1 Sloane’s father had Alzheimer’s. Whenever an episode hit, I was the only person he recognized. Every single time he gripped my hand and refused to let go, Sloane would look at me with eyes full of helpless regret. “Declan, I already bought the tickets for the amusement park.” “Looks like Harper is going to get lucky and take my spot again.” I looked down at my hand trapped in her father’s wrinkled grip, letting out a soft sigh. Every time Sloane and I planned a date, Jacob would suffer an episode. Because of this, our mutual friends took turns accompanying her in my place so her plans would not go to waste. My closest friend went with her to watch the sunrise from the mountain peak. Her younger sister took my place to ride the rollercoasters at Disney. Her best friend went with her on a weekend hiking trip out in the countryside. I believed it all. Until today, when I accidentally unlocked Jacob’s iPad and saw a hidden group chat. The chat was named “Protecting Silas.” Silas. Sloane’s ex-boyfriend. I tapped the screen. The most recent message was from Sloane. “Silas is doing so much better today.” “Dad, thank you so much for faking another episode to keep Declan at home.” Jacob replied almost instantly. “Just focus on taking care of Silas. I’ve got things handled here.” Then he tagged everyone in the chat. “Make sure none of you slip up!” I watched as a row of familiar profile pictures, my friends and her family, replied with thumbs-up emojis and promises to keep the secret. My hands began to shake as I slowly set the tablet down on the counter. Tears hit the glass screen, blurring the reflection of my pathetic, bitter smile. Five years. Five years of a relationship, and every single date that was supposed to belong to me had been handed over to another man. The most ridiculous part was that everyone knew. I was the only fool kept entirely in the dark. “Declan, are those blackberry scones ready yet?” Jacob’s voice drifted in from the living room. I slowly lifted my head. Whenever Jacob faked an episode, his only demand was that I spend hours in the kitchen making complex, time-consuming pastries from scratch. Handmade berry tarts in the spring. Chilled lemon curd squares in the summer. None of the recipes were impossibly difficult, but they required hours of meticulous prep work. And he always demanded them right when Sloane and I were about to walk out the door. I used to think it was just a lonely old man craving comfort and company. Now I knew it was nothing but a calculated stalling tactic. I walked out of the kitchen, looking him dead in the eyes as I wiped my hands on a towel. “I’m not baking anymore.” Jacob immediately frowned, his tone shifting into something demanding. “You promised Sloane you would take good care of me.” I held his gaze without blinking. “Did you suddenly remember who Sloane is?” His irritated expression completely froze. A flash of genuine panic darted across his eyes. “It just came to me. My, my memory has been doing a lot better lately.” I stared at him in complete silence. Just then, the front door swung open. Sloane’s younger sister, Harper, walked in. Jacob scrambled to change the subject. “Weren’t you at the amusement park with your sister? Why are you back so early?” Harper instinctively shot a nervous glance in my direction before scratching the back of her neck. “Yeah, well, the park was way too crowded. The lines were a nightmare.” “I got tired, so I just walked around a bit and came home.” I stared at Harper. Just last week, she had been hugging the limited-edition designer bag I bought her, telling me how lucky she was to have me as her future brother-in-law. Yet here she was, looking me right in the eye and lying through her teeth to cover for her sister and another man. It was a clumsy, pathetic performance. And I had been stupid enough to buy front-row tickets for years. “Right,” I muttered quietly. Both of them exhaled a synchronized breath of relief. “I’m heading back to my place.” Without waiting for a response, I grabbed my keys and walked out the door. The moment I stepped into the house Sloane and I had bought for our marriage, I pulled my suitcase from the closet. Then I opened my laptop and submitted a formal request for a transfer to our company’s West Coast office in Portland. It was pitch black outside by the time Sloane finally came home. She walked through the door with a bright, effortless smile. “Declan, the amusement park was absolutely packed today.” “Harper is such a coward. She literally clung to my arm the entire time we were on the rollercoaster. You should have seen her.” She was complaining, but her eyes were soft and filled with lingering affection. I could perfectly picture the scene she was describing. The only difference was that the person clinging to her arm was Silas. She walked over and handed me a small velvet box. “Here. I picked these cufflinks up at the gift shop. They’re for you.” I looked down at the silver metal. Stuck to the velvet lining was a single, short strand of light brown hair. I didn’t reach for it. A memory clicked into place. Last month, she brought back a plush toy from Disney. It carried a faint, unfamiliar scent of expensive cologne. When I asked her about it, she claimed it was a limited-edition park fragrance. Now I realized the truth. Every single “souvenir” she brought home was something Silas had already used. When I didn’t take the box, Sloane’s smile faded into annoyance. “What is wrong with you today?” “Are you pouting because I didn’t take you out? You know how my dad gets. He needs constant supervision, and you’re the only one he trusts.” She leaned closer, forcing the box into my hand. The moment she did, a heavy wave of men’s cologne hit my face. “Sloane.” I cut her off. “Harper doesn’t wear men’s cologne. And she definitely doesn’t have short brown hair.” Sloane physically stiffened. Her face darkened instantly. “What are you implying?” “Are you actually accusing me of something?” I stood up, tossing the velvet box onto the glass coffee table. The sound echoed sharply in the quiet room. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I saw the group chat.” “The one I’m not invited to. The one where your dad fakes his illness to keep me locked in the kitchen so you can go on dates with Silas.” “Protecting Silas. That was the name, wasn’t it?” For a fraction of a second, true panic fractured Sloane’s composure. But it vanished instantly. She looked at me with total confidence, her tone dripping with defensive indignation. “Could you try not making it sound so disgusting?” “We weren’t on a date. I am trying to help him heal.” “He suffers from severe clinical depression. It got worse recently, so I took him out to get some fresh air.” “The only reason we didn’t tell you is because we knew you would overreact and ruin the mood.” I let out a breathless, humorless laugh. She had been dating her ex-boyfriend behind my back for months, and somehow, I was the one making things sound disgusting. Sloane let out an exhausted sigh. She reached out, falling back on her old habit of trying to stroke my cheek. “Come on, Declan. You’ve always been the mature one. We’re getting married soon. Once he recovers, you and I can go on dates every single day. Doesn’t that sound nice?” I tilted my head, letting her hand grasp empty air. Every single day? I turned my back to her and walked toward the bathroom. “There isn’t going to be an every single day.” Sloane’s irritated voice chased after me, treating me like a child throwing a tantrum. “Look at the attitude you’re giving me, Declan. Can you not muster an ounce of basic human empathy?” My footsteps paused. I didn’t bother turning around. When I stepped out of the shower, Sloane was pacing the bedroom with her phone pressed to her ear. I could hear the muffled sound of someone crying through the receiver. “Sloane, my apartment is so dark. I can’t sleep. My chest hurts so much.” Sloane grabbed her purse, her face pale with worry. “Don’t cry, Silas. I’m leaving right now. Just hold on, okay?” She ended the call and looked at me. “Silas had a panic attack today. I need to go check on him.” I stared at her, the corners of my mouth pulling into a bitter smirk. “Our wedding is exactly one month away. Do you really think it’s appropriate for you to run to another man’s apartment in the middle of the night?” She snatched her car keys from the dresser and marched toward the door. “This right here, Declan. This is exactly why we kept things from you.” “Your mind is always in the gutter.” Sloane left and didn’t come back that night. The next morning, as I was drinking my coffee, my phone lit up with a text from her. “Don’t forget your suit fitting today. I’m already at the boutique waiting for you.” When I walked into the high-end tailoring shop, my custom-made wedding suit was carelessly draped over a chair. I noticed a faint, greasy smudge of hair wax near the collar. My best friend, Mason, was standing there with Sloane. They were both huddled around a velvet armchair. Sitting in the chair was Silas. The three of them were looking at photos on Silas’s phone, laughing softly. It was a perfectly harmonious, sickeningly domestic scene. Mason was grinning, his voice full of genuine praise. “Man, you pull that look off flawlessly. You look way better than half the grooms I’ve seen.” Sloane’s voice was so tender it practically dripped with honey. “It really does suit you. The cut is perfect.” The shop assistant walked up to me, her face burning with nervous embarrassment. “I am so sorry, Mr. Declan. We tried to stop her, but Ms. Sloane absolutely insisted on letting the other gentleman try on your custom suit. We couldn’t do anything.” I gave the girl a small nod. I didn’t say a word. My throat felt tight, like I had swallowed broken glass. Mason finally turned his head and noticed me standing near the entrance. The smile instantly evaporated from his face. He hurried over, gripping my arm to pull me off to the side. “Declan, listen. Sloane told me that you know everything now.” “Silas is in a really fragile state. He can’t handle any emotional triggers. We just brought him along today to cheer him up.” “You’ve got a perfect life, man. You have a good career, you have Sloane. You don’t understand the kind of absolute despair he’s dealing with.” “Just drop it, okay? Be the bigger man.” I didn’t respond. I just lowered my eyes, staring at the faded white scar running across the back of my hand. Years ago, Mason’s gambling-addicted father had tried to smash a beer bottle over his head. I threw myself in front of him, taking the hit. It took three stitches to close the wound. Since that day, Mason swore he would always have my back. Yet here he was, standing across from me, telling me that because I had everything, I needed to tolerate the blatant disrespect of another man. A few feet away, Sloane called out to me. “Declan, come here and try your suit on.” I slowly pulled my arm out of Mason’s grip. “I’m not trying it on.” Sloane’s brows snapped together. “It is literally just a piece of clothing. Why do you have to throw a mood over everything?” “I feel dirty just looking at it.” Sloane completely froze. Tears immediately welled up in Silas’s eyes. He looked down, his voice trembling. “Declan, it’s my fault. I just really wanted to know what it felt like to wear a wedding suit. I just wanted to take one picture.” “I didn’t realize my presence disgusted you this much. I am so sorry.” Mason immediately stepped in front of Silas like a bodyguard, glaring at me. “Enough, Declan. He already apologized. What more do you want from him?” Sloane looked at me, her eyes filled with nothing but cold disappointment. “Could you try being a decent human being for once? He is sick. Do you really have to back him into a corner like this?” I looked at the three of them, standing together like a united front, protecting a grown man from my words. A soft, hollow laugh slipped from my lips. “Sloane, the wedding is off.” The moment the words left my mouth, Sloane let out a sharp, mocking scoff. “You’re a grown man, Declan. Are we really playing these childish games right now?” “What, do you suddenly not care if your dad gets to see you get married?” It felt like punching a wall of cotton. My anger felt entirely useless against her arrogance. It was true that I was the one who pushed for the wedding. My father’s health was declining, and his only wish was to see me settled. Sloane had claimed she wasn’t ready to be tied down, so I practically begged her to just have the ceremony first, even if we delayed signing the actual marriage papers. Because of that, she was absolutely convinced I would never walk away. I didn’t bother defending myself. When someone’s heart is already pointing in another direction, nothing you say will ever be right. Seeing my silence, Sloane assumed she had called my bluff. “Just let it go. If you can’t stand looking at Silas, then finish your fitting by yourself.” She turned around and wrapped her hands gently around Silas’s arm, supporting his weight. “Ignore him. Let’s go pick out a puppy. Once you have a dog to keep you company, you won’t have time to overthink things.” I stared at her, completely stunned. Sloane was terrified of dogs. I had a golden retriever named Lucky. He had been with me for six years. But when I moved into our shared house, I had to put him in a long-term boarding facility because she claimed the mere sight of a dog gave her anxiety. Yet right now, she was perfectly willing to walk into a pet store just to make Silas smile. I suddenly realized I was nothing but a prop in their little tragedy. Silas nodded weakly, tears still clinging to his eyelashes. Mason took his other side, and the three of them walked out of the boutique in perfect, rhythmic lockstep. The shop fell completely silent. The assistant looked at me with sympathetic anger. “Mr. Declan, your fiancée crossed a major line. Custom suits shouldn’t be worn by random strangers.” She was right. Even a stranger working retail understood basic respect. Sloane just didn’t care. “Cancel the order. Send me the invoice for the penalty fee.” I walked out of the shop, pulled out my phone, and called the hotel to cancel the banquet hall and the catering. Once the deposits were forfeited, I went straight back to the empty house. Later that evening, I received an email from corporate. My transfer to Portland had been approved. It was the only piece of good news I had received all week. I let out a long breath and fell into a dreamless sleep. The next morning, a call from Sloane woke me up. “My family is having a small get-together today. Dad asked you to come over so we can finalize the seating charts for the reception.” “I slept at my place last night, so just drive yourself over.” Before I could say a single word, the line went dead. I swallowed the words “the wedding is cancelled.” Fine. I would go. It was time to sever this rotting tie in front of all of them. When I arrived at Jacob’s house, the front door was left slightly ajar. Bright, echoing laughter spilled out into the hallway. It was Harper’s voice. “Honestly, Silas, if you hadn’t moved abroad back then, you’d be the one standing at the altar with my sister right now.” Silas was sitting in the exact center of the living room sofa, a thick wool blanket draped over his legs. He just offered a soft, melancholic smile. Sloane was sitting right next to him. She nudged his shoulder and laughed. “Stop talking nonsense.” Mason and the rest of our mutual friends were scattered around the room, nodding in agreement, treating Silas and Sloane like star-crossed lovers. Not a single person in that room thought it was profoundly messed up that the bride’s ex-boyfriend was being mourned as the lost groom a month before the wedding. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. “It’s not too late.” The warm, cheerful atmosphere died the absolute second my voice hit the air. Silas practically jumped off the sofa. “Declan, please don’t misunderstand. Harper is still young, she was just making a stupid joke.” “Harper, apologize to Declan right now.” Harper crossed her arms and muttered under her breath. “It’s the truth anyway.” Sloane marched over to me, her voice dropping into a harsh, threatening whisper. “Why do you have to ruin the mood the second you walk through the door? Do you enjoy making everyone miserable?” I lifted my eyes to meet hers. “I mean every word. Since you’re all so devastated by the tragedy of your separation, you should just get back together.” “Consider it a favor. I’m letting everyone live happily ever after.” “Shut your mouth.” Sloane cut me off aggressively, grabbing my arm to drag me toward the hallway. “Are you really trying to humiliate him in front of everyone?” It was almost funny. Even as her life was falling apart, her only priority was protecting Silas’s ego. I was completely exhausted by this theater. “Sloane, we are done. From this second forward, you can take him on as many dates as your heart desires.” I turned on my heel and walked toward the exit. Sloane let out a cold, mocking laugh behind me. “Declan, if you walk out that door today, do not expect me to come crawling after you.” I could hear Silas playing the victim in the background. “Sloane, maybe I should leave. I don’t want you two fighting over me.” Sloane raised her voice, making absolutely sure I could hear her. “Let him walk. He’s trying to manipulate me before we’re even married. He’s dreaming!” I didn’t stop walking. I just kept moving toward my car. My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was a call from the veterinary boarding clinic. I had messaged them earlier that morning, arranging to pick up Lucky before I left the city. The worker on the other end sounded highly confused. “Mr. Declan, your fiancée already came and picked Lucky up yesterday afternoon.” My boots stopped dead on the concrete. I turned around and walked straight back into the house. When Sloane saw me walk back into the living room, a smug, victorious gleam lit up her eyes. “Look who decided to come back. Are you done throwing a tantrum? If you just acted like an adult in the first place…” “Did you take Lucky from the clinic?” I cut through her arrogant speech like a knife. She blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Oh. You mean the dog.” Her tone was completely casual. Dismissive. “Silas saw a picture of him and thought he was cute. So I picked him up and gave him to Silas as a gift.” My hands clenched into tight fists. My nails dug into my palms. That dog had been by my side for six years. I raised him from a puppy. She knew exactly what he meant to me. I forced down the violent rage bubbling in the back of my throat. “Sloane. That is my dog.” She straightened her posture, looking at me like I was making a scene over spilled milk. “Declan, we are getting married. Everything that belongs to you belongs to me. Lucky is going to be great company for Silas.” “He lives alone. He needs emotional support. Can you stop being so incredibly selfish?” Silas wiped at his eyes again. “Forget it, Sloane. Please don’t make things hard for Declan.” “I’m used to being alone anyway.” Sloane glared at me, her eyes filled with disgust. “He finally found an animal he connects with, and you’re really going to start a war over a dog?” My entire body was trembling with rage. I locked my jaw, forcing the words out. “Sloane. I am going to say this one last time. Give me my dog back.” She had never seen me look so furious before. She hesitated, glancing back at Silas. “Silas, just give the stupid mutt back to him. I’ll take you to a breeder tomorrow and buy you a better one.” Silas lowered his head, exposing the fragile curve of his neck. His voice was thick with guilt. “Declan, I am so sorry. I really wanted to return him to you.” “But he was just so disobedient. Yesterday afternoon, he bolted out the front door. He ran into the street… and got hit by a truck. He’s gone.” The words hit me like a physical blow to the skull. My mind went completely blank. White noise rushed through my ears. Silas slowly pulled out his phone, pulled up his photo gallery, and held the screen right in front of my face. On the screen, my sweet, loyal Lucky was lying on the asphalt. His golden fur was stained violently red. His small body was completely still. “I made sure to take a picture so you could see him one last time.” Silas leaned in closer. And right then, the absolute faintest, sickest smirk twitched at the corner of his lips. He did it on purpose. A tidal wave of absolute, catastrophic rage obliterated whatever sanity I had left. I raised my hand, put the entire weight of my body into my shoulder, and slapped Silas across the face with devastating force. The crack echoed like a gunshot. Before I could even lower my hand, a massive force slammed into my chest. Sloane shoved me violently backward. My feet tangled, and I crashed hard onto the hardwood floor. The back of my head slammed against the edge of a coffee table. Blinding pain exploded behind my eyes. The room spun wildly out of focus. “Declan, he’s just an animal! Have you lost your damn mind?!” The next second, the entire room erupted. Everyone jumped to their feet, staring at me with pure hostility. Mason, Harper, Jacob. They all rushed forward, forming a human barricade in front of Silas, looking at me like I was a rabid monster. I pressed my palms against the cold floor and slowly pushed myself up. Warm blood was dripping down the back of my neck, staining the collar of my shirt. Sloane’s eyes widened in horror when she saw the blood. She instinctively took a step toward me. “Declan, I…” But Silas suddenly bolted toward the large glass window, his voice hysterical. “It’s all my fault! I should just jump! I’ll pay for the dog’s life with my own!” Sloane froze in her tracks. The entire room scrambled to pull Silas away from the glass. Not a single person looked back at me. Not a single person asked if my head was bleeding. I turned around and walked out the front door. I drove back to my house, grabbed my packed suitcase, and ordered a car straight to the airport. On the highway, Sloane called me five times in a row. Dozens of text messages flooded my screen. I didn’t read a single one. I typed out a single, final reply. “Rot in hell, you monsters.” Then I powered down my phone, completely erasing that city from my life.
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