To Love You, Never Again

“How about this?” Another worker held up a rare, limited-edition Hermès bag. “This is one of the latest models.”

“Donate it,” Callie said without missing a beat.

“You’re donating this bracelet too? I’ve seen this bracelet before,” someone else asked hesitantly. “It’s worth millions. Are you sure you want to give it away?”

Callie didn’t even look. Instead, she slipped off the handmade ring Reid had crafted for her and tossed it into the donation pile. “Put everything in this box. Every item in this pile is going to donation. Got it?” she said coolly. The housekeeping staff exchanged uneasy glances, murmuring amongst themselves. However, they carefully packed up all the items as instructed, their reverence evident in the way they handled the expensive belongings.

By the time Reid returned, the cleaning service had already cleared out everything.

That night, Callie curled up on the sofa, her phone buzzing incessantly with messages.

It was from Geneva.

She was bragging about her time with Reid.

“Callie, the meteor shower was stunning tonight. Reid booked an entire venue just for us. He made a wish under the stars—he said he’ll love me forever.”

“Do you know what else he said? He said you’ll turn thirty this year and marrying you doesn’t seem worth it anymore. Honestly, I agree. What man doesn’t prefer a younger, more energetic woman? Someone who can bring new excitement into his life?”

“We even did it under the stars tonight. Reid was amazing. Tell me, has it been a while since you’ve been with him like that?”

Every word felt like a slap, leaving Callie trembling as she read.

The texts kept coming, but Callie had seen enough. She switched off her phone and hugged a pillow tightly, retreating to the guest room for the night. She suddenly felt that the bedroom she had once shared with Reid felt disgusting and refuse to sleep in it. 

***

At dawn, Callie was awakened by the sharp ring of her phone. Before she could answer it, Reid burst through the door, pulling her into his arms. His heartbeat hammering against her.

“Callie, you scared me! I thought you were gone. If I hadn’t heard your phone I would…” His voice wavered, betraying his anxiety. “Why are you sleeping in here?”

Callie pushed him away, forcing herself to stay calm and keep last night’s messages out of her mind. She gave him a faint smile. “I must’ve sleepwalked. I woke up in the middle of the night and couldn’t find you. Where were you?”

Reid ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his expression instantly smoothing out as if he’d rehearsed his response. “There was an emergency at the office. I had to step out for a bit, but I came back as soon as I could.”

Callie nodded, her lips curling into a faint smile. She could almost admire how seamlessly he lied. His explanation was polished, like he’d rehearsed it over and over. To back up his story, he casually placed a folder next to her, making sure she could see the documents inside.

What a performance. 

Callie’s fingers grazed his cheek as she looked up at him, her eyes brimming with a mix of bitterness and resolve. “You work so hard, Reid.”

“For you, it’s worth it,” he murmured, kissing her forehead. “Callie, I finally feel like I’m in a position to give you the life you deserve. I’ve even set up a meeting with the designer. Let’s go look at wedding dresses after breakfast, okay?”

“Okay.” She nodded, playing along. If Reid wanted a show, she’d give him one. She wondered if he’d applaud her acting when the truth finally came out.

At the bridal shop, Reid asked the designer to bring out their most expensive gowns for Callie to try on. His enthusiasm seemed genuine, but every time she went to change, his phone buzzed nonstop.

By the time she walked out in the final dress, Reid didn’t even notice her. His eyes were glued to his phone, a grin plastered across his face.

That smile—Callie knew it well.

It was the same look Reid used to give her when they were deeply in love, back when she’d wear something special just for him.