Chapter 1

On the night of our eighth anniversary, my boyfriend Fernando suddenly went off the grid when he was supposed to be with me.

I called him countless times. No one answered.

The next morning, just as I was about to call the police, Fernando called back:

"Last night my coworker Ellis's mother-in-law suddenly passed away. I went to help out. Left my phone in the car, didn't notice."

I breathed a sigh of relief, but something felt off.

After hanging up, I sent Ellis a message:

"I heard your mother-in-law passed away. My condolences. Is there anything I can help with?"

Three minutes later, Ellis called:

"Hello, Juliet, did you send that to the wrong person? My mother-in-law is alive and well!"

I quickly apologized to Ellis.

After the call ended, my heart felt a sharp pain.

This man who had loved me for eight years had lied to me.

I opened my chat history with Fernando.

The last message was from me, at 4:12 AM:

[Where are you? I'm really worried about you.]

Scrolling up, there was yesterday's conversation.

When I got home, I'd sent him a photo of the cinnamon cookies my mom made for me.

He replied with a "so jealous" emoji.

Below that was a video call from him. He was curled up on the couch, the camera shaking around.

Mom had called me to help with something, interrupting the video call. After I hung up, he sent a message.

He said he missed me. He said this Christmas we'd go back together and ask my mom for permission to marry me.

Eight years ago today, he confessed his feelings to me.

He said that if he ever deceived me in this lifetime, he'd be hit by a car the moment he stepped outside.

Fernando valued his life.

Not long after we got together, he spiked a fever of 102 degrees.

When the doctor went to draw blood, he held me and cried secretly.

He said he'd looked it up online and was afraid he might have leukemia.

Choking up, he said he hadn't lived enough yet, but he needed to settle his affairs.

He said his $80,000 in savings should be split—half to his parents, half to me.

He said if he was diagnosed, I shouldn't wait for him.

I stroked his head, wiping away his tears, laughing at him for acting like a child.

But I also thought to myself that someone so afraid of death who dared to make such a vow would surely keep his word.

But we hadn't even reached a lifetime yet—nowhere near it—and he'd already lied to me.

Fernando was extremely superstitious. For him to risk his life fabricating this lie, that person must be very important.

My phone suddenly vibrated. I hesitated for a moment but still answered.

Let me hear it. Just in case.

"You sent Ellis a message?!"

Fernando's voice was low but couldn't contain his anger.

"Yeah."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You said her mother-in-law died, so I went to comfort her. Is there a problem?"

There was two seconds of silence on the other end.

"Juliet, you're checking up on me."

"I'm not."

"Not? Then why did you send Ellis a message?"

Fernando's voice suddenly rose.

"No one in Ellis's family died at all. I was too tired and said the wrong thing. You rushing to send that message—if word gets out, how am I supposed to face people at the company?!"

I gripped my phone, my fingers growing cold.

Clearly he was the one who lied, but every sentence seemed to tell me I was the one in the wrong.

A heavy sigh came from Fernando's end.

His voice suddenly softened.

"Juliet, I know you're worried about me, but what you did really embarrassed me.

Ellis is my supervisor. What will she think of me after this? Will she still think of me when opportunities come up?"

"Juliet, we've been together eight years. Do you really not trust me?"

My nose suddenly stung.

Eight years. Fernando knew exactly how to make me feel guilty.

"Alright, Juliet, I got too emotional. I'm sorry."

Probably because I hadn't spoken for so long, Fernando's tone completely softened.

"The family emergency was Enzo from Ellis's office. You added Enzo on Twitter at the last company dinner. If you don't believe me, go ask."

After hanging up, I hesitated for a long time but finally found Enzo's Twitter.

I clicked in and sent "Enzo."

But what I received was a notification that I'd been blocked.

Blocked.

I could still see Enzo's Twitter updates this morning.

Fernando was closest to Enzo at the company.

He told me to verify it, and Enzo blocked me.