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Chapter 6
From the night Marian asked for a divorce, Dean hadn’t set foot home in a month.
He’d been bouncing around–crashing at friends‘ places, spending nights at clubs, and sometimes… well, with Erica.
Right now, Erica was sitting beside him. She caught him looking and turned, flashing a small, knowing smile. A diamond necklace sparkled on her long, elegant neck–a neck that always reminded him of a swan.
Funny thing was, that necklace came as a set with a pair of diamond earrings.
The day he heard Erica was coming back to town, he’d actually been at the jewelry store, picking out an anniversary gift for Marian. He hadn’t really planned to get her anything. Holidays and anniversaries had stopped mattering to him ages ago. Maybe back with his first love, he’d cared, but after all these relationships, the magic had worn off.
But a wedding anniversary–this was his first.\
He was away on a business trip when Marian messaged him:
**[Happy anniversary, honey. Hope work isn’t too hard~]**8
She’d sent a picture too–a scarf she was knitting for him. Corny, yeah. But it was also strangely sweet.
So, he’d gone into the jewelry shop. And when he spotted that diamond necklace, he thought of Erica–his old friend and fellow model. Her neck was made for something like that. Graceful. Delicate.
Yet, in the end, he hadn’t married the swan. He’d married the ugly duckling.”
That thought made him smirk.
As if fate was playing games, his phone rang right then. A friend called to say Erica was coming back–and she was single.
While his friend kept rambling, Dean told the clerk to wrap the necklace.}
The clerk smiled, “This is our hottest new set. Comes with a free pair of diamond earrings.”
Erica didn’t have pierced ears. Marian did.
So yeah, the gift was for Marian.2
His friend, overhearing, teased, “Wait, you’re not giving that to Erica, are you?“?
Dean just rolled his eyes. “Not a chance.“2
No way he’d buy a gift for a woman who’d broken his heart. He wasn’t that desperate.}
But now…
That same necklace was resting on Erica’s neck.
She didn’t have to do anything–just sit there, quiet and beautiful, and she’d always be the exception for him. Their souls fit. Their bodies fit even better.
Dean’s phone buzzed suddenly.
For a split second, Marian’s name flashed through his mind. Then he remembered–he’d put her messages on Do Not Disturb a long time ago. So it wasn’t her.
He tossed his phone aside.
Erica sneezed and snuggled closer into his arms.
“It’s supposed to be spring, so why is it still freezing? If I’d known, I would’ve brought my scarf.”
Dean thought about the scarf Marian was making him.
“I have one. I’ll go get it for you,” he said, grabbing his car keys and standing up.
His friends started teasing from across the room.
“Look at Dean, being ali sweet now!”
“Never thought I’d see the day!”
Erica looked a bit embarrassed, but there was a triumphant glint in her eyes.
Dean always had people around him, but she was the one he actually cared about. And sure, lots of guys were interested in Erica, but somehow, Dean always stood
oute
Erica probably thought he was just heading out to his car. She had no idea he was actually driving all the way home.
The night air whipped past as he sped through the city. Someone honked and cursed at him for cutting them off, but he barely noticed.
When Dean pulled up to the house, he checked the time. Marian should be asleep by now.
He didn’t bother being quiet for her. In fact, he slammed the door even louder than usual
He didn’t take off his shoes. He went straight to the bedroom.8
“Where’s that scarf you were making me?” he called out?
Silence.
No answer
Dean flicked on the light.
The bed was empty, of course.
On the bedside table sat a small jewelry box Inside were the diamond earrings.
And on the table in the living room, he saw the divorce papers.
I crossed thousands of miles to get here.
