[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260313014099-50":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},50,2,"Chapter 2: A Ring and a Betrayal","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer Edwards and I were childhood sweethearts.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">We were together for six years, from high school all the way through college.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On graduation day, in front of our teachers and classmates, Archer proposed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He knelt in a heart shape made of candles, down on one knee.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My best friend stood closest, smiling as she watched us.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Our college friends, all four years of them, were cheering, urging me to say yes.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer held out a bouquet, his eyes locked on mine, and said, \"Marry me, Penelope. I'll make you happy.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I believed him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I was so moved, tears welling up as I let him slip the engagement ring onto my finger.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My best friend, Lilith Bishop, was right there, snapping a pic of our happy moment.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That photo? We framed it.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After we got married, it sat on our nightstand.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">That evening, Archer’s car pulled up downstairs.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I heard it but pretended to be asleep.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Ever since I found out about his affair, I didn't want to, and didn't know how to, face the man who'd been by my side for eight years.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer came upstairs. Seeing I was asleep, he didn't disturb me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He headed straight for the bathroom to shower, grabbing his phone as he went.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It reminded me of the night I discovered Archer's cheating.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He’d gone into the bathroom, but his phone, left on the bedside table, lit up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I usually didn't snoop, but the notification came late.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Worried it was something urgent from his firm, I unlocked it without thinking.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then, staring at Archer’s screen, a chill ran through me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The chat window showed a familiar profile pic, but the words were increasingly alien.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“I’ve been married to her for two years. I’m so over her always being so agreeable.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“…I love you. If my mother hadn’t insisted on interfering back then, I would never have ended up with her.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Darling, you have to believe me. Once she has the baby, I’ll divorce her…”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I scrolled through his conversation with her, a blur of words that seemed to go on forever.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When Archer and I were picking out my wedding dress, he'd glance at me in the gown, say it looked nice, then text her asking if she was awake.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When I sat across from him at dinner, after serving me, he'd secretly order food for her, reminding her to eat.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">On Valentine’s Day, after the fireworks, he’d text her while washing his hands, asking if she liked his gift.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">In countless moments when we were together, her shadow was always there.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I heard Archer finish drying his hair, step out of the bathroom, and pause by my side of the bed.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I didn't know if he knew I was faking sleep.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The next second, Archer’s phone rang.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Hearing that familiar ringtone, I dug my nails hard into my palm.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Whether he was trying not to wake me or was just eager to answer, I couldn't tell.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Archer walked quickly toward the balcony, pulling the door partly shut.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I slowly opened my eyes, looking towards the balcony.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I got out of bed, not bothering with slippers.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My bare feet sank into the soft wool carpet as I crept closer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Through the glass, I watched Archer’s back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His voice was muffled.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272931277]