The next morning, I didn't rush to deal with Jackson's scandal at work. Instead, I went to the hospital for a check-up.

The doctor, looking somber with my results in hand, confirmed the baby wasn't likely to make it.

My health wasn't great, my medication history had impacted the pregnancy.

And the drenching rain last night only made things worse. I was advised to schedule a termination procedure for the following week.

After the appointment, I headed to the office to sort out the mess Jackson left.

As fate would have it, just as I pushed open my office door, there sat Emily on the couch.

Dolled up in her smoky makeup, she broke into a saccharine apology as soon as she saw me.

"Zoe, Jackson and I got carried away last night. It was all the booze-talking. Please, don't take it to heart."

"I'm so sorry for the hassle... Thanks for looking after Jackson these past years..."

"Now that I'm back, you won't have to..."

I cut her off with a chuckle, "Two years hardly count as 'years.'"

Her face fell slightly, and I asked flatly, "What do you want now?"

Her eyes, enhanced by brown contacts, roamed over me, settling on the ring on my finger.

"Zoe, that ring you're wearing, it matches the one Jackson has. I think it's time you gave it back."

She stepped forward, reaching for my arm. I was already on edge, and in my struggle to keep her from discovering the secret beneath the ring, I accidentally struck her face.

Emily exploded, wielding her brand-new Hermes like a weapon, aiming for my head.

The metal clasp gashed my forehead, blood slowly blurring my vision.

A piercing sound filled my ears.

I raised my hand to strike back, only to be restrained by a firm grip from behind.

That once-familiar voice, now harsh and foreign, warned, "Zoe, lay a finger on her and see what happens."

When Jackson saw the blood on my face, his grip loosened, leaving bright red marks on my wrist.

He turned to Emily in disbelief and frowned, "Did you do this?"

Emily quickly shook her head, tears the size of peas immediately falling, smudging her carefully applied eyeliner.

"No way, Jackson! Zoe came at me, and when I dodged, she slammed into the desk."

"I swear, it wasn't on purpose, and even after I apologized, she kept coming at me."

Jackson, seeing her tear-streaked face, fell for her sob story and gently stroked her hair, then turned to confront me.

"Zoe, why are you gunning for Emily? She's not part of our problems."

Really?

Not part at all?

Even our usually conciliatory agent, Jen, couldn't keep quiet, pointing at Jackson and shouting,

"Man, seems like fame's made you forget—Zoe's the one you married!"

"Forgot who sorts out your meds? Who got you to quit booze and smokes? Who drove you to the ER worried sick when you had that fever?"

"Has this 'darling' of yours shown any concern for you these past two years?"

"Jackson, wake up, man, before it's too late."

It's clear, even to bystanders, the real deal, but discarded for a fling.

Jackson's cold gaze barely touched me as he spoke emotionlessly.

"Now that Emily's back, there's no need to bring up the past."

"I might have had a moment with Zoe, but it's always been only Emily that I've loved."

Sure, Jackson might have genuinely given me a chance back then.

But now, in front of his first love, all my caring gestures seem as pathetic as a lovesick fool.

I removed the ring from my left ring finger, the one that never truly belonged to me, and handed it back to Emily.

She took it without trying it on and carelessly tossed it into the trash.

Then, clinging to Jackson's arm, she cooed, "Jackson, I don't want a ring she's worn. It feels dirty."

"Can you ditch the one you're wearing and let's go pick out new ones to wear, okay?"

Jackson affectionately pinched her cheek in agreement, and I felt a wave of revulsion.

He seemed to completely forget we still had a child.

I uncurled the unnoticed, clenched fingers of my other hand and turned to leave without a second glance.

The tattoo hidden beneath the ring was exposed to the air for the first time, and I felt a rush of liberation.

Jackson, your ring was just a prop in my lies.