Chapter 2

I arrived at the gallery an hour early the next morning. Ryan was still sleeping, thinking I was just going to work as usual. But I had more important things to do.

Sitting at my desk, I opened my phone's photo album. If Ryan and Stella really knew each other from college, there had to be traces somewhere. I scrolled through the screen, searching for photos from two years ago.

Then I found it.

The Columbia University reunion from two years ago—the party where I'd brought Ryan. I remembered it was the first time I introduced Ryan to Stella.

But when I zoomed in on the photo, my blood nearly froze.

In the corner of the group shot, Ryan and Stella were standing close together. Their body language was intimate and natural, nothing like strangers meeting for the first time. Even more disturbing, Ryan's hand was gently resting on Stella's waist while she smiled at the camera.

This photo was taken before I had supposedly introduced them.

"Morning, Scarlett." Lucas's voice suddenly startled me.

I quickly put away my phone, trying to stay calm. "Hi, Lucas. Thanks for agreeing to help me with that research."

Lucas approached with a concerned expression. "You don't look well. Didn't sleep last night?"

I hesitated, then decided to show him the photo. "Lucas, take a look at this picture."

I reopened my album and pointed to Ryan and Stella in the corner. "This was from the reunion two years ago. I remember that day I introduced Stella to Ryan, saying 'this is my boyfriend.' But..."

Lucas studied the photo carefully, frowning. "But they look like they already know each other pretty well. Are you sure that was the party where you introduced them?"

"Positive." My voice trembled slightly. "I clearly remember that scene. When I said 'this is my boyfriend Ryan,' Stella's face suddenly changed, like she was..."

"Like she was what?"

"Like she'd been caught in a lie." I took a deep breath. "At the time, I thought she was just surprised that I had a boyfriend. Now I realize she was shocked that I had no idea about their relationship."

Lucas sat down in the chair next to me. "Do you remember any other details from that night?"

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to recall that evening. The images gradually became clearer.

"I remember the way Ryan looked at Stella," I opened my eyes. "It wasn't the way you look at someone you're meeting for the first time, but... something deep and complicated. Like he was saying 'I finally get to see you again.'"

"What else?"

"Stella pulled me aside for a private chat that night." My fists clenched. "She said Ryan was 'special, very protective.' At the time, I thought she was complimenting him, thanking me for finding such a good boyfriend. Now I think..."

"Now you think what?"

"She was bragging!" My voice rose, then I immediately lowered it. "She knew about Ryan's feelings for her. She was flaunting how special she was to him! And I, like a complete idiot, thought she was happy for me!"

Lucas gently patted my shoulder. "Scarlett, stay calm. We need more evidence."

"You're right." I stood up. "I'll test Ryan tonight."

That evening, Ryan came home on time. I was preparing dinner in the kitchen, everything appearing normal on the surface.

"Honey, how was work today?" I asked while chopping vegetables.

"Not bad." Ryan sat at the dining table. "How about you? Any new exhibitions at the gallery?"

"Nothing special." I said casually, "Oh, I've been thinking about setting Stella up with someone. She's been alone too long—she needs someone to take care of her."

Ryan's water glass suddenly froze midway to his mouth.

"Set her up with who?" His voice was tense.

"I have a doctor friend who's really nice, stable income too." I continued chopping, pretending not to notice his reaction. "I want to arrange for them to meet."

"That's... not a good idea." Ryan set down his glass. "She might not be ready for a new relationship."

I turned around to face him. "Why not? Do you have some special insight into her psychological state?"

Ryan's face went pale instantly. "I just mean... as a friend of Nathan's... I think she needs more time."

"Nathan's friend?" I let out a cold laugh. "You certainly care about my sister-in-law. More than you care about your own fiancée."

"Scarlett, what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." I turned back to cooking. "I just think your concern for Stella is a bit... excessive."

Ryan suddenly stood up. "I just remembered I have some urgent work issues to handle. I need to go."

"Now? Dinner's almost ready."

"Sorry, it's really urgent." He grabbed his coat hastily. "Go ahead and eat, don't wait for me."

The door slammed shut, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

I immediately pulled out my phone and opened Ryan's location sharing. He was heading straight to Stella's apartment.

Ten minutes later, my phone buzzed. It was a message notification from Ryan to Stella—I'd previously set up keyword alerts.

"Scarlett wants to set you up with someone. We need to be careful."

I screenshotted it and deleted the alert setting. Got it.

I immediately texted Lucas: Please help me research the relationship between Ryan Miller and Stella Brooks during their college years tomorrow. The more detailed, the better.

Then I scrolled through my contacts and found my college roommate Sarah's number.

"Hi Sarah, it's me, Scarlett."

"Scarlett! Long time no see! What made you suddenly think to call me?"

"I wanted to ask you about something. Do you remember if anything happened at our reunion two years ago?"

There was silence on the other end for a moment. "You mean when Ryan went to prison for fighting over Stella?"

My heart stopped beating.

"Prison?"

"You didn't know? Ryan went to prison in college for protecting Stella. He beat up some thug who was harassing her so badly the guy was seriously injured. He was convicted of assault and served a year. After Stella married that rich guy Nathan, Ryan disappeared. We all thought..."

"Thought what?"

"Thought he'd never show up in Stella's life again. But then at the reunion two years ago, he suddenly appeared with you. We were all shocked, thinking he was there to get revenge on Stella. Then you said he was your boyfriend..."

I felt the world spinning around me.

"Scarlett, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just needed to understand some things."

"Okay. I'll send you everything I know tomorrow. But Scarlett, if Ryan really is your boyfriend, you need to be careful. He's done some crazy things for Stella."

After hanging up, I collapsed onto the sofa.

So that was it. Ryan had gone to prison for Stella. Stella had married my brother Nathan. After his release, Ryan had used me to get back into Stella's life.

I wasn't his girlfriend—I was his tool for getting close to Stella.

And my brother Nathan, my kind brother, probably died never knowing his wife still had feelings for another man.

I picked up my phone and sent Lucas one final message: "Lucas, besides their college relationships, please also look into Nathan's cause of death. I have a bad feeling about this."

Then I turned off the lights and sat in the darkness, waiting for Ryan to return.

Tonight, I wanted to see what lies he'd concoct to explain his hasty departure.

At 1 AM, Ryan finally came home. He tiptoed through the door, thinking I was asleep.

"You're back." I spoke from the living room, my voice steady.

Ryan jumped. "Baby, why aren't you asleep? I thought you..."

"Finished with work?"

"All done. Sorry I came back so late."

I stood up and walked toward him. "Ryan, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you really love me?"

He answered without hesitation: "Of course I love you. You're everything to me."

I nodded and gave him a light kiss on the cheek. "Good. Good night."

I turned and walked toward the bedroom, leaving Ryan standing there confused.

In the darkness, I listened to the sound of him showering, my mind already plotting my revenge for revenge.