Chapter Three

Back at the apartment, I dropped my bag by the door, kicked off my shoes, and lit the pumpkin spice candles. The scent filled the space, but it didn't bring the comfort it once did. I made dinner out of habit, not because I was hungry, and ate quickly without really tasting anything.

Later, I sat in the dark, the soft hum of the breast pump filling the room while rain tapped against the window. That quiet hum was the only thing keeping me present, preventing me from sinking too deep into my thoughts.

Then my phone buzzed, lighting up the room. Maya.

Seeing her name made my boil. Maya, the one who had betrayed me. I couldn't pin all the blame on her—Phoenix had shown who he truly was, walking away from everything as if it meant nothing. But Maya... she was supposed to be my best friend. She was the one I trusted. She slipped into my life and tore it apart. The affair, the lies—all hidden behind her smiling face. The same face that had looked me in the eye, like she hadn't destroyed everything.

She didn't know I had found out. During the divorce, I was too consumed with grief to deal with her. Losing the baby had shattered me, leaving no room for anger, only pain.

I stared at the phone, my fingers trembling as I hovered over her message. I didn't want to read it; I didn't want to let her words back into my life. But I couldn't stop myself. I opened the message.

"Hey Rose! We're planning a Halloween getaway at this amazing plantation estate for the weekend. It's a huge old mansion with total haunting vibes. It's gonna be fun. We'd love for you to join us! Let me know. ?? "

My stomach churned. How could she act like everything was fine, like she hadn't completely wrecked my life?

Another message followed: "I've added you to our WhatsApp group so you can see the details. Hope to see you there!"

The audacity. She had torn my life apart, and now she wanted me to pretend like nothing had happened.

My fingers hovered over the screen. Something dark stirred inside me. The rage I had buried beneath the grief was rising. I had never confronted her, but maybe now was my chance—a chance to make her see the damage she had done.

Maya probably thought I was still broken, still too weak to say anything. She had no idea I knew the truth or how badly I wanted to confront her, to make her feel even a sliver of the pain she had caused me. She didn't know how long I had been waiting for this moment.

For the first time in months, I felt something other than pain. I felt control—a need to take back what she had stolen from me.

Without thinking, I typed a reply. My fingers moving on their own.

"Sounds interesting. I'll join."

I tossed the phone aside, my heart racing as adrenaline and fear mixed inside me.

This was it. I was going to face her. And this time, she wouldn't get away with it.