Chapter 4

*Give him some face.*

Hearing those words, everything clicked into place.

He wasn't oblivious to my hurt.

He was just entirely convinced I would never actually leave.

"Okay," I said, and hung up.

The housewarming dinner took place three days later.

That morning, Chloe arrived at the house before me.

She wore a pastel pink dress, her hair curled into soft waves, her makeup flawless.

Mark and his camera crew were already shooting.

Julian’s parents were there, too.

When Julian’s mother saw Chloe, her face lit up with a beaming smile. "Chloe, you look stunning today! Anyone walking in would think you're the lady of the house!"

Chloe didn't blush or correct her. Instead, she twirled with a bright laugh.

"Eleanor, I’m just helping my sister host the guests! You know Eve isn't much of a talker, so I was worried things would get awkward."

Eleanor nodded approvingly. "You're always so thoughtful. Eve is a good girl, just too quiet for her own good."

Standing outside the open door, I listened to every word before pressing the doorbell.

The door opened.

The smart lock didn't recognize me.

Instead, a cold, mechanical voice echoed:

"Unregistered visitor. Please wait for homeowner confirmation."

In that split second, I didn't even feel anger.

I only felt the sheer absurdity of it all.

The rug I bought was right past the threshold. The dishes I handpicked sat on the kitchen counter. The curtains I stayed up late confirming swayed in the breeze. Even the smell of the new furniture had once made me feel so hopeful.

Yet the machine declared in its flat, calm tone: *You do not belong here.*

I heard someone chuckle quietly in the living room before quickly stifling it.

The smile froze on Eleanor's face.

Chloe was holding a platter of freshly cut fruit, her pink dress brushing against the hardwood floors I had chosen, looking like a flower blooming in the wrong garden.

I suddenly understood that the most terrifying part of being hurt wasn't overt malice.

It was that they genuinely saw nothing wrong with what they did.

They stood inside the home I built, using my money, my sweat, and my endless compromises to stage their respectable, glamorous lives.

While I was locked outside.

Everyone in the room turned to look.

Julian’s expression shifted.

Chloe rushed over to open the door. "Eve! You're here! Why didn't you just use the keypad?"

I looked at her. "Because nobody ever gave me the passcode."

The entire room went dead silent.

Julian stepped forward, keeping his voice low. "Eve, don't make a scene today."

I met his eyes.

"I’m standing at the door of the home I spent a year building, treated like an unregistered visitor. And you think *I'm* the one making a scene?"

He frowned. "The system hasn't gotten around to adding your profile yet. I'll have someone set it up right after the party."

"You didn't have time to add me, but you had plenty of time to add her."

I pointed at Chloe.

Chloe’s smile finally cracked. "Eve, do you really have to bring this up today?"

"When should I bring it up?" I countered. "After you move into the master bedroom, take over the study, swap the curtains, change the menu, and have everyone calling you the lady of the house?"

Chloe’s face flushed bright red.

She wasn't someone who played innocent for long.

She had been spoiled her whole life; her indignation and temper flared instantly.

"Don't act like I'm stealing from you! What's wrong with me crashing here for a few days? Julian didn't have a problem with it! Who are you rolling your eyes at?"

Julian’s face darkened. "Eve, come inside and talk."

"Let's talk right here."

I pulled a manila folder from my bag and handed it to him.

I had clutched that folder the entire way here, the corners damp with sweat.

Every page inside was proof that I had once loved him.

"Here are all the invoices and bank transfers for the renovation, appliances, furniture, interior designer fees, and the housewarming deposit. Total: $112,650."

"We haven't signed our marriage license, and my name isn't on the deed."

"Since this house has no place for me, I expect you to pay me back in full, per the legal agreement."