Chapter 3

He whipped his head up, staring at me. "Norah—"

"Don't say my name."

I cut him off, reaching into my pocket and tapping my phone screen.

"Everything you guys just said? I recorded all of it."

He froze.

The girl froze, too.

"Including your little speech," I said, looking directly at her.

"You knew he had a girlfriend, and you still slept with him. And you," I looked back at Ethan, "cheated while knowing exactly what you were doing. It's all on tape."

Her face drained of color. "You recorded us? Since when?"

I didn't answer. I just slipped the phone back into my pocket and turned toward the door.

"Stop!" she shrieked behind me. "Delete that recording right now!"

I didn't stop. I kept walking.

"Ethan!" she screamed. "Make her delete it! You can't let her leave with that! What is she going to do with it? What if she sends it to my family?"

I heard a frantic scramble behind me, followed by rushing footsteps.

Before I could reach the door, she caught up and grabbed my arm.

Her hand was ice-cold, her nails digging into my skin.

"Give me the phone!" she screamed.

I violently shook her off and stepped back.

She lunged at me again, reaching for my pocket.

I held my phone high above my head. She was too short to reach it. She hopped up, her nails scratching across the back of my hand, leaving a burning red line.

"Ethan!" she screamed again. "Are you just going to stand there?!"

I gave her a hard shove.

She lost her balance, her high heels wobbled, and she fell hard onto her butt.

She let out a sharp cry, sitting on the floor and looking up at me, her eyes overflowing with tears of pure victimization.

Ethan rushed over and knelt beside her.

"Are you okay?" He held her by the shoulders, checking her over. "Did you hurt yourself?"

She leaned into his chest, shaking her head as tears streamed down her face.

I stood there, watching the pathetic display.

Suddenly, Ethan looked up at me, his face darkening. "Norah. Why did you have to push her?"

I didn't say a word.

He helped her to her feet.

She clung to him, whimpering that she was fine, that it was all her fault. The more she played the victim, the tighter he held her.

"Just delete the recording," Ethan said, his voice hardening. "I was the one who messed up. But you put your hands on her, and that's not okay."

I looked at him, suddenly wanting to laugh.

But I couldn't.

"Delete it?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. He paused, then added, "I'll pay you. Just delete the recording."

"How much?"

He blinked, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. He thought for a moment. "$3,000."

I stared at him.

Eight years.

The most expensive gift he had ever bought me was that $180 necklace.

Back then, he had told me, "When I make more money, I'll buy you nice things. For now, let's save every penny for our wedding."

Our wedding.

The word sounded like a sick joke now.

And now, for a single voice recording, he was offering me $3,000.

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