Chapter 4

Thea had just returned home when her phone buzzed with an incoming message. She tapped the screen, and a photo appeared. In it, Terrence stood with his bare back to the camera while Alyssa clung to him, wearing a strapless mermaid wedding dress. The dress was hiked up to her hips, her slender legs wrapped around his waist in an unmistakably suggestive pose. A second message followed. This time, a video. Alyssa's cheeks flushed pink as she wrapped her arms around Terrence's neck, her words coming in breathless gasps. "Mr. Hatcher, you… ripped the wedding dress I just got today." Terrence chuckled, his lips brushing her ear as he murmured roughly, "You had this dress made just so I'd see you in it, didn't you? I had Thea's designer make yours, like you asked. Now it's your turn to return the favor tonight." A soft gasp escaped Alyssa's lips before the video abruptly ended. And as if that weren't enough, she texted again. "Oops, Ms. Lundy. I completely forgot you can't hear a thing. What a shame. I'll make sure the video's captioned next time." The text ended with a laughing emoji, its face half-hidden behind a hand. Thea clenched her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Tears streamed down her face, heavy and unrestrained, splattering onto the floor. She'd never imagined a heart could be split in two. Terrence had the designer make two wedding dresses—one for her, one for another woman. Was this what he called love? If so, she wanted nothing to do with it. Thea swallowed hard, fighting back the ache in her chest. She was about to wipe away her tears when her eyes landed on the engagement ring still on her finger. She studied it for a moment before slipping it off and tossing it into the trash. Terrence had sought out a jewelry designer himself, learning how to craft the ring from scratch. Once the design was finalized, he'd gone to a workshop and hammered it into shape, overseeing every detail. At the proposal, he'd told her only a ring he designed and made himself could truly mean something. Every time she ran her fingers over it, she was supposed to feel his love. But his love had turned bitter. And now, the ring meant nothing. Terrence didn't return until well after midnight. Thea felt the mattress sink as he climbed into bed beside her. The faint smell of perfume and hawthorn blossoms hung in the air. Then, suddenly, the video of those two bodies tangled together flashed through her mind. She lurched toward the bathroom, gagging. Alarmed, Terrence grabbed his phone to call their family doctor. "Thea, did you eat something bad today? I'll get the doctor over here!" Her eyes stinging, Thea caught his hand. "No, it's fine. Just… some sickening images I can't shake." Terrence crouched beside her, patting her back, his face etched with worry. "Don't look at those kinds of stuff again, sweetheart. It kills me to see you like this." Worried his sign language wasn't getting through, he pressed her palm against his chest so she could feel the erratic pounding of his heart. Thea's eyes flicked down to him, only to catch sight of vivid red marks peeking from beneath his open collar. Another dry heave convulsed through her before she could suppress it. How could Terrence have the nerve to show up wearing another woman's marks while pretending to care about her? Terrence's agitation grew at the sight. "Who the hell sent you those images, Thea? Just wait till I find them. They're going to pay for this!" Thea's lips twisted in a bitter smile. He was the reason she was like this. She couldn't stomach another moment of his hypocrisy. Shoving him out, she turned the lock. "I'm sleeping alone tonight." Terrence's worried pleas carried through the door, but she pretended not to hear, lying down without another thought. Thea couldn't silence his flippant words echoing in her mind. He'd sworn undying devotion when they first got together. Back then, she'd truly believed he was her salvation. Now, she knew better. He wasn't her savior. He was the devil, dragging her deeper into the abyss. He'd given her a love so intense that it had seared her soul, only to destroy her completely. Thea closed her eyes, a tear slipping free. If she could turn back time, she'd choose never to have known Terrence at all. … Early the next morning, Thea opened the door to find Terrence waiting outside, his expression wounded. "Thea, why did you lock me out last night? Are you mad because I left you at the bridal shop yesterday? Something urgent came up, I swear. Please, forgive me." Something urgent? Sure, if sleeping with Alyssa qualified as an urgent matter. Thea didn't bother calling him out. She'd be gone in eight days, and he'd finally realize she'd known everything all along. She shook her head. "I'm not mad. Work takes priority. I understand." The calmness in her voice sent a jolt of panic through Terrence. "No! You're my priority, Thea. I swear I'll never leave you like that again." His hands flew through the signs before he crushed her in a desperate embrace, holding her so tight that it seemed he wanted to fuse them permanently. Thea said nothing. Again? There would be no second chances.