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Rachel,sensing something,turned.
She smiled brightly,waving."Emily,over here!"
She called out so naturally, like they were the real couple.
I met Ethan's eyes—once clear and captivating,now dull and distant.
"Don’t misunderstand anything,Emily.We just met a client and wrapped up,"Rachel said smoothly.
Such a convenient excuse.
Ethan avoided my gaze,guilty.
Rachel grabbed my hand,"concerned.""Emily,you've lolst a lot of weight lately."
She pouted at Ethan."Mr.Carter,how could you neglect Emily?"
Every gesture was a flirt with Ethan and a jab at me.
Ethan snapped back to reality,feigning remorse."My bad."
Their fake concern sickened me.
Rachel took my hand in hers deliberately.Annoyed,I glanced down,spotting a ring on her finger,identical to Ethan's wedding ring.
Hatred sprouted wildly in my heart.
I'd thought my ring and Ethan's were a pair.Now I saw the lie.
When we chose the rings,Ethan picked these instantly.
As a former artist,I sensed that something was off—they didn't feel like a set.
I'd said,"They don't seem to match."
The clerk smiled."These are our new,one-of-a-kind pair."
"One-of-a-kind"had me,erasing my doubts.
But Rachel was his true"one-of-a-kind."
I smiled bitterly,mocking my own naivety and Ethan's cunning.
"Your rings look so alike.If we weren't about to marry,I'd think yours were the pair."
Rachel,her goal achieved,released my hand,feigning innocence."Emily,you're making me nervous.I'm almost too shy to wear it."
I looked at Ethan,chuckling."Why be shy?Our bond's so strong—would I suspect some dirty secret over just a ring?"
Ethan's blushed,stammering to change the subject."Emily,want a drink?"
I glanced outside—the rain had stopped.I stood."No need.I've got things to do.I won't disturb you two anymore."
Ethan followed me."I'll drive you home."
"Leaving her alone?"
His face hardened."What are you talking about?No one's more important than you."
His flimsy act,under my knowing gaze,made him look like a fool.
I adjusted the car seat silently,the air awkward.
Ethan rushed to explain."Rachel sat there earlier.As her boss,it feels weird having her in the back,like I'm her chauffeur you know."
I said nothing.
He visibly relaxed.
Something jabbed my foot.I lpicked it up, a lipstick.
"Careless girl,"I muttered.
At a red light,Ethan slammed his brake,his grip on the wheel trembling.
I tilted my head."You're careless too?"
At home,Ethan asked,"Why do you seem off today?"
I pursed my lips,struggling to control my emotions.
His gaze wandered,landing on the wedding dress.He lowered his eyes,"guilty,"assuming that was why I was upset.
"Sorry,I bailed again.I really had no choice..."
Not wanting to hear a word of his excuse,I returned to my room.
A guilty man like him slept soundly,while I worried alone.
Curious,I slipped off Ethan's ring while he was asleep.Inside,Rachel's initials were engraved.
