Chapter 3
Brittany swirled her wine glass, her smile faint. She casually remarked, “Oh, Josh just mentioned it when he drove me home last night around midnight.”
Someone chuckled. “Wow! Are you two still keeping in touch like that? It’s no surprise, though. You two grew up together. It’s a bond, right? How fortunate for Josh that Celia’s so understanding. Any other woman would’ve lost her mind knowing that her husband used to follow Brittany around like a puppy.
Another chimed in, laughing, “Celia is married to the CEO of Hughman Corp. She has a perfect marriage and a perfect life. And Brittany’s the one who set them up in the first place. Why would she be jealous? Let’s be real—if Brittany wanted Josiah, she could’ve had him years ago. Everyone knows that he’s wrapped around her finger.”
Brittany’s smirk grew as she heard their comments. “It’s a funny story, actually. I was the one who told him to pursue Celia in the first place. Even the proposal was my idea. I kept telling him that he owed Celia a real title, and he finally caved. To outsiders, it probably looked like he fell for her, but really, I was the one who pushed him into it.”
Priscilla’s heart jolted, the words hitting her like a punch to the gut. She had believed that Josiah proposed because he saw everything she had done for him and had genuinely fallen in love with her. Yet, it turned out that even their marriage had been Brittany’s doing all along.
Suddenly, her chest felt unbearably tight, like she could not breathe. The conversation around her continued, but she could not take it anymore. So, she quietly got up and headed to the restroom.
By the time Priscilla had calmed herself and returned to the room, everyone had started playing a party game. Brittany had just lost a round and drew a Truth card.
“Name the person who’s pursued you the longest. Give us a few examples,” someone read aloud.
Priscilla’s lashes fluttered, and she turned her gaze away. Meanwhile, Brittany smiled, settling back into the couch as she strolled down memory lane.
“He started pursuing me when I was seven, so that’s almost 20 years now. When we were teens, he even gave me a family heirloom that was only meant for his future wife, saying he’d only ever love me.
“Whenever he learned that I was dating someone, he’d drink himself sick for days. His stomach was literally messed up from all the alcohol. Oh, and when I was studying abroad, he flew over every week just to see me. He’d bring all my favorite treats and snacks and stay with me no matter the cost.”
Each detail hit Priscilla like a knife. She remembered that Josiah’s mom had asked him to hand over the family heirloom to her when they got married, but he claimed that it was lost.
She remembered all those nights he’d return home drunk, claiming that it was just work events, and she would foolishly prepare him hangover soup. Every holiday, he said he had to travel for business, and she’d always help him pack, stuffing his suitcase with treats and snacks.
She had given everything to their relationship, but he had never truly let go of Brittany. And all this time, she had been entirely in the dark.
Priscilla’s chest felt like it was being crushed, but the rest of the room was buzzing with curiosity and excitement. Someone asked, “Brittany, who is it? Do we know him? I mean, he sounds completely obsessed with you. You must have feelings for him too, right? If you guys end up together, you must bring him around!”
Brittany gave Priscilla a knowing glance, her smile dripping with amusement. “Sure,” she replied, her tone casual. “I’ll bring him next month and introduce him to everyone.”
Just as the words left her mouth, the door to the private suite swung open. Then, Josiah walked in, smiling as he spoke. He asked, “Introduce who? Why wait until next month? Brittany, are you ready? Weren’t we headed to that concert?”
But the moment his eyes landed on Priscilla, his voice faltered, and something flickered across his face. It was surprise, or perhaps guilt. He blurted, “Celia? What are you doing here?”
Priscilla thought back to that morning when Josiah had dropped her off at the mall and told her not to wait. He had said that he would be working late into the night.
It seemed that a concert date with Brittany was what he meant by “working late”.
Priscilla smiled faintly and met his eyes, saying, “As you can see, I’m just at a college reunion.”
Josiah nodded several times, clearly scrambling to change the subject. “Well, perfect timing. I’ll take you home.”
However, Priscilla picked up her phone and ordered a rideshare without hesitation. She replied, “That’s okay. I’ve already called for a car. Enjoy your concert.”
