Chapter 4

"Ah!" Jayden cried, stumbling backward and collapsing onto the floor. She clutched her hand, which was perfectly fine, and sobbed as if in agony.

Cedric and his parents rushed into the kitchen. They saw Jayden on the floor, crying, and Kacie standing over her, her dress soaked with soup.

Kacie's body went rigid. "It wasn't me," she whispered, shaking her head.

Jayden immediately came to her defense, her voice choked with fake tears. "It was an accident! Kacie didn't mean it. Don't blame her."

It was the most damning accusation possible.

"You wicked jinx!" Carroll Moon shrieked, rushing to cradle Jayden. "First a car crash, now this! What have you done to our Jayden?"

Burt Moon's gaze was like ice. "Kacie, you are Mrs. Moon now. Try to act like it."

Kacie looked past them, her eyes searching for Cedric's. This was her last hope. She needed him to believe her, just this once.

He wouldn't meet her eyes. He walked past her, knelt, and gently lifted Jayden into his arms. "I'm taking you to the hospital," he said softly to Jayden, and carried her out of the kitchen without a single glance back.

Kacie watched him go, feeling him walk right out of her world. The last ember of hope inside her died, leaving only cold ash.

Later that night, back in their empty house, Kacie saw the red, angry burn on her stomach from the soup. She cleaned the wound herself, the physical pain a distant echo of the agony in her heart. Tears streamed down her face, silent and hot.

She heard the front door open. It was Jayden, wrapped in Cedric's expensive cashmere coat.

"Cedric said I could stay here for a few days," Jayden said, her voice small and timid. "He was worried about me being alone."

Cedric came in behind her, shielding her as if Kacie were a threat. "Jayden was kind enough to bring you some takeout," he said, avoiding Kacie's eyes. "She was worried you didn't eat."

He placed a container of soup in front of her.

Kacie looked at it, then at him. "I'm allergic to beans."

Cedric looked surprised. He opened the container. The soup was full of soybeans. He had forgotten. Again.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Jayden said, her hand flying to her mouth. "I think I ate your portion by mistake. That one was meant for me."

"It's fine," Cedric said quickly, already dismissing Kacie's needs. "She won't mind. We can just order something else for her."

Kacie looked at the two of them, a perfectly matched set of liars. The absurdity of it all made her want to laugh.

She turned and walked into the bedroom, shutting the door.

Hours passed. When Cedric finally came in, it wasn't to apologize.

"I know you don't like Jayden," he said, his voice hard. "But you need to put aside your feelings. You'll apologize to her tomorrow and take care of her until she's better. Think of it as making up for what you did."

Her stomach churned. Her lower abdomen ached with a dull, heavy pain. Her husband was bringing another woman into their home on their wedding night and ordering her to serve the woman.

A bitter sigh escaped her lips. She was done. She wouldn't spend the last of her precious time in this misery.

"Let's break up, Cedric."

His face darkened. "What did you say?"

"We're not legally married yet. We only had the ceremony. We're just boyfriend and girlfriend. And I'm breaking up with you."

"What are you playing at, Kacie?" he demanded, his voice rising in anger and confusion.

"Jayden told me about your childhood engagement."

"That was just a joke between our parents! It meant nothing! She's my sister, that's all!"

"A sister?" Kacie laughed, a hollow sound. "You have female cousins, Cedric. You're so strict with them they're not even allowed to call you by your first name. But Jayden can sit on your desk, touch you, and you leave your own wedding for her. You let her stay in our house. The house you promised would only ever be for the two of us."

Cedric flinched. He remembered the promise.

Kacie looked at him, her eyes empty of everything but disappointment. "I have my principles, Cedric. I don't share my husband."

He opened his mouth to speak, but a soft, whimpering sound came from the doorway. Jayden stood there, tears streaming down her face.

"Are you fighting because of me?" she cried. "I'm so sorry. I'll leave. I'll leave right now."

She turned and ran, her sobs echoing in the silent house.

"Jayden!" Cedric called out. He grabbed his car keys and, without a second glance at Kacie, ran after her.

The sound of the front door slamming shut was the sound of her heart breaking for the final time.