---- Chapter 4 | drove back to my small apartment, the one | now thought of as my sanctuary. | sat on the sofa, staring at the wall, replaying his words, his touch, his lies. Was it all an act? The twenty years of friendship, the promises, the love? Was | just a stepping stone for him, a convenient partner to build an empire with? The thought made me feel sick. The next day, he showed up at my door with a bouquet of my favorite flowers, white lilies. "| thought your apartment could use some cheering up," he said, his smile as bright and fake as ever. | took the flowers, my fingers brushing against his. | forced a small smile. "Thank you, Liam. That's sweet of you." He followed me inside, his eyes scanning the small space. "I hate that you're here alone," he said, his voice laced with that practiced concern. "Our home is empty without you. I'm empty without you." His acting was flawless. He looked genuinely hurt, genuinely lost. For a fleeting second, the old Ava, the one who loved him more than anything, wanted to believe him. But then | remembered the smell of Clara's perfume, the picture of his hand on her stomach. ---- The lie was so perfect, it was almost beautiful. It was an architectural marvel of deceit. "| just need some time," | said, putting the lilies in a vase. "I've been under a lot of stress." "| know, baby. And it's all my fault. | pushed you too hard with the Pinnacle Tower project." He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. "Let's go away. After the wedding, let's take a whole year off. Just you and me. We can travel the world." | leaned back into his embrace, my body tense. | felt like a traitor to myself. "Maybe," | whispered. | needed to know more. | needed to confirm everything. | made an excuse about forgetting some important files at the office and left him in my apartment. | didn't go to the office. | went to see Sarah, my best friend. Sarah was a tech wizard who could find out anything about anyone. When | told her everything, she didn't say "I told you so," even though she'd never fully trusted Liam. She just hugged me tight and then got to work. An hour later, the truth was laid out on her screen. It was worse than | imagined. Phone records showed hundreds of calls and texts between Liam and Clara, going back over two years. Hotel receipts. Dinner reservations at intimate, hidden- away restaurants. He had even bought her a car. ---- And then Sarah found the final, devastating piece of the puzzle. She pulled up Clara's public profile on the city's architecture board. | stared at her bio, at the list of her past projects and accolades. And then | saw it. Her birthday. It was the same as mine. October 23rd. The room started to spin. All the "special" birthday gifts he'd given me over the past two years... were they for me? Or were they for her? The rare first-edition book on modernist architecture, the vintage fountain pen... had he bought two of everything? Was | just a convenient, identical placeholder? | went back to my apartment, my mind numb. Liam was still there, watching TV, looking perfectly at home. "Did you get your files?" he asked, smiling. | stared at him, at the man | thought | knew. "Liam," | said, my voice quiet, "is there anything you need to tell me?" He looked confused. "Tell you? About what?" "| don't know," | said, my heart pounding. "Anything. About us. About work." He stood up and walked over to me, his expression serious. He took my hands in his. "Ava, | know you've been distant. If this is about me working too much, | swear I'll change. From now on, you are my only priority. | swear on my life." He looked me straight in the eye, his gaze unwavering, and ---- swore on his life. The same life he was living with another woman. | felt a cold calm settle over me. The last remnants of my love for him died in that moment. "Okay," | said, pulling my hands away. "| believe you." He smiled, relieved. But | saw the truth. | saw everything. And he saw nothing at all.