I collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands as the sobs finally overtook me. All I could think about was how foolish I’d been to believe him. To believe in us. How could I have been so blind? I had built my world around him. He was all I had. And now it was all falling apart.
I took a deep breath and looked at the receipt again—the ring he bought for someone. It was clear now. It was never meant for me.
Tears streamed down my face as I whispered to myself, “I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
Anya's birthday was the day after mine, and I was sure she and Giovanni had already celebrated it earlier. The thought lingered in the back of my mind, but I didn’t want to feel bitter about it. I couldn’t let myself break down, not today. Instead, I chose to focus on my work, burying myself in tasks that would keep my mind busy. If I just kept going, if I kept my head down, maybe I wouldn’t think about them.
But that didn’t last long.
I was halfway through answering emails when I heard a knock at my door. I groaned, thinking it was just another package or delivery, but when I opened it, there stood Palmer, his familiar, teasing grin in place.