“Mel, are you sure you want to do this? Your father and I are worried about you...”

My adoptive parents spoke at the same time, and I could hear the worry in their voices.

“Yes. This time I'll be taking a new identity.” My tone was flat. “From now on, there is no more Melanie Henson.”

“What!”

“Can you really let go of Oliver Gilbert? And Regina, she's your best friend.”

I paused, then let out a bitter little laugh.

“They're together. I walked in on them in the middle of it.”

The line went dead silent. After a string of sighs, they told me to keep my chin up.

“We'll handle everything on this end for you. In three days, we'll come get you.”

After I hung up, I let out a long breath. Every trace of information was erased, my marriage to Oliver Gilbert dissolved, and I felt lighter than I ever had.

The wind bit through me. I got up to leave, but my heel turned under me and I went down, unable to stand.

The compact mirror shattered across the ground, and in the scattered glass I saw the reflection of Oliver Gilbert and Regina Larson.

I turned and realized the door of the private room had been left open a crack on purpose, wide enough to see the two of them pressed together.

Regina glanced over and noticed me, and the necklace slid down to her feet, where she crushed it under her heel, dead center.

Oliver was like a man entranced, thinking of nothing but pulling her in for a kiss.

“Mr. Gilbert, Miss Henson is gone. She's not at the entrance either.”

The assistant reported it quietly at his side. Oliver waved a hand, unbothered. “It's fine. She won't actually leave me.”

I left my bag and shoes right there and walked home barefoot, limping, wind and rain lashing me the whole way until I was soaked through.

At least it was dark by the time I finally made it. The moment I pushed the door open, party poppers and fireworks went off together. The room was decked out in lavish decoration, and at the center of the round table sat a ten-tier fondant cake.

“Welcome home, Regina! Happy tenth anniversary! Wishing Regina and Oliver a sweet and happy life together!” The staff had gathered as one, their faces full of joy.

The lights came on, and the festive mood dropped into dead silence. Soaked to the skin, I stood barefoot in the doorway, greeted by a celebration that was not for me.

Every one of the staff went wide-eyed. The housekeeper stammered, “Miss Henson, you're finally home. We were rehearsing this year's April Fools' skit. Sorry to bother you, we'll clear everything away right now.”

The celebration was whisked away in no time. I stood in the doorway, teeth clenched, watching it all. So everyone in this house had been lying to me.

Looking at the huge wedding photo in the hall, all I felt was the mockery of it. In a fit of fury I picked up the antique vase beside me and hurled it at the wall.

The glass burst apart in an instant. I walked across the glass-strewn floor, took down the photo, and carefully tore out my half. From now on I would never appear in the same frame as Oliver Gilbert again.

I picked up a lighter, ready to burn the photo to nothing.

“A heartless traitor. I never want to see him again.”

“Never see who again? Where are you going?”

Oliver's breathing was slightly ragged as he watched my expression with care.

“I was tied up talking business the whole time. Why did you come home ahead of me?”

He pulled me into his arms, his hands settling at my waist.

“Don't worry, Mel. From now on, wherever you are, that's where I'll be. I want to be with you forever.”

I pushed his hands away, the corners of my mouth curving up, and asked lightly,:

“And if I disappeared?”

Oliver gripped my hand, his face set.

“Then I'd disappear with you. Mel, you're the only reason I have to keep living.”

I didn't answer. I just stared at the kiss mark on his neck.

Oliver, your words will come true in three days.

He looked at the wreckage of the house, knowing he hadn't taken good care of me.“Mel, I'm sorry I let you come home alone today. I'll never let you leave me again.”

After fussing over me and getting me dressed up, he took me to the most famous upscale restaurant in the city.

The moment we walked in, the servers came forward eagerly to greet us.“Will it be the usual today, starting with Ms. Larson's favorite dishes?”

Oliver cleared his throat and waved it off.“Bring out one of everything on the menu. And change the music to Mel's favorite, something soft.”

Watching Oliver put on his composed act, I only found it funny.

“Guess what surprise I've got for you, Mel.”

Lights suddenly flickered across the pitch-black sky, and countless drones spelled out my name.

“Ten years went by so fast. We'll definitely have another ten!”

Oliver held my hand and said it tenderly.

I didn't respond. Just as I was settling in to eat in peace, a flung glass came out of nowhere and splashed across the hem of my dress.

“I'm sorry, Mel, are you all right!”

Regina swept in wearing a lavish vintage gown, spilling out apologies that couldn't hide the smirk tugging at her lips.

"Melanie, I'm so sorry, it just slipped."

As if that wasn't enough, she tipped the last of the red wine "by accident" right over my head.

The alcohol ran into my eyes, and I doubled over on the floor, crying out from the sting. Oliver didn't react at all. His eyes held nothing but delight at Regina's sudden appearance.

"Regina, what are you doing here? You've got wine all over your hands, quick, wipe it off."

Watching her look grow smugger by the second, fury flared through me. I grabbed the wineglass, smashed it to the floor, and swung my hand across her face.

She hit the ground in an instant, cheek red and swelling.

"So sorry. I bumped into you by accident. You're okay, aren't you?"

Broken glass drove into her hand, and Regina shrieked with the pain.

"Melanie Henson, you're insane!"

Oliver couldn't sit still another second. He hauled Regina up and rounded on me. "Melanie, how could you raise a hand to Regina? She only knows you like your wine and was joking around with you."

He had someone fetch a bandage at once and wrapped the cut, the ache in his eyes practically brimming over.

"I shouldn't have joked. I thought Melanie wouldn't mind."

Regina nestled against him, all pitiful and fragile. I wiped the wine away and forced my eyes open, and met the faint disgust in Oliver's gaze.

"Wasn't this a surprise for me? Regina, why are you even here?"

Regina choked on it, at a loss, and it was Oliver who smoothed it over for her.

"Regina wanted to give you her blessing too. She's your best friend, after all."

"The greatest blessing she can give me is leaving right now. Thank you."

I glared at her, and though it clearly galled her, she had no choice but to stand and go.

The dinner was ruined, the air a little awkward, and though Oliver stayed there with me, his mind was on someone else.

A ringtone cut through the tension, and the sullen frown he'd been wearing smoothed away in an instant.

Even as he angled the phone away, I caught the pinned contact at the top: "baby Regina."

He tapped out a text on the sly, and at last a smile curved his mouth.

Just as I'd expected, he turned to me with an apologetic face.

"Melanie, I'm really sorry. I had your tenth-anniversary gift all ready, and I meant for us to open it together, but something's just come up at the company..."

Fine, I'd play along with his little act. I only nodded, all understanding. "It's fine. Go take care of work."

He left in a rush, and I got up at once and followed quietly behind.

He didn't stop until he reached the luxury car down in the garage, where Regina had already been waiting a good while.

"What took you so long? Is Melanie Henson really that fascinating?" Regina rolled her eyes, impatient.

Oliver said nothing. One kiss was all it took to settle her.

She curled into his arms. "Go on, then. How are you going to make it up to me? That slap hurt like hell."

Oliver stroked her cheek gently. "It's all my fault. I don't know what got into Melanie today, going off like that."

"Don't worry. Anything you want, except the seat of Gilbert matriarch, and I'll give it to you."

Oliver popped the trunk right away and pulled out the couture gift he'd prepared.

When she finally broke into a smile, he leaned in close. "That's my surprise. So what did you get for me?"

Regina slid onto his lap and let her whole weight fall against him, the bow at her chest already pulled loose.

"That, of course, you'll have to unwrap yourself. I promise you'll be more than satisfied."

Oliver lost himself completely and buried his face against her chest, and then the light inside the car dimmed.

Their moans reached my ears, and I was sick to my stomach right there on the spot.

My heart hurt as if a thousand needles had run it through. That luxury car was my birthday gift to Oliver, and now it had become the stage for their passion.

I forced down the storm surging inside me. Three more days and it would be over.

Once I was calm, I called the dealership's sales department and put the car in my name. Oliver no longer deserved the right to use this gift.

After I recorded the proof of the two of them cheating, I braved the cold wind and went home. I built up a fire in the back garden and burned every gift Oliver had ever given me.

The wedding dress in the cabinet, the one I'd kept for ten years, I looked at for a long while. Then my heart sank, and I gathered it up and flung it into the flames.

Late that night I was sleeping deeply when Oliver burst through the door.

His face was all worry. "Melanie, I finally found you!"

It was three in the morning by then. They'd tangled together for another six hours. Watching Oliver overdo his little performance, I found it utterly laughable.

"I couldn't find you at the restaurant. I was going out of my mind!"

Oliver played it like a man undone by love, stroking my hair, hot tears sliding down his face.

I pried his hand away and tried to go back to sleep. That was when he noticed the bare band of pale skin on my ring finger. The engagement ring was gone.

"Mel, what happened? We promised we'd wear those rings our whole lives. How could you lose it and not even tell me?"

I forced up a small smile. "It was too cold, so I came back early."

"I lost the ring by accident. It's such a small thing, it didn't seem worth mentioning."

I'd been out in the cold wind too long these past few days, and now I couldn't stop coughing.

"Mel, are you all right?"

Oliver pressed his palm to my forehead and was already on the phone to the best hospital in the city.

"Every one of your doctors is to be there today. If anything happens to Mel, that's on you."

I waved a hand and said I'd just gotten chilled, nothing serious. He insisted on taking me in for a full examination anyway.

"Don't worry. I'll make you well again."

"As for the ring, once you're better we'll fly to Switzerland for the jewelry auction. Whatever piece you want, it's yours."

By six in the morning, the tests confirmed I was fine, and only then did Oliver relax.

"Mel, thank God you're okay. If something happened to you, if you left me, I wouldn't want to live either."

He stroked my forehead carefully, checking my temperature over and over. Seeing how pale I looked, he offered to cook for me himself.

The man who never so much as lifted a finger at home carried bags of groceries off toward the little kitchen off the ward.

I watched his back as he bustled around, and it all felt hazy and false.

I checked the calendar. Two more days and I could leave. My body was fine now, and I planned to go back on my own.

I pulled on my coat and stepped out of the ward. Regina was coming straight toward me. She didn't notice me, though. She just turned and slipped into one of the side rooms.

Something felt off, so I followed. Before I even got close, I heard Regina's voice, sweet and simpering.

"So devoted to Melanie. I've never had you cook for me with your own hands."

Regina teased her fingers under Oliver's chin, a little jealousy in her tone.

"Mel had a coughing fit. I was worried about her."

"Today I'm giving her my full attention. If there's nothing important, don't bother me."

Regina snatched the cooking utensils out of his hand and hurled the soup he'd just finished to the floor.

"What's that supposed to mean? So you're choosing her?"

She made a show of leaving, then flung a lab report out of her bag. "Then me and the baby in my belly will never come back."

Oliver looked startled at first. Then he read the report carefully, his brow smoothing out, and he was so overcome he lifted Regina off her feet and spun her in a circle.

"Something this big, and you're only telling me now?"

"I only came in for tests this morning because of the morning sickness. The doctor said I'm three months along, that I need to rest properly."

"Last night we were really careless. The baby isn't stable yet. I'm scared..."

Oliver held Regina in his arms, looking down at the report with satisfaction, telling her over and over not to worry.

"Don't be afraid. I'll get every doctor here to check again right now. Our baby is going to be perfectly safe."

Regina nodded, pleased, and leaned in close to kiss him.

Oliver caught the scent of his favorite perfume and pressed himself hard against her. His eyes clouded with want as he bent his head and softly circled his arm around her neck.

Their kiss was hot and lingering. Regina ran both hands over his arms, lost in it.

Through the gap in the door I watched the two of them without an inch between them, the news that Regina was pregnant turning over and over in my head.

She was actually pregnant. Ten years ago Oliver had insisted he never wanted children, that he only wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

His single-mindedness had once moved me. Now it just struck me as absurd. I recorded the two of them and got ready to leave.

They were making so much noise, still oblivious to the utensils clattering on the floor, that the sound drew a crowd, until a young nurse finally came in.

"Mr. Gilbert, is there anything you need? Miss Henson has been waiting for you at the door this whole time."

Their lingering kiss broke off, and they both saw me behind the door.

I had no interest in playing along, and turned to go, but she called out to stop me.

Without a shred of guilt, she cried out, "Mel, what are you doing here? What a coincidence."

Oliver hurriedly hid the report behind his back, his hands going right back to the soup he was making for me.

I asked back, calm, "Regina, why are you at the hospital too?"

"I came to see you, of course. You're my best friend. I was worried about you."

"Regina came specially to help me. She knows what you like. We were just talking about what to cook for you."

Oliver stepped in to smooth it over, but the guilt in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Regina picked up his line and started comforting me. "Mel, you have to take good care of yourself. It's a good thing you're not pregnant, or you'd really be suffering."

A cold laugh rose in me. Their acting was so smooth and natural it fooled everyone around them, and the young nurses kept casting envious glances their way.

Regina put on a caring face and moved to help me up. As she leaned in close, the tattoo of Oliver's English name by her collarbone slipped into view, as if by accident.

I threw off her hand and went back to the ward alone.