When Leo got in, he handed me a box.

It was the ruby necklace he’d bought at the same auction as the ring last month.

"Alright, don't be upset. I had your gift ready a while ago. I've just been so busy lately, I forgot."

He said it so casually, as if I were just a child throwing a tantrum over a present.

"Leo, let's eat out for our anniversary this year."

In previous years, he would always plan ahead, buy groceries, and cook a special dinner.

Even in our poorest years, the meal might have been simple, but he never forgot the ritual.

He stared straight ahead, starting the car, and gave me a dismissive reply.

"Fine. Where do you want to go?"

He agreed so quickly.

Of course he did.

This way, he could save more time to go appease her.

"How about Giuliana's?"

The car suddenly swerved.

I pretended not to see his fingers curl tightly around the steering wheel.

"It's snowing," I said calmly. "The roads are slick. Drive carefully."

"Yeah."

His expression was normal, betraying nothing.

He asked casually, as if just making conversation, "Why there?"

"The new girl at work recommended it. She said their pasta is amazing. Why?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

Leo let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

"No reason."

We drove the rest of the way in silence.

I knew what he was nervous about.

Young girls like her love trendy spots like that.

And that particular restaurant was her favorite.

I’d seen her check in there on her Instagram story more than once.

In those photos, I could always make out a blurry reflection in the window across from her.

A figure I knew intimately, a man who I'd watched grow from a boy into a man by my side.

When we arrived, the restaurant was packed.

Even so, the owner greeted Leo warmly.

When he saw me, his smile froze for a second before becoming even more enthusiastic.

"You come here often," I stated to Leo.

He explained, "Some clients prefer to discuss business in a place like this."

I couldn't help but marvel at how the business world had molded him into such a mature, unreadable man.

If I didn't know him so well, I'd never have detected the guilt hidden beneath his calm exterior.

The waiter led us to their usual private booth.

A special feature of this restaurant was that every booth was decorated differently, and this one was the backdrop for many of Maya's photos.

Leo ordered us a bottle of wine.

Maybe the owner was distracted, or maybe the waiter just wasn't paying attention.

But they brought a shrimp scampi to our table.

Leo's face instantly darkened.

He quickly told them to take it back and bring something else.

He kept glancing at me, and only seemed to relax when he saw my expression was unchanged.

Leo can't handle spicy food.

When we were together, I always made sure to order a few mild dishes for him.

But on Maya's Instagram, every food picture she posted was drenched in red pepper flakes.

I remember her caption once: [My man can't handle spice, but he still came with me.]

"I heard you bought a ring called 'True Love' a while back. And that you went to France a year ago to have a custom wedding dress made. Are they for me?"

My question came out of nowhere.

Leo's hand trembled, dropping a piece of bread into my water glass.

"No, that was for a client."

He called the waiter over and asked for more bread.

A strained smile touched my lips.

Finally, I couldn't hold it in any longer.

I looked up at him, my eyes full of hope.

"Leo, are you still going to marry me?"

He didn't even look up, just answered perfunctorily, "Of course. I promised you."

He poured me a glass of water, and perhaps sensing my mood, tried to soothe me.

"Sierra, don't overthink things. A wedding takes a lot of preparation. I don't want to rush it. It's a once-in-a-lifetime event."

I looked down without a word, staring at the photo Maya had sent me just hours before.

She was wearing the famous "True Love" diamond, dressed in a one-of-a-kind wedding gown, smiling as she leaned against him.

And he was looking back at her, his eyes filled with devotion.

Leo had said the same thing a long time ago.

Back when he had no money, his friends worried I'd leave him for being poor and told him to just get the marriage certificate with me.

He said the same thing then, that I'd had it rough with him.

He promised to give me a wedding that would make every girl in the world envious.

But I knew he didn't want to marry me anymore.

I took out my phone and placed it on the table in front of him.

"Is this the 'client' you were talking about? Your secretary?"

I thought that with the evidence right there, he would panic, get anxious, or maybe just confess.

Instead, he simply lit a cigarette, took several long drags, and said softly, "Maya's boyfriend died in a car accident. She said I look a lot like him and asked me to take a picture with her, to help her fulfill a dream."

"We're just friends. Nothing is going on."

My eyes stung, and a dense, prickly pain spread through my heart.

"Leo, you know what? When you truly love someone, you notice every single change in them, right away."

"I knew it was you eating at that restaurant with Maya. So many times you've come home smelling strongly of garlic and pasta."

"And you always have this sweet, cloying perfume on you."

Leo lifted his sleeve to his nose, and his face instantly darkened.

"You never used to smoke in front of me."

Leo stared at me, stunned.

He immediately stubbed out the cigarette.

Only then did the reality of the situation seem to hit him.

He looked at me in a panic.

"Sierra, let me explain..."

"No, you listen to me first."

I cut him off.

"I came here once before. I used her Instagram location tag to find this exact booth. I asked the owner if I could reserve it."

"He smiled and told me this booth was permanently reserved by a very important man. He said his girlfriend loves this spot, loves how she can see the river from here, and he was afraid she'd be sad if she came one day and couldn't get her favorite seat."

"Also, I'm allergic to shrimp."

I picked up a shrimp from the appetizer plate they'd mistakenly brought, then held up my glass.

"And mango juice, too."

"Did you mistake me for her?"

Leo's face grew paler and paler.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

The more I spoke, the more the injustice of it all overwhelmed me.

I started to sob, the tears I'd been holding back finally falling.

"Those two hours I waited for you... do you really think I didn't know what you were doing?"

At my words, Leo's pupils contracted.

A flash of pain crossed his face, and his eyes finally reddened.

He came over and pulled me into a tight hug, repeating his apologies over and over.

"I'm sorry, Sierra. I was wrong. I was so wrong."

"It was just a moment of weakness. I'll fire her. I'll make sure she never shows her face again. Please, just forgive me this one time."

"No."

I shoved him away with all my strength, screaming at him through my tears.

"Leo, I already forgave you once."