My Perfect Fiancé Was Living a Second Life in Messages Chapter 02

My Perfect Fiancé Was Living a Second Life in Messages Chapter 02

I noticed a new mug on the kitchen shelf.

Identical to the ones we already had, in style and color.

It reminded me of something that happened in our first year together.

I bought a pair of matching mugs.

James glanced at them, put mine where he wanted it, and shoved the other into the back of the cabinet.

“You even organize the mugs?”

“Everything in this house has its place.”

For five years, I used to think that having a designated spot in his life meant I actually mattered to him.

At 11 a.m., the doorbell rang.

A girl with short hair, wearing a bright hoodie, stood outside, holding a stack of documents, her smile bright and cheerful.

“Hey, I’m Chloe, Mr. Sterling’s assistant. He needs these signed urgently and said I should bring them to the house.”

“He told you to come here?”

She had already stepped inside, her shoes still on, as if she owned the place, her eyes sweeping across the living room.

“Wow, Mr. Sterling’s home is so clean!”

Then she walked to the coffee table and picked up my mug.

“This mug is so cute. Can I get some water? I’m dying of thirst.”

Before I could respond, she gulped down half the glass.

“Even the water here tastes good.”

She plopped down onto the couch, flipped through the papers, and whined playfully.

“Mr. Sterling hasn’t texted back yet. Is it okay if I wait here? You don’t mind, do you?”

I stood there, watching her invade my space, take my couch, my mug, my space.

And she had his permission: “bring them to the house.”

When James got home and saw Chloe was still there, his brow furrowed briefly.

Chloe hopped up with a grin.

“Boss, you’re finally back! The papers are on the table.” She pointed at the mug. “Hope you don’t mind, I borrowed this mug for some water. I was really thirsty.”

He signed the documents, his tone flat.

“Don’t bring work home anymore. I’ll sign at the office.”

Chloe stuck out her tongue. “Got it. You’re so grumpy, boss. Good thing you don’t scare me.”

After she left, a sweet, heavy perfume lingered in the entryway.

“You said you wouldn’t bring work people home.”

He was opening the mail, not looking up.

“She came on her own. I already told her not to do it again. Don’t make this into a big deal.”

I didn’t say anything else.

That night, my friend Amanda came over.

She mentioned it casually. “At the company holiday party last year, I saw a short-haired girl sitting next to your guy. She kept putting food on his plate and laughing.”

My hand froze for a moment around my cup.

Amanda didn’t notice and kept talking. “But your guy’s face was completely blank the whole time. He didn’t even look at her. I thought, damn, this guy’s cold.”

He wasn’t really cold. He just acted that way around other people.

Behind closed doors, his chat history told a much hotter story.

Late that night, after James fell asleep, I opened my phone to check the cancellation status.

Everything was confirmed canceled.

The flight for three days from now was ticketed.

I stepped onto the balcony, where the night air was cool.

I looked down at my left hand. My engagement ring was still on my finger.

I slipped it off and placed it on the railing.

I hesitated for two seconds.

Then I picked it up and closed my fist around it.

It wasn’t time to take it off yet.