The Security Footage That Proved She Lied

Chapter 2

Renata's POV:

When I got home, I started packing.

I didn't have many belongings. A few suitcases were more than enough.

After arranging to have my luggage shipped out, my eyes landed on the vase in the living room.

I'd made that vase myself. It was my gift to Justin for our 1st anniversary.

He'd been thrilled when I gave it to him. "I promise I'll take good care of it. I'll never let it break, not for as long as I live!"

But Justin hadn't kept that promise.

One day, when Cheryl came over to visit, she accidentally bumped into the table. The vase fell straight to the floor and shattered.

"Cheryl! What the hell are you doing?!" I'd shouted.

She flinched so dramatically that Justin immediately stepped in front of her, shooting me an irritated look.

"It's just a vase. I'll fix it, okay? What's with all the yelling?"

Justin's idea of fixing it was laughably half-assed. He'd simply taped the broken pieces back together and called it a day.

The cracks were still there. Just like the cracks in our relationship, they could never truly be repaired.

Without a second thought, I picked up the vase and tossed it into the trash.

Justin came home an hour later.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, the first thing I saw was Cheryl sitting on our couch.

Justin explained. "It's raining, and Cheryl's scared of thunder. So I told her she could stay here tonight."

I almost laughed. "So what, is she going to stay here every time there's a thunderstorm?"

Justin frowned. "Her mom's out of town visiting family. That's why she's here tonight. How much longer are you going to keep acting like this?!"

Justin had always taken Cheryl's side. So no matter how justified my feelings were, he always saw me as the one causing trouble.

Sensing the tension, Cheryl hurried over.

Biting her lip, she said softly, "Renata, please don't fight because of me. If you're uncomfortable having someone else in your home, I'll leave right now."

Her fake innocence made me sick.

When Cheryl stepped closer, I lightly pushed her away.

The moment I touched her, she deliberately threw herself to the floor.

Her eyes instantly filled with tears. "Renata, I was trying to help you! Why would you push me?"

Before I could even process what had happened, Justin shoved me aside.

"Renata Collins, have you lost your damn mind? You actually put your hands on Cheryl?!"

I shook my head frantically. "I didn't! She threw herself on the floor on purpose!"

Justin pointed at Cheryl's swollen, reddened leg, his voice turning ice-cold.

"Are you seriously telling me she deliberately hurt herself like that?! Renata, I am so damn disappointed in you. And to think, when I was celebrating Cheryl's birthday, she was the one who reminded me you were sick and told me to go home and take care of you!"

I went still. I knew exactly which day he was talking about.

It was the day I'd come down with a high fever and ended up in the hospital, where doctors discovered that an ulcer in my stomach had ruptured.

Right before they wheeled me into surgery, I'd called Justin.

He hadn't picked up.

In the end, the neighbor who'd taken me to the hospital was kind enough to stay by my side.

When I finally woke up, Justin had held my hand, looking overwhelmed with guilt.

"I'm so sorry, Renata. I was stuck in meetings all day, so I missed your call. I had no idea something was wrong with your stomach, let alone that you needed surgery."

I hadn't wanted him to feel guilty. So I'd smiled and reassured him.

"Hey, I'm fine now, aren't I? You missed one phone call. It's really not a big deal."

But now, hearing the truth, it felt like someone had reached into my chest and crushed my heart.

"So... you weren't stuck in meetings that day? You lied to me because you were celebrating Cheryl's birthday?"

My voice came out so hoarse I barely recognized it.

Justin seemed to realize he'd let something slip in the heat of the moment. He couldn't even meet my eyes.

Instead, he grabbed Cheryl's hand and headed straight for the door.

The only thing he left me with was a cold, dismissive explanation.

"I lied because I didn't want you getting the wrong idea. You know how ridiculously jealous you get. And Renata? You've been getting more and more unbearable lately."

Soon, the apartment fell silent again.

It was almost as if everything that had just happened had been nothing but a bad dream.

I looked down at my arm.

When Justin shoved me, I'd hit something sharp enough to break the skin. Blood was still seeping from the wound.

I let out a bitter, humorless laugh.

I didn't bother treating it. Instead, I picked up my phone and booked a flight for the next day.