Chapter 5: TikTok Lies and Family Ties

Derek’s expression faltered for half a second, then quickly steadied:

“How...how could that be? Evan’s clothes and shoes were already fished out, you saw them yourself.”

I watched the nervous twitch in his jaw, the way his eyes darted to the floor. He was lying, and it was written all over him.

A week ago, Evan drove into a river late at night. The police concluded he was swept away by the current while escaping the car. I stayed by the river all night, sleepless. The rescue team dredged the river for days, but only found his coat and shoes. I was so grief-stricken I nearly fainted.

Even now, the memory of the muddy banks and the searchlights stings. I remember clutching his jacket to my chest, the wet fabric cold and smelling of river silt, my hands numb and trembling. The whole town seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the kind of miracle that only happens in movies.

Today was supposed to be our wedding day. I cried over our photo until my head throbbed. Now I’m told all of this was his scheme. My grief, from beginning to end, was a joke.

It was like biting down on tinfoil—sharp, metallic, impossible to swallow. Every condolence card on the kitchen counter felt like a punchline to a joke I never wanted to hear.

[Of all things, the main guy learns to keep a songbird. So low.]

[I thought this was going to be a super sweet story at first. Didn’t expect to be force-fed heartbreak.]

[The heroine is such a stunning beauty from Savannah’s elite. If he doesn’t want her, I’d fight to have her.]

The nausea and pain in my heart was eased a bit by the chat’s comfort and praise.

It’s funny, but sometimes the anonymous words of strangers felt more real than the condolences from people I’d known my whole life. Maybe because they saw me, not just the grieving fiancée.

Derek said again: “Natalie, don’t overthink. If Evan could see you, he’d be heartbroken.”

Heartbroken... Such an ironic word.

If only he knew what heartbreak really looked like—if only any of them did.

This morning I was still thanking him for helping me handle Evan’s affairs. Turns out, they’re all birds of a feather.

The sense of betrayal was like a shadow following me from room to room, impossible to shake off.