A subtle ache unfurled in Sabrinas chest.

Clenching her hands into fists to still their trembling, she uttered softly, Theres no point in talking about it. He already has someone he loves, and theyre about to remarry.

Remarry? Hes been married before?

The answer caught Joseph off guard.

Two yearsa marriage spanning two years spent togetheryet that hadnt even measured up to the shadow of a man who had already divorced another woman?

Sabrina tilted her head in a faint nod. Yes. He married someone he didnt love back then, under family pressure. But now, the woman he truly adores has returned to him, and theyre about to walk down the aisle together.

Joseph listened, anger rising swiftly through his veins.

Well, that makes him a complete scoundrel. Wrecked one womans life, and now anothers. A man like that isnt worth your love. If you get the chance, choose someone elseyoull be happier.

Sabrina nodded in agreement. I think so too.

But how? What could she possibly do now?

Shed already spent ten years loving him.

Ten yearsstretching like an endless thread through all the best parts of her youth, becoming an inextricable knot.

There was no switching now. If she couldve replaced this ache with someone else, she wouldve done it long ago.

Some loves were born of roots grown too deep, too tangled. Once entrenched, they could neither be severed nor unearthed.

Joseph, she thought, silently gripping her hands so tight her knuckles whitened, Ive loved you for ten whole years. Did you know that? The one I love isnt anyone elseits you. Its only ever been you. Again and again, she whispered it in the confines of her mind, a feverish, unspoken mantra.

Across from her, Joseph frowned, his brows knitting into a furrow so deep it practically split his face.

He studied Sabrina, gaze lingering. Some thought clearly gnawed at him.

Sabrina, he suddenly called, his voice tinged with something unreadable.

Yes?

Nothing. He shook his head and waved it away.

What madness, he thought, rubbing his temple. For just a fleeting momentan absurd, passing instantit had struck him that the person shed been talking about might be him.

But that was impossible.

He distinctly remembered that during their wedding, Sabrina had confessed shed loved someone else for eight years.

Yet at that time, theyd only known each other for four years. It simply couldnt have been him. It had to be someone else.

After Joseph left, Sabrina rushed to the trash can. She fished out the crumpled pregnancy test result and carefully smoothed it flat against the tabletop before tucking it into a drawer. Her movements were deliberate, methodical, fragile even.

But her bodyher body felt like it was giving way. Each breath was a labor; each inhale scraped at her lungs. Exhaustion pressed her into bed where she finally surrendered to a fitful, feverish sleep.

The shrill ring of the phone startled her awake.

Hello? Her groggy voice, still thick with sleep and softened by a nasal timbre, held an inexplicable tenderness that could pierce the hardest soul.

Still sleeping? Josephs voice came through the receiver, warm as ever, laced with his usual gentle care.

Mm, just woke up, Sabrina replied, curling into herself.

Its almost noon. Dont forget to eat. I left your gift with Xander Lathamhell deliver it to you in a bit.

Gift? What gift? she asked, momentarily disoriented. Sleep had dulled her memories, the weight of certain truths deliberately left untouched.

Our second anniversary gift, Joseph answered plainly. Even though I brought up divorce this morning, it hasnt been finalized yet. Until it is, Ill fulfill my responsibilities. Whatever others get, you wont miss out on.

See? This was Joseph.

Ever so thoughtful, ever so perfectimpeccable to the point where no flaw could be found, no chink in the armor of his benevolence.

How good he was. How utterly, heartbreakingly good.

Except for one flaw. He didnt love her.

As Sabrina stared into the empty air, Josephs voice broke through, steady and composed. I should apologize, though. There was a little hiccup with the original gift, so I replaced it with something else.

Oh. She nodded numbly, unable to decipher how she felt about the gesture. It made her ache.

They were on the brink of divorce. The fact that he still insisted on giving her an anniversary gift? It felt almost cruel in its irony.

After hanging up, Sabrina changed out of her pajamas into day clothes. She had just finished tying her hair when the doorbell rang. Xander stood there, carrying the gift box with unerring respect.

Maam, this is from Mr. Larkins, he said, bowing his head slightly as he handed it to her.

Thank you, Sabrina murmured, her voice polite yet distant.

The wrapping was exquisitely crafted, nothing short of extravagant. You could tell at a glance it came from one of the top luxury brands.

Though knowing it wasnt the gift shed once longed for, she still opened it herself.

When her eyes fell on the ruby necklace and earrings nestled inside, a ghost of a smile crossed her face. Silent. Small.

This was Joseph making amends, wasnt it?

Because he hadnt been able to follow through on giving her the gift she really wanted, hed spent a fortune instead, presenting her with a matching set of jewelry so opulent it practically glowed.

She thought back to the auction theyd attended the previous month. Among the dazzling displays, there had been a pair of jade earrings that captivated her instantly. They wouldve matched the jade bracelet her grandfather once gave her perfectlya radiant green, timeless and graceful. The moment she laid eyes on them, shed fallen in love.

Joseph had noticed her gaze lingering and, without prompting, said, If you like them, Ill bid for them.

No, its too expensive, shed replied on impulse. Despite their marriage being contractual, she couldnt bring herself to let Joseph spend that much on her.

Its almost our second anniversary. Consider it my gift to you. If it makes you uncomfortable, you can always give me something in return, hed offered, his tone light and easy.

For days afterward, shed carried the thought with her, secretly looking forward to receiving those jade earrings.

But the morning he brought up divorce, whatever plans had been made for their anniversary fell apart. Even the gift, pre-planned and prepared, had been forgottennot merely lost but discarded.

It seemed fate had decided there was no point in prolonging things. They werent meant to be, were they? Heaven itself seemed to insist they part ways.

A gift. She had prepared something for him, tooa labor of earnest, quiet love. But he wouldnt want it.

Impulsively, Sabrina stopped Xander before he could leave.

This cakeI made it myself. Could you take it to him for me?

Xander froze, momentarily conflicted. Josephs words rang starkly in his mind: I dont eat sweets. If she tries to send me a cake, refuse it.

Xander hesitated, a flicker of guilt crossing his face as he finally said, Mr. Larkins mentioned he doesnt like sweets. He knows you do, Mrs. Larkins, so he asked me to remind you to enjoy them yourself.

Sabrina clenched her hands so tightly her nails bit into her palms. She swayed slightly, as though her legs might give out beneath her.

The room felt colder when Xander left. She cradled the cake in her arms, carrying it all the way back to her bedroom. Once inside, she shut the door behind her and slid down against it, her body folding to the ground as if the weight of her sorrow couldnt be borne upright. Tears fell in heavy drops, spattering onto the polished floorboards. Her heart was breakingno, it wasnt breaking; it was shattering, splintering, every scattered, sharp fragment cutting into her chest.

Joseph didnt like cream, shed always known that. He didnt like sugary cakes either. Years together had taught her that much, so this time, shed poured everything into making something differenta low-fat, low-sugar cake that barely skimmed the edge of sweetness, offering only the faintest hint of milk's softness. There wasnt even any frosting, just sponge layered with care. She had made it especially for him, just for him... and yet, he hadnt taken even a single bite.

Her eyes drifted to the cake now, beautifully decorated with an intricate image of three figures: a family of three, her small, fragile dream painted in delicate, edible colors. She forced a bitter smile. And then, as if something inside her cracked, she grabbed a handful of the cake, shoveling it into her mouth with reckless abandon.

Her head bowed; her disheveled hair shielded her face, but the way she atevoracious, out of controlbetrayed the storm within her. There was no grace, no restraint. Only the grotesque, primal drive to consume. She was crying, heavily enough that her tears salted every bite, but she didnt care. She kept eating, cramming piece after piece into her mouth as if the act of finishing it might stitch together the rent pieces of her soul. By the time she reached the midpoint, she gagged and heaved, vomiting onto the floor. But as soon as she steadied herself, she turned back to the cake, plunging into it as though nothing had happened.

Not until the last crumb disappeared, not until she'd cleaned the plate entirely, did she stop. A grotesque triumph twisted her face. But the moment passed, and her stomach rebelled. She staggered to the bathroom, where wave after wave of agony hit hervomiting, then pain so intense she curled on the cold tile floor, her body wracked with spasms, her vision swimming.

No one knewnot Joseph, not his endless stream of perfect, composed assistants, nor anyone else lingering in their orbitbut her mother had known. Her mother had always known: Sabrina was allergic to eggs. That was why she never touched sponge cake on her birthday, always opting for frosting and cream instead. Inside the privacy of that bathroom, swallowing her sobs, she swore to herself this would be the last time. She would never again destroy herself for Joseph or for some fragile illusion of what might have been.

The tears came harder after that, uncontrollable, heaving sobs that tore through her chest. Sabrina pressed her trembling hands to her mouth, muffling the sound so no one outside the room would hear. They couldnt know. No one could know.

Im sorry, baby, she whispered, her voice strangled but still soft enough it barely carried beyond her own lips. Im so sorry, my darling. Mommy tried, I really tried to keep your daddy here. But he doesnt love me. He doesnt want me. He loves someone else. And even though I wanted him to stay... I cant ask him to. I cant be that selfish.

Her hands moved almost unconsciously to her stomach as she kept whispering, Its okay, sweetie. Mommy will be okay. Mommy can do this on her own, I promise. You and I... well be fine. Well make it. We will...

Her phone buzzed suddenly, startling her in the choking quiet of the room. She wiped her face hurriedly, sniffing once, forcing composure back around herself like a brittle mask. With trembling fingers, she answered the call. Hello?

Josephs voice was smooth, as always, its veneer maddeningly uncracked. Did you get the gift? Did you like it?

Her throat tightened, but she forced normalcy into her tone. Yes, she said evenly. I loved it. Thank you.

You look good in red, he said after a beat. It suits you. Adds some color. His pause felt deliberate, a weighted silence before the next blow. I wont be coming home tonight.

And then, faint but undeniable, there was another voice on the linesoft, teasing, unmistakable. Layla Fairfax. Her voice kissed the air with careless familiarity. Joseph, did you tell her yet? Come on, the candles are lit and the table's ready

The call ended before Layla could say more, but by then, Sabrina already knew. Shed always known.