I gave a slight smile, shaking my head.
A fight? No. Erik never argues with me.
He always looked at me with that indulgent expression, like I was a child throwing a pointless tantrum. My phone vibrated twice, and I glanced down to see it was a call from Erik.
His voice was gentle, but there was an edge of displeasure. "Busy today? Why did you leave without making breakfast?"
He paused. “Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, and I got you a gift.”
“Oh?” I asked, masking my curiosity. “What gift?”
“A small box in my coat pocket—a ring.” I heard him fumble through his pockets, muttering, “Strange, it’s not here.”
Then, almost as if realizing something, he quickly added, “It must’ve fallen out in the car. I’ll get you another one.”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. In yesterday’s photo, Polly had been wearing a ring on her hand. So, even my anniversary gift needed a test run by his childhood sweetheart?
“No need; I forgot to get you anything anyway.”
“Alyce? Are you upset? I really did buy you a gift.”
“Yeah,” I replied, my tone flat.
I replied softly, "If there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. I’m busy with work."
Since that day, my relationship with Erik had cooled into an uneasy calm.
A few days later, his mother invited me over for dinner—something that had never happened before. She’d always looked down on me, seeing only Polly as the rightful daughter-in-law. Still, I decided not to refuse.
When I arrived by taxi, Erik’s mother was directing his friends to set the table. As soon as she saw me, a hush fell over the room, and someone muttered, “Why invite her? She won’t let Erik drink with us.”
Ignoring the comment, I took a seat. Shortly after, Erik arrived—with Polly by his side.
I noticed Polly had removed the ring from her hand. She moved casually into the kitchen, chatting warmly with his mother as if she belonged there.
Then, Erik sat down beside me and pulled out the ring, holding it up proudly as if it were something precious. Without a hint of hesitation, he looked at me and lied smoothly, “I told you—it was in the car the whole time.”
Oblivious to my reaction, Erik took my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger. I looked down at it, a faint sense of disgust rising within me. How many times had he lied to me with such ease?