Chapter 4

The car continued driving, stopping in front of a French restaurant.

This was the restaurant where Liam proposed to me.

He had told me he'd researched for ages, that the view from the window seat at 10 PM was the most beautiful.

I was so touched, I put on that heavy shackles without a second thought.

Before getting out of the car, Chloe glanced back at the trunk again. It was pitch black inside without the light.

"Liam, is your wife really in the trunk? Do you want to check on her?"

Liam pulled her hand, giving her an impatient look, then quickly averted his gaze.

"That's just how she is. She thinks if she gives me the silent treatment, I'll always cave. I can't be bothered! Come on, let's go eat! Do you remember this restaurant? We used to come here for milkshakes after high school."

I froze as if struck by lightning.

All that talk about "romantic spots" and "best night views" – it was just a trick he used to string me along.

It was all his and Chloe's shared memories. I was the interloper.

Chloe waved her hand and smiled. In a daze, I saw a reflection of someone in her.

My reflection.

Or rather, I had Chloe's reflection.

We were similar in height and build, even the dimples that appeared when we smiled were so similar.

I heard she went to Canada for college after graduating, and that was the year I happened to meet Liam.

Liam's pursuit of me was relentless from the start. We only dated for six months before getting married.

I wasn't unaware that he had a best friend studying abroad, but I never imagined I was a substitute for that person.

Inside the restaurant, Liam was engrossed in conversation and eating with Chloe. I floated by the door, silently watching.

He ordered Chloe a mango milkshake, and her face lit up with surprise.

I remembered the cake Liam made for my birthday last year, piled high with mangoes.

"I remember you love mangoes," he'd said.

I shook my head then, telling him I was allergic to mangoes – something discovered during our premarital check-up.

Liam's expression had been a little awkward. He scratched his head, saying he'd mixed it up, and I just smiled it off.

Now I knew. The one who loved mangoes was someone else entirely.

I touched my belly, still nine months pregnant.

Only, the little life inside me had already been buried with me, in that cramped trunk.

"Baby, I'm so sorry."

I murmured, watching Liam toast with Chloe.

Chloe glanced at the ring on Liam's ring finger and suddenly spoke.

"Speaking of which, I haven't even met your wife. When are you going to introduce me?"

Liam paused, uncomfortably twisting the ring.

"What's there to see? Two eyes, one nose, one mouth – she just looks like a person."

I floated in front of him, reaching out to pinch and rub his face, but he couldn't feel it.

"But I think your wife must be a really good person. You seem to have changed a lot."

I looked at Chloe in surprise. Was she actually defending me?