Now, as the memories burned to ash, so did their relationship.
Two hours before her flight, her phone buzzed. It was a video from Eileen.
The video appeared to be from a family dinner, with Cole’s friends, Eileen’s close companions, and both sets of parents gathered around. The crowd was cheering, urging Cole and Eileen to kiss.
“Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!”
“Come on, Cole. The wedding’s in a few days! Don’t be shy. You can’t wait for the girl to make the first move!”
Amid the cheers, Eileen, her cheeks flushed, closed her eyes and leaned in. The crowd erupted as Cole cupped the back of her head and kissed her deeply.
The video played on a loop. By the seventh replay, Eileen sent another message.
[Jaycie, did you see? I’m the one everyone recognizes as the future Mrs. Benson. With your family’s background, the Bensons would never accept you. Someone like you would be lucky to marry a beggar.
[Cole might love you, but his defenses are crumbling. First, he met my parents, then my friends. Now we’re living together, and he just kissed me. How long do you think it’ll be before we take the next step?]
Jaycie didn’t reply. Instead, she printed out every taunting message Eileen had sent her over the past few days, compiling them into a stack and leaving them on the empty living room table.
One hour before her flight, she added a final note to the pile.
[Cole, congratulations on getting married. We’re done.]
Then, she dragged her suitcases out of the villa, hailed a cab, and sped off toward the airport.
She would return to being the heiress of the wealthiest family.
And Cole would mean nothing to her.
