You Chose Her, Remember?

That night, I sat alone in the guest room, wide awake, listening to them hook up across the hall. Every creak, every laugh—burned.

I started scrolling through old photos and landed on one from three years ago, right after graduating Parsons. That night at the charity auction was when I met Daniel.

He bought every piece I showed and said, "There's something special in your work. It reminds me of someone I once knew."

Yeah. That someone? Sophie.

At 3 a.m., a message popped up from Dad's doctor:

[Ms. Egerton, there's something you need to know. Your father actually had a strong chance of surviving the surgery. But the day before, someone canceled the specialist consultation and delayed the operation. He claimed to be your husband.]

My phone slipped out of my hand. Just—thudded onto the floor.

Dad didn't just die.

It was planned.

Daniel knew Sophie was coming back. He stalled the surgery on purpose—so I'd be too broken to fight her moving in. To keep his so-called soulmate happy, he let my dad die.

Just before sunrise, I heard their door creak. Daniel stepped out, spotted me, and froze.

"You're still up?"

His robe was loose, lips marked up like a crime scene.

"Daniel Wilson." I didn't blink. "Did you delay my father's surgery?"

His face twitched, then went blank. "The doctor said the odds were low. I just wanted a better specialist."

"But he died." I stood. "While you were busy picking Sophie up from the airport."

"That was an accident," he snapped. "I'll compensate you."

"Compensate me? You think cash fixes dead?"

I walked back to the guest room.

Time to leave.

Three years in that house, and nothing felt like mine. A few clothes, some paint, and what little I had of Dad.

By dawn, I was packed and in the living room.

Sophie waltzed out of the master bedroom—wearing my pajamas. She spotted the suitcase and smirked.

"You're leaving? Daniel didn't say you could."

Didn't answer. Just headed for the door.

"Stop," Daniel barked. "Did I say you could go?"

I turned and actually saw him for the first time.

Handsome. Empty. Cruel. Full of himself.

This was the guy I wasted three years on. The one who watched my father die so his ex could move in.

"Remember this," I said, voice sharp. "You're the one who shoved me out."

Then I left.

Behind me, Sophie laughed. "She's got a temper. Good. Saves us the trouble."

Daniel stayed quiet.

Didn't chase me.

Didn't care.

To him, I was just a placeholder. And I was done.