Chapter 10: I Let Them Finish Their Little Performance

I didn't confront Callum that night.

For the first time in seven years, I decided I didn't need an immediate answer.

I needed evidence.

I opened a new folder on my laptop and named it simply: Callum.

Then I began saving everything.

The production schedule.

The talent release.

The hotel reservation.

The jewelry transaction.

The messages from Willa.

The screenshots from the studio's social media account.

Every document told the same story.

Callum hadn't made one careless mistake.

He had built an entire plan and expected me to cooperate without knowing what I was agreeing to.

The next morning, I woke before sunrise.

There were three missed calls from him.

Six messages.

The last one said:

"Please don't make this uglier than it needs to be."

I stared at it for several seconds.

Then I typed:

"I won't."

I didn't add anything else.

At 9:30 a.m., Willa sent me the location of the waterfront shoot.

I drove there alone.

I parked two blocks away and walked toward the harbor.

The studio crew had already set up.

Tripods stood near the railing.

A camera crane stretched over the water.

Someone was adjusting a microphone.

And in the middle of it all stood Callum and Delaney.

Delaney wore a pale blue dress.

Callum held a small black box in his hand.

The ring.

Or whatever he intended it to be.

I stayed behind a parked delivery van where no one could see me.

A director called out.

"Rolling."

Callum turned toward Delaney.

His expression changed instantly.

Soft.

Warm.

The same expression I'd seen hundreds of times during our relationship.

He took Delaney's hand.

"Seven years ago, I never imagined I'd find someone who understood me like this."

My stomach tightened.

Seven years.

He was using our relationship as the emotional language for another woman.

Delaney looked uncomfortable.

She whispered something.

The camera kept rolling.

Callum shook his head slightly.

"Just stay with me."

Then he opened the box.

The director smiled.

"Beautiful. Hold that position."

I took several photographs with my phone.

Not because I wanted revenge.

Because I wanted a record.

After the take, Delaney immediately stepped away.

"Callum, this has gone too far."

"It's only rehearsal."

"You said Maren wasn't coming."

"She isn't."

"Then why did I see her car?"

Callum's head snapped toward the parking area.

I stepped out from behind the van.

His face went completely blank.

Delaney looked at me.

For once, she didn't look guilty.

She looked relieved.

"Maren."

Callum walked toward me.

"What are you doing here?"

"Watching."

"This is a private production."

"Then why is my name in the contract?"

He stopped.

The crew suddenly became very interested in their equipment.

"We canceled the campaign," he said.

"You canceled the paperwork. You didn't cancel the shoot."

"It's a final rehearsal."

"For what?"

He didn't answer.

I looked at Delaney.

"Did he tell you what happens after this?"

Delaney shook her head.

Callum stepped between us.

"Don't drag her into this."

"You dragged her into it months ago."

I looked at the ring box in his hand.

"Is that the necklace you tried to buy with our money?"

His jaw tightened.

"It's a prop."

I laughed once.

"Of course it is."

Then I pulled out my phone.

I opened the production schedule Willa had sent me.

I held it up.

"Proposal rehearsal. Private dinner. Future couple campaign."

"You told me this was just a hometown video."

"You told Delaney it was just blocking."

"You told your parents I was delayed."

"Which version of the truth do you want to use today?"

Callum stared at me.

For the first time, he had no polished explanation ready.

Then his expression hardened.

"What do you want, Maren?"

I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

"Nothing from you anymore."

"I just want you to understand one thing."

I looked directly into his eyes.

"You didn't lose me because of a seat in an SUV."

"You lost me because you kept making decisions for my life and calling them love."

Then I turned around.

Behind me, the director quietly told the crew to stop filming.

I kept walking.

This time, I didn't look back.