Deke added, "After covering our five hundred in monthly expenses, you can save the rest."

I wouldn't have thought much of it—until he said it out loud. That's when it hit me.

I was paying for almost everything.

Aside from the grand he dumped into our joint account each month, he hardly spent a dime.

I looked up at him and, out of nowhere, said, "Deke, let's go get our marriage license."

Silence.

The kind so thick I could hear him swallow.

His mouth opened, but no words came out.

I wiped my tears and smiled. "We've got enough for a down payment, and we're not getting any younger. Let's just do it. You proposed before, didn't you? Well, I'm saying yes now."

I waited for excitement. A grin. Maybe even relief.

Instead, his eyes flickered with something closer to... panic.

After a long pause, he dropped to one knee. "Babe, we agreed to wait until we saved eighty grand. Why the sudden rush? If we do this now, it'll mess up all our plans."

He was stiff, staring at me like he was waiting for a bomb to go off.

I pulled open my drawer, grabbed the engagement ring he'd given me, and slid it onto my finger. My tone was steady. "I'm just worried that if we don't, you'll marry someone else instead."

A joke.

But from the way Deke's legs buckled, you'd think I'd just sentenced him to death.

He crumpled onto the floor, pale. "Babe, marriage is a big deal. We should take our time and plan it properly. Your mom's sick—she probably isn't in the right state to talk about a wedding anyway, right?"

His eyes darted everywhere. Anywhere but at me.

I patted his shoulder like I was giving him some grand mission. "That's exactly why we should do it now. A wedding would lift my mom's spirits—might even help her recover. You wouldn't say no to that, would you?"

A few simple words, and his flimsy excuse crumbled.

Deke scratched his head, looking like a trapped animal. Then, desperate for an out, he shot to his feet. "I'll call my parents and let them know."

I didn't stop him. Just watched as he scurried off to the study.

Not even two minutes later, I heard his voice—low, hushed.

The walls were thick, but a glass pressed against them worked like a charm.

Suddenly, the muffled whispers came through clear.

"Honey, once you're back, we can be together every day. Take care of yourself over there—I worry about you, you know."

And just like that, whatever hope I had left died.

That tiny seed of doubt? It had grown into something massive, its roots twisting tight around my heart.

On the other side of the wall, Deke kept talking.

"Honey, once you're back, I'll buy you a big house. Don't worry—I've got plenty of money!"

I let out a quiet laugh.

Plenty of money? What a joke.

Sixty-seven grand in that account—more than fifty of it was mine.

***

The next morning, I yanked Deke out of bed, ready to drag him to the County Clerk's Office.

That's when he finally panicked.

Huddled under the blankets, he refused to move. "Babe, this is all happening so fast. I—I think I have pre-wedding anxiety..."

Deke swallowed hard. "Let's talk about marriage later, okay?"

I hadn't actually planned on forcing him to go. His reaction told me everything I needed to know—he'd betrayed me.

I let go of his arm, shoving him back onto the bed. "Fine. Take your time being scared. I have things to do. When you figure it out, we'll go get the license."

Relief washed over his face, like a man who'd just dodged a bullet. He nodded, all obedient, then reached for my hand, voice dripping with fake affection.

"Babe, be careful out there. I love you!"

My steps faltered at the door. A sharp pain twisted in my heart.

Deke had said 'I love you ' a million times over the past three years. But right now, it felt like a joke.

I turned back, raising an eyebrow. "You love me? Deke, love isn't just words. If you really loved me, you'd be getting dressed and following me to the County Clerk's Office right now, wouldn't you?"

I put on a heartbroken expression, dabbing at fake tears.

He said nothing. Just turned his back to me, his tone going ice-cold. "Are you trying to force me into marriage?"

I didn't answer.

There was no point dragging this out. I'd made my point.

I grabbed my keys and drove straight to the sales office—a place I'd visited more times than I could count.

On the way, I withdrew my money from our joint account. Every last dollar that was mine.

Fifty-six grand. My entire savings since graduation.

Since Deke had no plans to buy a house or marry me?

Fine. I wouldn't marry him.

But I would buy a house—on my own.

To my surprise, the apartment I'd been eyeing had just dropped in price. The down payment? Sixty grand. And I could sign today.

I didn't hesitate.

With a steady hand, I signed my name.

Just as I was about to finish the last document, my phone lit up.

Deke.

Without a second thought, I declined the call and went back to reviewing the paperwork.

He must've checked the account and realized the money was gone.

Seconds later, his messages started rolling in.

[Zoey, where's the money from our joint account?]

[That's our shared property. Why didn't you tell me before transferring it out?]

[Send it back right now, or I won't forgive you!]

I ignored him.

Instead, I noticed his position was changing through locating app.

He was running all over, trying to find me.

But he'd never guess—I was out buying a house.

By the time I finished everything and headed home, Deke was still out searching.

I sat in the living room, watching my phone light up over and over. Each notification faded into silence, then started again.

And just like that, the memories hit me.

How we met. How we fell for each other. All the moments I once thought were real.

I thought we had a future. I thought we were in love.

But that post had been a brutal slap of reality, ripping the blinders off.

A notification chimed from the study, snapping me out of it.

I touched my face—wet with tears I hadn't even noticed.

Pushing open the study door, I saw Deke's computer screen. His chat app was open.

Two pinned names sat at the top.

Me.

And Anita Dickson—his first love.

***

Deke was still blowing up my phone.

Even in the middle of frantically searching for me, he somehow found time to text Anita.

[Honey, be careful on your way to the prenatal checkup. Watch your step!]

[Be good for me, okay? I miss you. Love you!]

A sharp pang shot through my heart.

Deke and his ex... were having a baby?

And I didn't even know when he got married—when he built this whole secret life behind my back.

A few minutes later, another message popped up.

[I'll start showing in two months. When are you finally going to break up with that woman?]

[I'm your wife now. Why are you still tangled up with someone else?]

My heart clenched, splintering into pieces.

I'd assumed Anita was just as clueless as I was. Maybe even thought about reaching out, exposing Deke together.

But now? That wasn't necessary.

They were a perfect match—both despicable.

Then, another notification. This time, from Deke's mother, Cassandra.

[Deke, you can't even fool a naive girl?]

[Did you forget everything I taught you?]

The woman who'd always been so sweet to me—she was in on it too.

I gripped the desk, breath hitching. A full minute passed before I could move again.

Three years. Every moment, every promise, every I love you—all a lie.

All that effort just to scam my savings. Pathetic.

I memorized Anita’s chat app username and slipped out of the study.

***

Half an hour later, Deke stormed in, drenched in sweat.

He kicked the door open, cursing under his breath. "That witch actually touched my money. She's got some nerve. Just wait till she gets back—I'll beat her to death!"

Leaning against the dining table, I took a slow sip of water. "Oh? You're gonna beat me?"

He froze. His brows scrunched so tight they practically knotted together.

Face darkening, he marched over and clamped his hand around my wrist. "Zoey, where did you transfer our money?"

I set my glass down and pulled free, walking straight to the couch.

"Be precise. That fifty-six grand was my money, not ours." I lounged back, crossing my legs. "In the last two years, you just saved eleven grand. And now you wanna claim it all?"

His fists clenched, Adam's apple bobbing. For a second, I thought he'd swing.

Instead, he ground his teeth, keeping his temper in check. "We're supposed to get married. That makes it our money. You took it without telling me—what did you even do with it?"

I crossed my legs, not even sparing him a glance. "Bought a house."

His pupils shrank.

"What did you just say?" His voice shot up.

I hated repeating myself. So I didn't. Just grabbed my phone and started playing a game.

That was the last straw.

With a furious yell, he lunged and smacked the phone out of my hands. It hit the floor with a loud crack, the screen shattering.

His face twisted, panic mixing with rage. "You spent our money on a house?! What about me?!"