My Perfect Fiancé Was Living a Second Life in Messages Chapter 06

My Perfect Fiancé Was Living a Second Life in Messages Chapter 06

After hanging up, I sat on the couch for a while.

Then I opened Instagram.

I posted three screenshots.

The first was the chat log from James’s tablet, the one he had left in the car.

On the left was the cold check-in he had sent me at the exact same timestamp: [In a meeting.]

On the right, the flurry of messages he had sent to Chloe: [Baby, the coffee at today’s meeting was so bitter. I want some of the iced tea you make.]

The second screenshot was from Chloe’s Instagram post. The custom brooch made from my design, lying in its box.

The caption: [My boss’s taste is unmatched. He said it was just a little trinket, nothing expensive. Just something to make me smile.]

The third showed the cancellation confirmations from the wedding venue, the bridal shop, and the hotel. The timestamps clearly showed they were from four days earlier.

The caption was only one sentence.

[Wedding canceled. Not my fault, here’s why. As for gifts, please contact the groom for refunds.]

I hit post.

In less than three minutes, Amanda called, her voice trembling with tears. “Veronica! Why didn’t you tell me

sooner?”

I said quietly, “I’m safe. Don’t worry.”

The screenshots were quickly reposted into industry-wide group chats.

James’s colleagues and business partners all saw them.

The comments rolled in.

[So the check-ins were just to keep her from finding out?]

[Showing off his fiancée’s design as if it were his own? Isn’t the company going to do anything about this?]

Ten minutes later, James called seven times in a row. I didn’t answer.

Then he texted: [Veronica, delete that post. You know those screenshots will ruin Chloe’s professional reputation. She’s just my assistant. Why would you drag someone so young into this?]

I stared at the message. Even now that everything was exposed, his first instinct was still to protect her.

I texted back: [You set up your whole check-in system for her. You gave away my design just to make her happy. And you say she’s just your assistant?]

I sent it, then added: [James, you didn’t even get your priorities straight.]

Another chat window popped up, from Chloe.

[Veronica, I really never wanted to come between you two. James and I are just coworkers, I swear.]

[That brooch? He told me the design was just sitting around and no one wanted it, so he had it made for me. I seriously didn’t know you drew it.]

[Veronica, please come back. Mr. Sterling has been a complete mess the past two days. He really does care about you.]

I read her messages without feeling the slightest trace of anger.

I opened the text box and typed back.

[Keep the brooch. And keep the little things he shares with you. You can manage his check-ins from now on.]

I sent it, then hit the block button.

Before I turned off my phone, there were already over two hundred comments on my post. I didn’t bother

reading them all.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then held down the power button and powered it off.

I put the old phone in the back of a drawer and picked up my new one.

New number, new city, empty contacts.

I texted Amanda my new number.

[This is my new number. The old one is gone.]