The Security Footage That Proved She Lied

Chapter 3

Renata's POV:

When I woke up the next morning, I was surprised to find a text from Justin.

Justin: I've been thinking, and I know I'm partly to blame. I haven't made you feel secure in our relationship lately. I'll make it up to you today. I promise we'll spend some quality time together.

He'd sent me the address of a dessert café. It was the same place we'd gone on our very first date.

After five years together, I'd be lying if I said I didn't still have a little hope left.

So I got dressed and headed out to meet him.

When I arrived, Justin was nowhere to be seen.

My flight wasn't leaving for a while, so I decided to wait. An entire hour passed before he finally showed up.

"Cheryl's leg has been bandaged up. She's resting at the hospital now. Once she's discharged, I'll cut back on seeing her unless she actually needs my help. But you need to stop picking on her, too."

I forced a smile, though it probably looked more like a grimace. "So you really think I've been picking on her this whole time?"

Before Justin could answer, his phone rang. He picked up almost immediately.

"Justin!" Cheryl's tearful voice came through the phone. "I accidentally fell again! It hurts so bad!"

"Hang tight. I'm coming back to the hospital right now!"

He was already getting up when I grabbed his arm. "Justin! If you walk out that door, we're done! I'm serious!"

His face darkened. He slapped my hand away. "I just told you I'd keep my distance once she's out of the hospital! Are you seriously demanding that I abandon her right now?"

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. And just like that, the last tiny shred of hope I'd been holding onto shattered.

I let go.

I watched him rush to his car, yank open the door, and drive away. The whole thing took less than a minute.

A phone call finally pulled me out of my daze.

The second I answered, I heard someone sobbing on the other end.

"Renata, sweetheart... please tell me you're not having an affair with a married man."

My mind went blank. "Mom? What are you talking about?"

Apparently, the genuine confusion in my voice was enough to reassure her.

"Oh, thank God. Thank God it's not true. Your dad got a message earlier saying you were some man's mistress. The message upset him so much that he ended up having a heart attack. They rushed him to the hospital. But don't worry, honey. The doctors managed to save him. I'll explain everything to your dad. Just come home as soon as you can, okay? He's getting older, and..." Her voice broke.

She couldn't finish her sentence. She just kept crying.

I spent the next several minutes trying to calm her down.

After we hung up, Mom sent me a screenshot of the message.

The person who'd accused me of being a homewrecker was none other than Cheryl.

By the time I reached the hospital, Cheryl's leg had already been treated and her bandage changed.

Justin looked surprised to see me. "What are you doing here?"

I stared straight at him. "Cheryl sent my dad a message accusing me of being some married guy's mistress. Did you help her with that, too?"

Justin clearly had no idea what I was talking about. He blinked in confusion. "What?"

Cheryl gently tugged at Justin's sleeve, then turned to me with an innocent expression. "I just happened to have your dad's contact information. I thought it'd be funny to play a little prank on him."

I was so furious I actually laughed. "A prank? Are you kidding me?! Did you even know my dad has a heart condition?! Your stupid little prank almost killed him!"

For one foolish moment, I thought Justin might finally take my side. Maybe he'd even tell Cheryl she'd gone too far.

But then he glanced at her. Her nose scrunched up slightly as she fought back tears, looking every bit the innocent victim.

And when Justin spoke, his voice was completely indifferent.

"But he's alive, isn't he? You said he almost died, not that he actually did. In a few days, I'll buy your parents some gifts and take Cheryl over to apologize. That should settle it."

My throat tightened painfully. I could barely breathe.

If I did anything that even remotely "hurt" Cheryl, Justin would tear me apart and make me feel like the worst person alive.

But Cheryl had nearly killed my father. And just like when she'd humiliated me in front of our former classmates, Justin acted as though it was nothing.

I closed my eyes. "Fine. If that's how you feel, Justin, then we're breaking up."

I'd threatened to break up with him more times than I could count. He'd never taken it seriously.

Justin knew me too well. All he ever had to do was apologize afterward, and I'd soften up and forgive him.

And clearly, he thought this time would be no different.

Justin didn't look the least bit concerned. "I've told you before. Don't say things like that when you're upset. I'll have my assistant pick you up and take you home. We can talk about this when I get back."

I'd already said what needed to be said. Besides, it was almost time for my flight.

So I didn't argue. I simply turned around and walked out of the hospital room.

Once I got into the car, I asked Victor, Justin's assistant, to take me to the airport instead.

Five years of loving a man who always put another woman first.

Five years of being his second choice.

It was time to put an end to it. For good.