Chapter 3The Last Letter to My Best Friend

Thousands of posts over eight years. I read every single one, my heart shredding with each word.

Three months after Matt and I made our relationship official, he started his affair with her.

For a long moment, I was numb. Then, a volcanic rage erupted inside me. Matt, how could you do this to our eight years?

In that instant, I wanted to burn his world to the ground.

As it happened, my mother-in-law’s birthday was in two days. In all the years I’d known Matt, she had been genuinely kind to me. It pained me to have to disappoint her, but this had to be done.

I took the jade bracelet she had given me as a wedding gift and placed it in a box. Then I went out and bought a two-thousand-dollar wallet, put it in the same gift bag, and had it beautifully wrapped.

On the morning of her birthday, I reminded Matt, “It’s your mom’s birthday today. Be home early.”

He promised he would, then left for work.

I took the day off. I packed my suitcases. Then I picked up the sledgehammer I’d bought and started swinging.

Three hours later, our beautiful home was a wasteland of shattered plaster and broken furniture. I dragged my suitcases out, took the gift, and drove straight to my in-laws’ house.

When I arrived, Maya was already there.

She saw me and wrapped her arm around mine as if nothing was wrong. “Chloe! You’re finally here! We’ve been waiting for you.”

She led me to a seat and brought me a glass of water, acting for all the world like she was the lady of the house. My mother-in-law sat there, beaming at her, seeing nothing amiss.

My heart sank even further. They all knew. I was the only one who didn’t.

“Where’s Matt?” I asked. It was already six. He should have been here. I was about to text him when Maya spoke up.

“Matt said he has a last-minute meeting. He’ll be about half an hour late.”

A humorless smile touched my lips. “He’s certainly honest with you. He never mentioned it to me.”

Maya blinked, then forced a laugh. “Oh, I didn’t know! I just overheard his mom on the phone with him.”

“I just got here myself,” she added quickly. “Matt said the more, the merrier!”

My mother-in-law jumped in. “Yes, Matt’s just so busy. He took a whole month off for the honeymoon, so he has a lot of catching up to do. You have to be understanding, Chloe.”

Before I could reply, Maya squeezed my shoulder, smiling sweetly at my mother-in-law. “Our Chloe is the most understanding person I know. Of course she gets it, right?”

I said nothing. Half an hour later, just as predicted, Matt arrived. He came straight to my side and started peeling an orange for me.

We all sat down for dinner. The maid brought out the dishes.

I presented my gift. “Happy birthday, Mom. This is for you.”

My mother-in-law took the box and opened it. Inside was the wallet. Maya gasped beside me. “Ooh, the monogram print! Chloe, you have great taste! That must have cost a fortune.”

“Two thousand dollars,” I said flatly.

My mother-in-law immediately pushed the box aside. “It’s too much! No, no, Chloe. You and Matt work hard for your money. Don’t be so extravagant.”

“It’s fine, Mom,” I replied, my voice light. “If I don’t spend his money, he’ll just spend it on another woman. I’d rather you have it.”

She froze. “Don’t say such silly things, dear.”

I just smiled. “There’s more underneath.”

When my mother-in-law found the smaller box at the bottom and opened it, her face turned pale.

“Chloe, what is the meaning of this?”

Matt snatched my wrist. “Chloe, what are you doing? You don’t take back a gift you’ve given!”

Maya patted my arm. “Chloe, don’t be foolish. This is a very bad omen.”

I looked at their faces—the shock, the fear, the panic.

Matt took the bracelet and tried to force it back onto my wrist.

I pulled my hand away and stood up.

“You’re right. I am returning it. And I want a divorce.”