Chapter 9

In the hours before dawn, Arthur stood by the bedroom window, an old diamond ring resting in his palm. It was the same ring he'd used to propose to Cindy all those years ago. Back then, they had come so close to building a life together. He stared at it, his gaze fixed as if time had frozen around him. At last, he closed his eyes and tossed the ring into the air. In an instant, it vanished into the quiet night. A few days later, Cindy had just gotten back from a hospital check-up when she spotted a car parked downstairs. Arthur was leaning against it like he'd been waiting for her. The sight pulled her back to their college days, to all the times he'd waited outside her dorm. She quickly tucked her medication out of sight and walked over to him. "Are you here for me?" she asked. Arthur looked up, and for the first time, he noticed how much weight Cindy had lost, and how pale she'd gotten. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he didn't ask. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out an invitation. Cindy dropped her gaze. The moment she saw it, a chill ran through her, freezing her in place. She didn't move until Arthur's voice cut through the silence. "Annette and I are getting married. I just thought you should know. Don't come, and don't bother with congratulations." A dull ache spread through Cindy's chest. Had he come to hate her so much that he never wanted to see her again? Her hands shook as she took the invitation, but she couldn't bring herself to look up and let him see her face. Instead, she nodded silently and murmured, "I wish you all the happiness." Arthur and Annette's wedding was set for a week later. Cindy submitted her resignation to Forsyth Group. It was approved without delay. Arthur was getting married, and he no longer wanted to see her. Even the purpose that had kept her going—the need to make amends—was gone. Three days before the wedding, Cindy took stock of the assets she had accumulated over the years. Her time at Forsyth Group had allowed her to save a considerable sum. She sold her apartment and donated every penny to charity. Two days before the wedding, Cindy visited the cemetery. She bought the plot next to Winter's. She also told the staff, "Don't put my name on the headstone when the time comes." After all, no one would visit her grave. This way, if the Forsyths ever saw it, they wouldn't realize it was hers or have any reason to be angry. The day before the wedding, Cindy began settling her affairs. She called a waste removal service and had them clear out everything in the house that belonged to her. By the end, all that remained was a single cardboard box. Inside were her and Arthur's high school ID cards, the ticket stub from their first movie date, photos of them, the necklace he had given her, and the letters they had exchanged. Cindy lit a flame in the fire pit. One by one, she burned every last keepsake—every piece of the past she had turned to on sleepless nights—until nothing was left but ash. She sat in the empty house until dawn, watching as the first light broke through. Today was Arthur's wedding. Cindy staggered to her feet and suddenly noticed a pool of crimson on the floor. She touched her face and realized she was bleeding. But she paid it no mind. She stumbled out the door. It was a rare clear day. Yet she trembled uncontrollably, leaving a trail of blood as she walked. Passersby gawked at her in shock, but she never stopped until she reached a large bridge. Below, the river stretched, deep and endless. Cindy could almost feel the icy sting of the water. She sat on the edge of the bridge and called the hospital. "Hello, I'll be gone today. Please handle my remains and arrange for organ donation immediately." After hanging up, she gazed blankly at the river. Blood streaked her face, but a faint smile touched her lips. It was finally over. She felt nothing but relief. Today, Arthur would begin his new life as a married man, while Cindy would sink into an eternal sleep at the bottom of the river. This was the best ending she could imagine. Smiling, she closed her eyes and leaped into the abyss without hesitation. Goodbye forever, Arthur, she thought. … Half an hour later, at the wedding venue, Arthur stood onstage in his suit, watching Annette approach him with quiet grace, her wedding gown flowing around her. But his mind was miles away, consumed by Cindy's voice. "What kind of wedding do you want, Cindy?" "Something simple. I'd want it on a wide, open lawn, with colorful balloons everywhere. We'd only invite our closest friends, and Winter would be my maid of honor." "A Forsyth wedding could never be that simple." "Who said I was planning to marry you, Arthur?" Back then, neither of them had imagined that, in the end, she wouldn't be the one standing beside him. Cindy's face filled Arthur's mind as he went through the ceremony on autopilot. Just as he and Annette were about to exchange rings, Kevin rushed over, looking flustered. "Mr. Forsyth, your phone has been going off nonstop." Arthur frowned. "Can't you tell this isn't the time?" Kevin hesitated, clearly torn. "I know, but it's been ringing for a while. I'm worried it might be important." Arthur reluctantly reached for the phone. The number was unfamiliar. He swiped to answer, and an angry voice burst through the line. It was Sylvan. Arthur's face darkened in an instant. "This had better be important, Sylvan." A single sentence came through the line. Arthur's face turned ghostly pale. His phone slid from his grip, hitting the floor with a clatter. A heartbeat later, the entire venue watched as the groom, as if possessed, suddenly bolted for the exit. Annette's desperate voice rang out from the stage, calling his name over and over. But Arthur seemed deaf to everything, his mind drowning in the words that had just come through the phone. "Cindy is dead, Arthur! She jumped into the river!"