Georgina''s


    POV


    "Hello?" I say in a voice devoid of emotion.


    "Were you busy this morning? Derek''s voicees through. Gentle, but perfectly reflective of how unhappy he is. "I don''t have breakfast. Why didn''t you make it for me?"


    I remain silent. I just got an abortion. I won''t tell him about that.


    My silence starts to bug him. "Well, it was our anniversary yesterday. I got you something. Did you see?"


    I raise my eyebr This book had been added on your bookshelf.


    "A ring," he says forcefully, followed by some scuffling sounds that makes me think he''s rummaging through his pockets. "Okay, weird. I can''t find it. Maybe I dropped it yesterday or something. But I''ll get you another one tomorrow." I smile bitterly.


    I saw a ring on Vivian''s hand in the photo from yesterday.


    It seemed that he needed his ex-girlfriend to try everything on, including my anniversary gift.


    "Oh, Derek," I say with augh. "Don''t worry about it. I didn''t get you a gift either."


    "Are you mad at me?" Derek asks. "Because I bought you a gift.


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    I had it right hère-"


    "Alright," I say nonchntly. "I have to go now, though. I''m at work."


    And that marks thest proper conversation I had with him.


    Days pass. Derek''s mom, Lucy, invites me to dinner. Which is new, because in her eyes, Vivian should have been her daughter-inw.


    But I didn''t want to be rude to her, so I epted her invitation.


    When I get to her house, I see Derek''s friends, preparing dinner together. They ce is brought to a standstill when they see me.


    "What is she doing here?" one of them mutters. "Party''s over. She''s going to make sure no one has fun."


    Ignoring that, I sit at the dining table, watching them work. The doorbell rings and I turn, only to see Vivian arrive.


    With Derek.


    The ring is not on Vivian''s hand anymore, I notice. She''s all smiles as she heads to the kitchen, pecking Lucy''s cheek. Derek goes straight to me, handing me a diamond ring. "Here you go. I told you I''d buy you a new one."


    Liar, I think viciously. But Derek is oblivious. He just slips the ring on my finger.


    I feel sick. This is the same ring that Vivian has worn.


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    How many lies has he told me? How many more will he give me before he hands me a crumb of truth? "Vivian, my darling girl," Lucy trills. "Just rx, Georgina is here and she will take care of everything."


    They''re looking at each other lovingly. Like true mother and daughter.


    "I''ve missed you, Lucy," Vivian says. "It''s been years."


    "I wish you visited us more often, Lucy says. "It would have made Derek and I so happy."


    They pass by me. Only then does Lucy seem to notice me. "Georgina! You haven''t met my goddaughter yet, right? She''s like family to us. She''s like a sister to Derek, so when they hang out, don''t keep calling him. My Derek is a man of integrity." Why is she talking like she''s giving me an order? I have to force a smile.


    His friendsugh. One of them pipes up, "Exactly. We''re good men, and you don''t have to watch Derek like a hawk. It''s not like we''re going to force him to do something bad."


    "That''s right," the other one agrees. "Besides, we have a start-up. There''s a lot of business to talk about. It''s just normal that he''s not at home all the time. Vivian even ended up in the hospital because of too much work. We all have to make sacrifices." "Of course," I just mutter.


    But the one closest to me drops the biggest bomb. "Besides, if


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    they wanted each other, they would have married each other a long time ago."


    They''re all smiles, like they''re sharing a secret. They don''t know I saw theirments on the post.


    The one who posted and the one who mentioned marriage now is Victor Lopez, Derek''s closest friend. He never hid the fact that he didn''t like me. He would never miss the chance to jump on my throat as long as Lucy starts it.


    "I didn''t know you had a start-up," I say, looking at Derek. "What''s it for?"


    "Just stuff," Derek mutters.


    Now I think this might be another lie. I thought he was doing well at his job. Why would be start his own business?


    "Oh, it''s nothing you know," Victor says hastily.


    "Of course," I just say again. "Keep it a secret. As you do to a lot of things."


    The room falls silent. We all start to eat dinner inplete silence. I know that I ruined it, but right now I can''t feel anything.


    After dinner, it starts to rain. I get ready to leave alone since I''m sure Derek is going to the club with them.


    Derekes to me, though. I thought he''s going to drive me home. Instead, he says, "I''m sorry I can''t go home with you. It''ste, and someone needs to drive Vivian home. It''s not safe out there. I''lle back for you, okay?" I just nod.


    He opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but in the end, he just squeezes my hand and leaves.


    I watch them leave, and once they''re out of sight, I call for a taxi before Lucy can try to stop me.


    I arrive home, drenched in the rain. Derek appears sometimeter, looking appalled.


    "Why didn''t you wait for me?" he asks, wrapping me up in his arms. "I''m sorry I had to leave. But Vivian has a kid, I can''t let her get sick."


    There''s a hint ofint and usation in his tone.


    "I didn''t know you were the only one who can drive her home," say lightly.


    "What?" Derek splutters.


    "Well, all four of her friends brought their cars," I point out. "It''s kind of a shame none of the other men wanted to take her."


    He purses his lips. Hisint bes irritation.


    "Look, are you jealous?" he asks, raking through his hair. "Because I just see her as my sister. We grew up together, and now she lives alone with her kid. Why are you making an issue out of me helping a friend?" His voice rises at thest sentence, and before I can leave, he pushes me against the wall.


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    Chapter 3.