Chapter 12: The Bracelet That Exposed Everything

I couldn't stop thinking about the bracelet.

The receipt sat on my phone screen while I tried to remember every conversation I'd had with Kostas during that weekend.

He had told me he was exhausted from meetings.

He had told me he barely had time to eat.

He had told me he went straight to bed.

Yet that same afternoon, he had bought a gold bracelet.

For Eleni.

I opened Eleni's social media profile.

At first, I saw nothing unusual.

Then I remembered something.

She had posted a photograph two months earlier wearing a thin gold bracelet.

The caption said, “Some gifts are worth waiting for.”

I found the photograph again.

My hands went cold.

It was the same bracelet.

I took a screenshot.

Then I saved it beside the receipt.

I didn't call Kostas.

I didn't call Eleni.

Instead, I waited.

That evening, I received another message from the unknown number.

“Now you know where the bracelet went.”

I typed back.

“Who are you?”

This time, there was an answer.

“Someone who should have spoken sooner.”

I stared at the words.

“Are you Mason?”

The reply came almost immediately.

“No.”

“Then who?”

“Meet me tomorrow.”

A location followed.

It was a café near the office where Eleni worked.

I almost refused.

Then I remembered how many times I had been kept in the dark.

I decided I was done being afraid of the truth.

The next afternoon, I arrived early.

A woman was already sitting at the table reserved under my name.

I recognized her after a moment.

She worked at the jewelry store shown on the receipt.

“Are you Romy?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She placed a small folder on the table.

“I can't give you private customer information without authorization.”

“But someone contacted our store and asked whether a particular purchase could be confirmed.”

She opened the folder.

Inside was a copy of the receipt.

“The bracelet was purchased by Kostas Costa.”

“He paid in full.”

“And the engraving?” I asked.

She hesitated.

Then she turned the receipt around.

There was a handwritten note from the salesperson.

“Engraving requested: E.”

My stomach dropped.

Eleni.

There was no longer anything to explain away.

The woman closed the folder.

“I'm sorry.”

I nodded.

“Thank you for meeting me.”

When I stepped outside, I saw Kostas across the street.

He had been waiting for me.

He crossed toward me quickly.

“Romy, what are you doing here?”

I looked at him.

“Buying a bracelet, apparently.”

His face changed instantly.

“Where did you get that information?”

I smiled sadly.

“That's your concern?”

He lowered his voice.

“Please listen to me.”

“I bought it for her.”

“I know.”

“It wasn't supposed to mean what you think.”

“Then what was it supposed to mean?”

He couldn't answer.

I reached into my bag and took out a printed copy of the receipt.

“You told me you were working.”

“You told me you were alone.”

“You told me nothing happened.”

“How many lies were you planning to tell before the truth became impossible to hide?”

His eyes filled with regret.

“I was going to end things with her.”

I stared at him.

“When?”

He hesitated.

“Soon.”

I laughed softly.

“You always say soon.”

“Soon you'll fix the lock.”

“Soon you'll tell me the truth.”

“Soon you'll decide.”

“Soon you'll stop hurting me.”

I folded the receipt and put it back in my bag.

“I waited long enough.”

He stepped closer.

“Romy, please don't do this.”

“I'm not doing anything to you.”

“I'm simply leaving.”

His phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

Eleni.

He declined the call.

A second later, she called again.

This time, he answered.

“I'm with Romy.”

I watched his expression change as he listened.

Then Eleni's voice came through faintly.

“You promised you were going to handle her.”

Kostas froze.

So did I.

Eleni continued.

“You said she wouldn't find out.”

Kostas looked at me.

The color drained from his face.

I didn't need to hear anything else.

I turned around and walked away.

Behind me, Kostas was still saying my name.

I kept walking.

For once, I didn't turn back.