Callie’s lips curved into a bitter smile. The moment Reid betrayed her, she’d accepted her family’s proposal for an arranged marriage. While Reid had been tangled up with Geneva Vega, Callie had met her prospective fiancé—a reserved and distant man. Perhaps in her next life, living for nothing but mutual benefits might not be so bad. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to endure the soul-crushing pain of betrayal.
“Reid,” Callie said softly, her tone calm but unreadable. “Would you like to go to a wedding next week?”
She deliberately withheld the rest of her words: “To my wedding.”
She wanted to keep him in the dark so that, when the time came, he would understand how it felt to be betrayed.
“Of course!” Reid replied enthusiastically, his face lighting up with excitement. “Why don’t we go to a bridal shop tomorrow and pick out a wedding dress for you?”
Callie slipped out of Reid’s embrace, lying down and turning her back to him. Exhaustion laced her voice as she said, “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. I’m tired.”
Reid carefully tucked the blanket around her, his movements tender. When her breathing evened out, he silenced his phone and began furiously typing away on its screen.
Callie wasn’t asleep. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Reid lost himself in his messages. One notification caught her attention:
“Reid, you promised to take me stargazing and make a wish. Why aren’t you here yet?”
“Sorry, something came up. I’ll come get you now, babe. Don’t forget to wear that outfit I bought you.”
“Got it, Reid. Stop being such a flirt!”
Before leaving, Reid meticulously prepared everything—he soaked the wheat in the pot and scheduled it to cook into porridge for the next morning.
Once he was gone, Callie stood in the quiet kitchen, staring at the pre-set cooker. A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
There was a time when she’d been moved to tears by Reid’s thoughtful gestures, like making her breakfast every morning. Now, she saw these actions for what they really were: a convenient cover for his lies.
Picking up her phone, she dialed her parents. “Mom, Dad, I’ll be coming home next week. Everything’s been arranged with Tommy Caldwell. We’ll have the wedding as soon as I get back.”
“Cal, are you sure about this?” Her mother’s voice trembled with excitement. “Your father and I have been so worried Reid would waste your best years. You’re thirty now. How many more eight-year relationships can you afford to gamble on?”
Tears welled up in Callie’s eyes. She used to believe that as long as two people loved each other, a piece of paper didn’t matter. Eight years with Reid and no proposal later, she had convinced herself it wasn’t important.
Now, she felt nothing but relief that she’d never married him. At least there was still room to turn things around.
Her parents were aging and all they wanted was for her to find happiness. They hoped for someone who could help her take over the family business. It was time for her to let go of her romantic illusions and return to reality.
“Yeah, I’m sure about this,” she said. “From now on, I’ll listen to whatever you and Dad say.”
After hanging up, Callie began packing. Eight years’ worth of memories with Reid filled every corner of the apartment and sorting through it all would take time.
She decided to pack only what she needed, stuffing her ID, essentials and clothes for the next two days into a suitcase. Then she called a professional cleaning service to handle the rest. Over ten workers arrived to box up everything—clothes, handbags and jewelry—all destined for donation to charity.
As they worked, one of the staff hesitated, holding up a sparkling necklace. “Miss Dodson, this piece is made of fine diamonds. Are you sure you want to donate it?”
Callie glanced at it. It was the necklace Reid had won at an auction for an exorbitant sum, all because she’d once casually remarked how beautiful it was. He’d spent two million dollars on it without a second thought.
“Yes,” she said firmly.
