Chapter 1 ROUGH NIGHT

The dining room smelled of roasted chicken and vanilla candles.

I adjusted the last plate, stepped back, and smiled. Everything was perfect. The soft music, the flickering lights, and the chilled wine were waiting beside two crystal glasses.

Four years together.

Fourth anniversary.

I could hear Ryan moving around upstairs, his heavy steps echoing faintly through the ceiling.

“Babe!” I called out for the umpteenth time, clasping my hands together.

“One more minute, honey!” he yelled back.

Last week, he had finally gone down on one knee.

He’d asked me to journey into forever with him and I had cried my eyes out shouting, “Yes!”

My heart fluttered at the thought of that proposal, and now, our fourth anniversary.

I had spent hours perfecting this moment. The meal, the music, and the dress he had bought for me, the one he said made me look like his entire world.

Then, a knock echoed through the house and my brows furrowed.

We weren’t expecting anyone.

Adjusting my dress, I moved toward the door, my heels clicking softly against the tiles.

When I pulled it open, my breath caught.

A woman stood before me, eyes weary but still maintaining maximum composure. She held a little boy’s hand, and her other hand rested protectively over a swollen belly.

“Hi, is Ryan home?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“R… Ryan?”

“Oh?” The woman took a step back, glancing around. “I’m in the right apartment, though. Did he rent this place out already? You must be the new tenant. Sorry, I had no idea…”

I blinked, struggling to find my voice.

“E… excuse me. Who are you, please?”

From the hallway came Ryan’s voice.

“Babe, is someone at the door? I thought I heard the bell…”

He stopped mid-sentence and I turned slowly toward him. “Do you know…”

“Daddy!” The boy let go of his mother’s hand, ran inside, and wrapped his tiny arms around Ryan’s legs.

My breath hitched, and a sharp ache twisted in my chest. No. This could not be real. This wasn’t my life.

Yet the boy’s arms around Ryan’s legs told a story my heart already knew… but refused to believe.

The woman brushed past me and stepped into the room, sighing.

“Why haven’t you been picking up my calls? Do you have any idea how many…”

“What are you doing here?” Ryan snapped, cutting her off.

“You don’t get to ask me that question.” Her voice hardened. “Who is this woman, Ryan? What is going on here?”

Obviously, the mood around the house would tell anyone in an instant that a romantic date was about to start or was going on already.

“I can explain, Lisa, just…”

“Ryan?” My voice was low, and deliberate.

“Daddy, I missed you,” the little boy murmured, still clinging to Ryan’s legs.

“I demand an explanation, Ryan,” my breathing grew heavy.

“Don’t tell me you have another woman?!” Lisa’s voice rose, sharp and accusing.

“Another woman?” I blinked, incredulous. “Excuse me?”

Lisa’s jaw tightened.

“I am his wife… and the mother of his children!” She jabbed a finger toward the boy, then her belly.

I gasped, shaking my head, “You… Ryan?”

Lisa’s voice quivered, but her words hit like thunder. “He married me legally. We might be away from his family and the public eye, but I am his wife. You said we were finally going to meet your family this week!”

Ryan’s face paled, and he ran his hand through his hair while his other hand unconsciously stayed on the little boy’s head.

“I can explain, babe. I just… Why would you even come here without telling me?!” he yelled.

The little boy flinched and my heart cracked. The man I thought I knew… was a stranger standing in the dining room.

My lips trembled as I took a shaky step forward, and my eyes locked on Ryan.

“How… how could you?” My voice cracked. “How dare you do this to me, Ryan? After everything? After four years… After us?”

Ryan raked a hand through his hair, eyes darting between the two of us. “Serena, please. It’s… It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” I repeated, my voice rising, breaking. “You lied to me! You let me build a life with you! Dream about a future… when you already had one!”

Lisa’s scoff cut through the air like glass. “Complicated? That’s what you call it?” she snapped. “Our son is three years old, Ryan. What exactly is complicated about that?”

My head whipped toward her, eyes wide.

“Three?” I whispered, disbelief flooding my veins.

Lisa nodded, crossing her arms. “Three. Born nine months after you disappeared for a while, remember that, Ryan?”

My stomach turned.

My hands began to shake as realization crashed over me.

“Three years old…” I muttered. “We’ve been together for four.”

My voice broke completely.

Then, it dawned on me. The sudden disappearance where he claimed to be at a business meeting… was actually no business at all!

“So everything… every word, every kiss, every anniversary… it was a lie?”

Ryan tried to reach for me.

“Serena, please…”

I stepped back, shaking my head, tears spilling over.

“Don’t touch me. Don’t you dare touch me!”

My gaze burned into him, voice trembling but fierce.

I looked around. The candles, the plates, the flowers… all mocking me now.

“Dinner’s ready,” I whispered bitterly. “You might as well share it with your family.”

With that, I turned away, grabbed my purse from the counter, and marched toward the door. Ryan called after me, but I didn’t look back.

The moment I stepped outside, a flash of lightning ripped through the sky, followed by a crack of thunder. The heavens opened, pouring down sheets of rain but I didn’t care.

I stepped into the storm, letting the cold drops soak through my dress, mingle with my tears, wash away everything I thought was real.

Fuck.

I let out a cry as I walked outside the estate.

Then…

Headlights flickered in the distance.

A sleek black car sat parked across the street, engine silent.

Leaning casually against it was a tall man, a dark umbrella resting over his shoulder. His sharp gaze followed my every move, though the rain blurred the distance between us.

I slowed, confusion crossing my face as he moved away from his car. I didn’t recognize him, but I could swear I had seen this person before.

However, he spoke first, his voice deep and quiet.

“Rough night?”

A broken laugh escaped my lips. Soft, bitter, tired.

“The worst,” I whispered, rain dripping down my face.