Betrayed by the Only Two I Loved

Chapter 4

Simon's POV:

My supervisor, Martin Avery, had just stepped out of the conference room and nearly tripped over my suitcase.

"Simon? I thought you weren't reporting back until tomorrow."

My hand tightened around the suitcase handle as I remembered the project in Norwyn he had mentioned. It would mean being there for three years. He had approached me about it twice, and I had turned him down both times.

I still remembered Diana saying, "Why don't we get married before next Christmas?"

I had smiled and agreed. "All right. When I get back, we'll look at apartments and pick out rings."

Now I couldn't even bear to be in the same room as them, much less go on planning a wedding as though nothing had happened.

"Martin, is there still an opening on the Norwyn project?"

He paused, then broke into a smile. "You finally changed your mind?"

Then he sobered. "The assignment lasts three years. You'll spend most of that time at a remote base and won't be able to come back to Hartwell often. Are you sure? Weren't you planning to marry Diana?"

"I'm sure." I nodded. My thoughts were in chaos, but my answer came out firm. "I can leave with tomorrow's group."

*****

At 9:30 that night, I walked out of the office and saw Diana standing beside her car. Her brow was furrowed as she dragged restlessly on a cigarette. Several cigarette butts already lay at her feet.

In five years together, I had seen her smoke like that only twice. The first time was after graduation, when she received a job offer in Rainport and her parents wanted her to move back. I didn't want to leave Philip, and she didn't want to leave me.

That time, she had stayed in Hartwell for me. Now, as she stood beside her car smoking, was she still trying to decide which of us she wanted—my brother or me?

The moment she saw me, she put out the cigarette and came over to take my luggage. "You weren't answering my messages, so I came here."

She opened the passenger door for me. I hesitated beside the car. I was leaving the next day, and Philip was still waiting for me to come home for dinner. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to miss that final meal. I pushed down the urge to pull away, got into the passenger seat, and caught the scent of a familiar cologne.

Philip had worn it for years. I'd know it anywhere.

The seat was also pushed much farther back than usual. When I reached down to adjust it, my fingers found a metal lighter in the gap. A tiny letter P was engraved on its silver case. I had given it to Philip for his 30th birthday.

Diana's expression changed when she saw what I was holding. By the time she got into the car, she had forced a smile, but her answer came too quickly. "Philip left it here today."

"Has he been riding in your car often these past six months?"

She buckled her seat belt and glanced at me with a laugh. "What? Are you jealous of your own brother now?"

I didn't laugh. The joke felt especially cruel.

Her expression sobered. "Haven't you always wanted us to get along better? I only give him a ride now and then. If you don't like it, I won't let him ride with me again."

I didn't want to hear another word. I closed my eyes. "I'm tired."

After a few seconds of silence, she asked, "Did you happen to see any posts online last night?"