Chapter 4
I paused mid–motion, the ointment still in my hand, and looked up at him. “Just me? You’re not coming?”
Zachary sighed, his tone laced with regret. “I’m swamped with work. I really can’t get away this time. Next time, I promise, okay?”
But Zachary, there won’t be a next time.
I lowered my head and resumed applying the ointment. “It might be hard for me to get time off from work.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it for you.”
I shook my head, trying to push back, but he wouldn’t let up.
“I don’t want to go,” I said firmly.
His tone turned commanding, leaving no room for argument. “Be good. The tickets are already booked, and they’re non–refundable.”
I didn’t respond, but a chill crept through my heart.
I thought back to the night before, when, half–asleep, I overheard him on the phone:
“I don’t plan on telling her. As long as I can keep it hidden, I will.”
There was a pause, then the voice on the other end sighed. “And when the wedding’s over? What then? You’re just going to make her the other
woman?”
For a long moment, Zachary didn’t say a word. I could almost hear him exhaling smoke, slow and heavy.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
The pain in my chest was suffocating. I lay there silently, tears streaming down my face, feeling like the past seven years had been nothing
but a cruel joke.
Zachary, have I ever truly known you?
If you didn’t love me anymore, why couldn’t you just tell me? Why resort to lies and deception?
Were you so afraid I’d cling to you that you had to come up with this elaborate plan to send me away during your wedding?
You didn’t need to go to such lengths.
Don’t worry, Zachary. I’ll disappear from your life, just like you want.
3:15 PM
<
“When’s the flight?” I asked him.
“Two days from now,” he replied.
I smiled faintly. “Alright, I’ll go.”
Relief washed over his face, and he instinctively reached out to ruffle my hair.
I leaned back ever so slightly, dodging his hand without making a scene.
He froze for a moment, then laughed as if nothing had happened. “Let’s have dinner together before you go, okay?”
I hesitated, then nodded.
Tomorrow would mark seven years since we first got together.
It seemed poetic, in a way, to end it on the same date it began–to say goodbye properly and close this chapter once and for all.
The next evening, I arrived early at the restaurant we’d agreed on. Zachary showed up on time–but not alone.
Aria was with him.
“Natalie,” she chirped, her voice sweet and artificial. “Mr. Stone and I were running errands nearby and thought we’d tag along. Hope you don’t
mind!”
I shook my head, but inside, I couldn’t help feeling disappointed. So much for a proper goodbye.
Zachary ordered a table full of plain, mild dishes.
Aria giggled as she glanced at the food. “Mr. Stone, these dishes are way too bland. They’re probably not to Natalie’s taste, are they?”
Zachary didn’t even look up. “You’re on your period. You shouldn’t eat anything too spicy.”
Then, as if to prove his point, he called over the waiter and had Aria’s iced drink replaced with a cup of warm ginger tea.
Aria pouted, playfully complaining that he was being too controlling.
Zachary reached out and knocked her lightly on the forehead, a teasing smile on his lips. “If I don’t watch out for you, you’ll end up crying about stomach cramps later.”
Aria stuck out her tongue. “You’re overreacting. You just care too much about me.”
The two of them flirted shamelessly, as if I wasn’t even there.
I watched them with detached indifference, feeling nothing but a calm, hollow emptiness.
Halfway through the meal, someone suddenly shouted, “Fire!”
The restaurant erupted into chaos. People scrambled to their feet, rushing toward the exits.
I stood up, but before I could react, Zachary darted past me.
I turned just in time to see him grabbing Aria, shielding her with his body as he hurriedly led her toward the door.
For a brief moment, time seemed to fold in on itself.
The scene in front of me blurred, replaced by a memory from years ago–an 18–year–old Zachary, throwing himself in harm’s way to protect me in a similar moment of panic.
But that Zachary no longer existed.
By the time we reached safety, Zachary finally turned and noticed me standing a few steps away.
3:16 PM
<
His face was filled with guilt and disbelief. “Natalie, I–I didn’t mean to leave you. I was just-”
I cut him off with a smile. “It’s fine. I understand.”
Two days later, I packed my bags. I made sure there wasn’t a single trace of myself left in that house. Then, without looking back, I walked out
the door.
Of course, I didn’t actually board the flight Zachary had arranged.
Instead, I went back to my parents‘ house to prepare for my wedding. After all, my big day was just around the corner.
Zachary, meanwhile, was too busy trying on tuxedos and picking out floral arrangements with Aria to notice my absence.
On my wedding day, I met my fiancé, Austin, for the first time.
My parents had done an excellent job–he was even more attractive in person than in the photos. Tall, fit, and classically handsome, he was every bit the perfect gentleman.
The wedding procession was grand, with an impressive convoy of cars.
As we made our way through the streets, our car passed another wedding convoy heading in the opposite direction.
Both sides stopped briefly, as was the custom, to exchange bouquets between the brides.
The car windows rolled down.
And that’s when I saw him.
Zachary.
Our eyes met, and in that instant, shock and disbelief flooded his face.
His voice trembled as he choked out, “Natalie… how–how is it you?”
