Chapter 3

Caroline's POV

He turns and walks out, almost bouncing.

I watch the office door close. A cold smile pulls at my lips.

Family dinner?

Not happening. Soon enough, you won't have an appetite for anything.

Friday is Ruby's fifth birthday.

I leave work early, pick up her favorite strawberry cake from the bakery, and grab the fairy tale collection she's been asking for.

When I get home, Trevor's in the living room packing a suitcase.

He freezes when he sees me. His eyes dart away.

"Caroline, something came up. I've gotta head to Hawaii for work. Week or so."

I look at his suitcase. Brand new board shorts, sunscreen, a fancy suit still in the garment bag.

Business trip to Hawaii. Sure.

"Do you know what today is?" My voice stays even.

Trevor pauses, then slaps his forehead.

"Oh man! Ruby's birthday! I've been so slammed, it totally slipped my mind."

He walks over to Ruby and pulls some cash from his pocket, stuffing it in her hands.

"Be good, sweetheart. Daddy's got work stuff, can't be here for your birthday. Take this, have Mommy get you something nice. When I get back, I'll bring you something really special!"

Ruby stares at the thin stack of bills. She doesn't say anything, just steps back behind me.

She knows. Dad's not going on a business trip. He's going to his fake wedding with Amber.

"Alright, I'm cutting it close. Gotta get to the airport."

Trevor doesn't notice anything wrong. He grabs his suitcase and rushes out.

The second the door shuts, I hear him let out a relieved breath.

I take Ruby's hand and lead her to the dining table. I open the cake box.

In the flickering candlelight, Ruby closes her eyes and makes a wish.

When she opens them, they're red.

"Mommy, doesn't Daddy want us anymore?"

I kneel down and pull my daughter close. Tears finally spill over.

"Don't be scared, baby. Mommy's here. Starting today, we're going somewhere new. Where nobody's gonna hurt you. Okay?"

Ruby nods frantically. "As long as I have you, Mommy, I'll go anywhere."

That night, I pack our things. Just a few changes of clothes for Ruby and me, and all our documents.

The bags, the jewelry Trevor bought me, I don't touch any of it.

I place the divorce papers I printed earlier on the dining table, right in the center, along with my wedding ring.

Then I take Ruby's hand and walk out of this prison I've been trapped in for seven years. I don't look back.

Downstairs, a black town car is waiting.

The driver opens the door. "Miss Pembroke, your parents are at the estate. The jet's standing by."

I guide Ruby into the car.

The door shuts. Trevor Sullivan is erased from my life.

...

One week later.

The Hawaiian sun is brutal, but Trevor's riding high.

The fake wedding went off without a hitch. Amber in her white dress, crying in his arms, telling him this is the happiest moment of her life.

They spent seven days honeymooning on the beach. Trevor actually started believing his own fantasy, like he was twenty again with his first love, no responsibilities, no worries.

Until the plane lands and he's back in the city.

He opens the apartment door. The smile dies on his face.

The silence is wrong.

No smell of cooking. No footsteps. No Ruby running to hug him, shouting "Daddy!"

The air smells stale. Empty.

"Caroline? Ruby?"

Nothing.

He goes into the bedroom. Half the closet is empty. In the bathroom, Caroline and Ruby's stuff - all gone.

Panic claws at his chest.

He stumbles back to the living room and sees it. The paper on the dining table.

Divorce papers.

Next to them, the silver ring he bought at a flea market for three hundred bucks all those years ago.

Trevor's eyes go wide. All the strength drains from his body and he collapses.

"No way. Caroline wouldn't just leave. She loves me. She doesn't even work. Where would she even go?"

His hands shake as he pulls out his phone and starts dialing.

On the tenth try, I answer.

"Caroline! Where are you?! What the hell are you pulling? Get back here with Ruby, now!"

He's trying to sound angry, but the panic bleeds through.

I'm sitting on the terrace of the Pembroke estate in London, sipping tea. A cold smile crosses my face.

"Trevor. How was the honeymoon?"

"You walked out on us. You made our five-year-old daughter lie for you. Why the hell would I come back?"