Chapter 3
I should have walked away. I should have gone to my room, locked the door, and never looked back. But my legs wouldn’t move.
I stood in the dark hallway like a ghost, frozen by the voices spilling from the backyard. Their laughter felt like knives, each one sharper than the last. But the voice that gutted me most was
his-River’s.
“Well, I’m not sure,” he said, casually, as though deciding what to do with some object he no longer found interesting. “Maybe I’ll send her somewhere far away… or, I don’t know, she’s convenient. Always like a dog, following me around. So maybe I’ll keep her.”
Laughter erupted.
My breath caught in my throat. A part of me wanted to cover my ears, to scream, but I couldn’t. My feet stayed rooted, and the rest of me shattered piece by piece.
Then another voice, probably his best friend, scoffed. “Wouldn’t that provoke Candice, though? Come on, man. You waited for her for seven years. You even flew to London every month just tc catch a glimpse of her-and now you’re just gonna let Allison stick around like this? You’re spoiling Allison, and she probably thinks you actually love her now.”
held my breath.
Then River spoke again-laughing.
‘Love her? Oh, no. She’s nothing. Just someone who warms my bed at night.” His voice grew even colder. “Candice… Candice is the love of my life. I plan to marry her soon. Give her everything she deserves.”
The crack in my chest widened. I felt it rupture-sharp, ugly, silent.
had been a fool.
Where is Allison, by the way?” another voice chimed in. “Didn’t she get into some car accident? Weren’t you supposed to take care of her?”
River chuckled. “Oh, that? The butler handled it. I had this party to plan for my Candice.”
think my soul left my body for a moment.
And then Candice arrived, her heels clacking on the patio tiles like the drumbeat of a final sentence. Her voice was honeyed as she approached him. “Thank you for the party… but I think I want some time alone with you. What do you think?”
River laughed again-so carefree, so charmed. “You know I’d never say no to you.”
He stood, took her hand, and disappeared with her inside.
I stumbled backward, tears already streaming down my face, my mouth open in a silent scream.
I rushed to my room and locked the door behind me. But even from there, the hallway filled with the sounds of their pleasure.
The soft moans. The harsh breaths. The sounds of a shared intimacy-one I had foolishly believed was mine.
And all I could do was cry.
The night dragged on. The morning sun was already bleeding through the curtains when the door to my room slammed open.
Ice-cold water splashed against my face, shocking me awake.
I gasped, coughing, drenched and trembling. “What the hell?!”
Candice stood at the foot of my bed, smirking in silk. “Didn’t I tell you to leave?” she said, tossing the now-empty glass onto the floor like it was trash. “What the hell are you still doing here?”
wiped the cold water from my face, struggling to calm my shaking hands. “I didn’t mean to stay,” I said quietly. “I just came here to get my things. That’s all. I already booked my ticket. swear-I’ll be gone in ten days.”
Candice crossed her arms, tilting her head like she’d just heard the most amusing joke. “Ter days?” she scoffed. “So you’re still planning to attend on his birthday?”
looked away. “That’s just when my flight is. I don’t have anywhere else to stay until then… And i suddenly vanish, River will get suspicious.”
She stepped closer, the scent of her perfume suffocating. “Right, because we wouldn’t want that would we? You still care what he thinks. You think he’ll come running after you? Please.” He oice dipped lower, sharper.
know you don’t want me telling him that you’re the one who forced me to leave.”
What are you trying to say? That it’s my fault you’re leaving when you clearly know you have n lace after I came back?”
ler hand lifted suddenly, ready to strike me across the face-
But the sound of approaching footsteps made her freeze.
iver appeared in the doorway, hair tousled, shirt half-buttoned, eyes narrowing at the scene efore him. “What’s happening here?”
Candice turned around in an instant, smile blooming like a flower in sunlight. “Oh, nothing,” she urred, linking her arm through his. “I just wanted to get to know your wife better. Since I’ll be taying here, I thought we could become friends.”
My heart stopped.
She’s going to stay here?” I echoed, voice cracking.
River didn’t even look at me. “Yes,” he said casually. “Candice is a special friend. So I expect you o treat her right. Be respectful. Serve her.”
stared at him, stunned into silence.
Candice leaned her head on his shoulder and yawned dramatically. “Speaking of serving… how about you cook breakfast for us? I’m starving.”
They turned to leave, and just before they disappeared down the hallway, River glanced back. ‘Don’t keep us waiting, Allison.”
And just like that, they were gone. Laughing. Whispering.
Leaving me soaked, humiliated, and shaking.
I sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the water pooling on the floor.
Ten days.
Just ten more days.
