Now, with the bracelet broken and trust shattered, everything felt meaningless.

Oliver had betrayed me, and in doing so, he had betrayed Miranda, too.

After seven years of marriage, the house felt emptier than ever. Standing in the hallway, I was at a loss for where to even begin picking up the pieces.

I sat in silence until midnight when Oliver sent me a WhatsApp message.

[What do you want to eat? I'll grab something for you.]

I stared at my phone, unsure how to respond.

Moments later, the phone rang. Oliver was calling.

The background noise was loud, suggesting he was at a night market.

I hadn't expected him to go there; he had always turned his nose up at street food.

"What do you want? I'm at the night market. Don't you like... Cioppino?"

I paused for a moment before replying, "I don't like it."

I was allergic to seafood.

"So what exactly do you want to eat?" Oliver snapped impatiently.

"Mr. Pettyfer, look! This looks so delicious!"

A familiar voice rang out, and just as my wavering heart was about to give in, it shattered once more.

It dawned on me that he was there with Lillian.

Lillian said, her tone light and playful, "Oh? Scarlett, don't you have anything you want to eat?

"Mr. Pettyfer and I brought you a milkshake, you want one?"

Lillian teased, stretching out her words, "There's a buy-two-get-one-free deal at the shop!"

"I don't really feel like eating anything. You guys go ahead. And don't bother getting anything for me."

I hung up the phone without another word.

My eyes felt dry and hollow, but no tears would come.

At that moment, a long-forgotten WhatsApp profile picture popped up on my screen: [Scarlett, how have you been lately?]

I was taken aback. "Uncle Vincent?"

Vincent's messages came pouring in on WhatsApp.

[Scarlett, I heard from Leo that the bracelet my sister left you is broken.]

[What happened?]

Vincent and Leo, the craftsman who fixed the bracelet, were old acquaintances.

My throat tightened. [I'm so sorry, Uncle Vincent. I didn't take care of Mom's keepsake...]

I shared my decision to divorce Oliver with Vincent.

[If that's how it is, there's no reason for you to stay with him.]

[Scarlett, why don't you come live with me in France? Your aunt and I miss you a lot.]

France?

The idea had never crossed my mind.

But after hearing Oliver's words earlier, a light bulb went off in my head.

I typed: [Okay.]

I thought to myself, "He said I had grown bolder.