Violet felt the bed sink beside her. A faint mix of cologne and the smell after the intimacy filled the space between them. The images from the video surfaced in her mind, twisting her stomach into knots. She bolted upright and ran to the bathroom, retching.
Grayson rushed after her, panic-stricken. “Violet, do you have food poisoning? I’ll call the doctor!”
She grabbed his wrist, eyes red. “I’m fine. Just… recalled seeing some disgusting photos and videos.”
He knelt, rubbing her back, his gaze filled with concern.
“Don’t look at those things again,” he signed. “It hurts me to see you suffer.”
Afraid she wouldn’t understand, he took her hand and pressed it against his chest. Beneath her palm, his heart pounded fast and strong.
She instinctively glanced down—then froze.
His collar was slightly open. A few deep-red marks stood out against his skin.
Her stomach twisted violently.
How could he sit here, full of concern, while carrying another woman’s traces on his body? How could he pretend nothing had happened?
Grayson tensed at her reaction. “Who sent you those things? Tell me, Violet. I’ll make them pay.”
Violet let out a bitter laugh.
‘Grayson, the person who did this to me… is you.’
She didn’t want to see his face anymore.
“I want to sleep alone tonight,” she signed. Then, she pushed him out and locked the door behind him.
He knocked, his voice anxious. “Violet, open the door. Let’s talk.”
She climbed into bed, pulling the blanket over her head. The echoes of his voice in the video looped in her mind.
He had once promised her the kind of love no one else could have.
She had believed he was her salvation.
But in the end, he was the one pushing her down into abyss.
A tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
If she could turn back time, she would rather never have met Grayson.
…
The next morning, Violet opened the door to find Grayson standing there, looking almost… pitiful.
“Violet, why did you kick me out? Is it because I left you at the bridal shop yesterday? I really had an emergency. Don’t be mad, okay?”
An emergency?
Yes, rushing to bed with Ruby must have felt urgent.
She didn’t call out his lie. In eight days, she would be gone. He would know then that she had already seen through everything.
She shook her head. “I’m not mad. Work is important. I understand.”
Her calm response made something tighten in his chest. He immediately shook his head. “No! You’re the most important, Violet. I’ll never leave you alone again.”
He signed the words carefully, then pulled her into his arms, holding her as if he could press her into his bones, make her a part of himself.
She said nothing.
The future he spoke of—
It no longer existed.
