but he kept stalling."

"I didn't want to resort to this, but I had no choice."

She sent an image.

It was an ultrasound scan.

Patient Name: Ivy.

Exam: Early Pregnancy Ultrasound.

Findings: Intrauterine pregnancy, approximately 9 weeks.

Below that was a smaller line: Cardiac activity detected.

Another text followed: "I'm pregnant."

"He needs to take responsibility."

Staring at the screen, my fingers began to tremble.

Three years.

They had been together for three whole years.

That meant when Derek and I were only two years in, Ivy was already in his bed.

Two years.

During those years, he cooked breakfast for me every morning, picked me up from work every evening, went grocery shopping with me on weekends, bought me roses on Valentine's Day, and took me to fancy dinners for our anniversaries.

I truly believed he was the best boyfriend in the entire world.

I had even told my mom that he was the one I wanted to marry.

And this was the truth?

Every ounce of his tenderness was a lie.

Every time he smiled at me, his heart belonged to someone else.

I took a deep, shaky breath and replied to Ivy: "Is Derek with you right now?"

She answered instantly: "Yes."

I asked, "Did he tell you he had to work late tonight?"

"Yes."

I let out a bitter laugh.

Working late.

His so-called late night at the office was spent by another woman's side, having dinner with her, walking with her, waiting for their unborn child.

Meanwhile, I had waited at home like an idiot, ready to celebrate our five-year anniversary.

I typed out a message: "Please tell him we're done. Tell him to come get all his shit out of my apartment tomorrow."