concerned buzz in my ear, but I wasn't listening. A cold, sharp clarity

nd excused myself from Ryan. "I'll

endly, admiring smile, the kind of smile I used with d

. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but I couldn't hel

eased look spreading across her face. "Oh, th

looks like a custom piece. Did he design it for you?" My

for everything." She was so proud, so completely unaware. She reached into

ppy smile on his face. He was sliding that very ring, my ring, onto her finger. She was in a white dress, looking

tolen and given

s?" I asked,

said cheerfully. "Time fli

o me a year ago. This meant he married her while we were seriously dating. H

a brutal, cold

Leo." There were dozens of pictures. Lisa, glowing and pregnant. David with his hand on her swol

old me he was at a "coding retreat" in the mountains that week. He said he had

re relationship was built on this monstrous, elaborate lie. He

said. The words felt

" She smiled one last time and walked away, leaving me stand

window, I took out my phone. I found Lisa Rodriguez on social media. Her profile was public. It was a shrine

usea. Finally, I closed the app. I opened my messages and found my chat with David.

ard. My fingers were trembling,

ll