Chapter 3

Jane's POV

He paused at his door. "Get some sleep, Jane. You'll feel better in the morning."

Then he went into his room and shut the door.

Ten minutes later I heard him snoring.

I sat in the guest room with my tears.

Just a few more months.

How many times had I heard that? How many "just a little longer" and "soon, I promise" and "you understand, right?"

I understood now.

I pulled out my phone and typed: [Mom, about Sebastian Edwards and the engagement. I'll do it.]

The response came in seconds: [Really? Sweetheart, are you absolutely sure? We thought you'd keep refusing.]

[I'm sure. Can you set up a meeting? And I'm quitting my job tomorrow.]

[Of course, darling. I'll arrange everything. Your father will be so happy to have you home.]

I turned off my phone and looked around the guest room. Beautiful, like everything in Andrew's life.

But it had never been mine.

Through the wall I could still hear Andrew's breathing, steady and peaceful. He'd sleep well tonight.

Tomorrow he'd wake up and expect everything to be normal.

But I was done waiting.

Two suitcases. That's all I had after three years. Clothes, toiletries, a few books.

The apartment was still quiet. Andrew wouldn't be up for hours.

I looked at the bedroom door. I wanted to wake him up, make him see what he was losing, make him beg me to stay.

But I knew he wouldn't. He'd be annoyed that I was making a scene. He'd tell me I was overreacting, promise to call me later and then forget.

Because that's who he was.

I picked up my suitcases and walked to the door.

Goodbye, I thought. But I didn't say it out loud.

I closed the door quietly behind me and left.

Andrew wouldn't notice I was gone until he needed something.

First thing the next morning, I went to the company to submit my resignation letter and started packing up my things to leave.

The receptionist glanced up when I approached. "Jane! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be celebrating with Andrew?"

"I need to give this to Linda." I handed her the envelope.

She took it, confused. "Wait, you're quitting? Why?"

"Personal reasons."

Her phone buzzed before she could respond. Then it buzzed again. And again. She glanced down and her face changed.

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"Jane... you need to see this." She turned her phone around.

The screen was full of notifications, all with the same headline: ANDREW LOPEZ CAUGHT CHEATING HOURS AFTER OSCAR WIN

My stomach went cold.

The photo was grainy, shot from far away in some parking garage. A man and a woman, wrapped up in each other. The man's face was clear, Andrew. The woman's face was blurred out.

Around the lobby, phones were going crazy.

"It's trending everywhere," the receptionist said, scrolling fast. "TMZ, People, Entertainment Tonight. #AndrewLopezCheating is blowing up."

The elevator doors opened and Andrew came out like a storm. His face was red, his jaw clenched. Linda was right behind him with her phone pressed to her ear.

Andrew's eyes found me. "You."

"Andrew, I didn't—"

"Don't fucking lie to me!" He crossed the lobby in three steps and grabbed my arm hard. "You leaked those photos!"

"I didn't!" I tried to pull away but he held on too tight. "I don't even know what you're talking about!"

"The parking garage, Jane! Last night! Who else would do this?"

Linda ended her call and grabbed Andrew's shoulder. "Conference room. Now. Both of you."

"I didn't leak anything," I said. "I came here to quit. That's it."

"Funny timing." Linda pulled out her laptop and spun it toward me. "These photos were sent to every major outlet at six this morning. Anonymous email. Care to explain?"

The screen showed more photos.

"Those photos are real," I said quietly. "But I didn't send them."

"Then who did?" Andrew turned on me. "Who else has access? Who else would want to destroy my relationship with Caroline?"

"Maybe someone who gives a shit about the truth!" The words exploded out of me. "You stood on that stage last night and told the whole world you loved Caroline, but twelve hours before that you were in a parking garage telling me to be patient!"

"That never happened."

My mouth went dry. "But those photos..."

"Are fake. Or from some other time." Linda stood up. "Jane, I need your phone."

"What? No."

"If you didn't leak those photos, your phone will prove it." She held out her hand. "Unless you're hiding something."

"I have a right to—"

"You don't have any rights when you're sabotaging my client's career!" Linda's voice cut through the room. "Give me your phone or I'm calling the cops for corporate espionage."

"This is crazy!" I looked at Andrew, needing him to see how insane this was. "Tell her!"

Andrew just crossed his arms. "If you're innocent, prove it."

My hands shook when I pulled out my phone. "Fine. Look. There's nothing—"

Linda snatched it out of my hands. "What's your password?"

"I'm not giving you my password."

"Then you're guilty." She shoved the phone at Andrew. "Use her fingerprint."

"No!" I went for the phone but Andrew caught my wrist with his other hand.

"Just unlock it, Jane. That's all."

"You can't—"

"We can." Andrew forced my hand down and pressed my thumb against the screen.

It unlocked.

"There!" I tried to pull away but his grip was solid. "Happy now? There's nothing on it!"

Linda grabbed the phone back and started swiping. "We'll see."

She opened my photo app. Everything inside me went ice cold.

"Well, look at this." Linda's smile was mean. "Interesting."

She connected my phone to the conference room projector.

The first photo appeared on the wall. Me and Andrew in his kitchen, me laughing in his t-shirt, his arms around my waist.

"That was..." I couldn't finish.

Linda swiped. Another photo. Us on a beach at sunset, his lips against my hair.

Swipe. A hotel room, white sheets twisted around us.

"Stop. Please."

But she kept going.

The door opened. Two junior agents walked in and froze, staring at the screen.

"Oh my God," one of them said. "Is that Jane and Andrew?"

More people crowded the doorway. Word was spreading.

"Get out!" Linda barked, but it was too late. Phones were already up, recording everything.

Andrew's face had gone completely white. "Jane... what the fuck is this?"

"What do you mean what the fuck?" I couldn't stop shaking. "Those are our photos! From when we were together!"

"We were never together!"

"You're lying!" I screamed it at him.

"You're crazy." Andrew backed away from me. "I went to those places for work. You must have followed me or something. Photoshopped yourself into my pictures."