Chapter 5: Old Wounds, New Betrayals

The bride, Aubrey, was originally a mutual friend of ours. We’d all met back in freshman year, bonding over terrible coffee and late-night study sessions at the campus library. She was the glue that held our friend group together.

Back in college, we’d promised to be her groomsman and bridesmaid someday. It was a silly pact, sealed with pinky swears and too much boxed wine.

A few days ago—on my eighth anniversary with Marcus—the company suddenly sent me on a business trip to London. The timing was brutal, but my boss gave me that look that meant ‘non-negotiable.’

Because of this unexpected assignment, we had a huge fight. The kind of argument that leaves you raw and shaky, replaying every word on the flight overseas.

Marcus blamed me for breaking my promise, and I tried to explain.

“It was a last-minute work thing. It’s not like I didn’t want to go.”

I pleaded, “Marcus, I’ll come back as soon as I finish up at the branch. Please don’t be mad, okay?” My voice was small, even to my own ears. I hated sounding like I was begging, but I didn’t know what else to do.

But he was unusually angry: “The company, the company—can’t it run without you, Natalie? Look in the mirror. You’re just a graduate from an average college. Don’t think so highly of yourself.”

My hand froze on my suitcase. I stared at the airline tag swinging from the handle, feeling like it was mocking me.

At first, I’d been willing to coax him. After all, I’d broken my promise. And I knew he cared so much because he loved me.

But those words felt like a slap, waking me up. My heart pounded in my chest, hot and embarrassed. I’d worked so hard for everything, and suddenly it all felt small.

Maybe he’d spoken in anger, without thinking. But they cut deep.

I’d had a shot at getting into a top school. The SATs were the ticket out. But that night, Marcus’s world blew up, and mine got dragged along for the ride. The night before the SATs, Marcus and his mom had a huge fight about his dad’s affair. He ran away from home. His mom came to me. As his neighbor and friend, I was worried sick. I searched for him for three hours straight. As a result, I caught a cold, got a high fever during the exam, and my scores tanked. I ended up at the local state university—right alongside him.

After the fight, Marcus blocked all my contacts again. I didn’t take it too seriously; it wasn’t the first time. He could be childish, and I was willing to put up with it. I told myself it was just one of his moods, and soon enough, he’d come around.

But when I came back from my business trip, carrying a pricey Rolex I’d bought for him, I entered the passcode at his door—only to find it had been changed.

My hands shook as I tried to unlock his door, the numbers blurring on the keypad. I knocked. No one answered. The hallway felt colder than usual, the lights flickering overhead. I stood there for a while, hoping he’d come to the door, but all I got was silence.