chapter 2

But all of that only made sense if Zara had really saved me, if it had not been a lie.

The memory of that crash ten years ago flashed again in my mind.

And this time, I was not sure anymore.

"I am tired, Kieran. Can we just go home and talk about the rest tomorrow?" I asked softly.

Zara pressed a hand over her stomach, her face darkening.

Kieran looked at me, then at her, and gave a testing smile.

"We are almost at city hall. Esme, did you change your mind?

"Do not overthink it, okay? This is just so I can marry Zara on paper and put a father on record for the baby. Esme, do not be petty about someone who once saved your life, alright?"

I had heard those same lines so many times, but now they made my stomach turn.

"So I have to hand over my husband to prove I am generous?"

Kieran's smile froze.

"I think of her as a family, Esme. Do not say things like that."

"If Esme does not want to help, then forget it."

Zara wiped at her eyes and walked off to hail a cab.

"I will go to the hospital and end the pregnancy. That way, no one has to feel sorry for me."

Kieran panicked. He grabbed my arm, his tone sharp.

"Stop it, Esme. We are going to city hall. If it weren't for her, I would have lost you ten years ago! What's so wrong with a temporary divorce for her sake?

"When it is all done, when the paperwork is filed and the baby has a father on record, I will marry you again…"

It was the first time in ten years that Kieran had ever raised his voice at me. He dragged me into a cab.

When we got to city hall, he went to the restroom.

Zara turned to me with a smile.

"It's been ten years, and you finally remembered?"

I froze.

"What?"

Her smile grew confident.

"Guess who Kieran loves more—you or me?"

He divorced me and married her.

No pause, no hesitation. It all happened in a blink.

It was still early, and Kieran suggested we stop by the mall. I didn't say no.

Zara said Kieran had promised her a wedding gift. Whatever she wanted, he would give her.

So I went along. I wanted to know whether those ten years everyone envied, the ten years Kieran had cared for me so devotedly, were real or a lie.

"While Esme isn't here, send me the jewelry you like. I'll buy it for you."

Zara answered a call. Kieran's voice came through, syrupy and sickly sweet.

Zara said, "You've already given me plenty of jewelry. I want something else."

"What do you want?"

"I want you to make Esme take off her prosthetic leg, in front of a crowd."

There was a pause. Then Kieran sounded startled.

"Are you out of your mind? Esme is already suspicious about the paper marriage. She's upset. We've kept it from her just fine. Why humiliate her like that?"

The phone slipped from Zara's hand and hit the floor with a sharp thud.

I didn't need to hear more. I already knew.

The memories I had recovered weren't wrong. Everything was a lie.

Zara was carrying Kieran's child. The man I loved had been sleeping with another woman right next door.

Maybe I should have woken up on the way to city hall, when Kieran shielded Zara first and forgot about me.

I just couldn't believe it.