Chapter 5 I Trust You Both

• The next day hit hard. The sun beat down on the pavement. The wind rustled the dry leaves up in the trees.
• Nora walked into the campus bubble tea shop for her shift. Sweat lined her forehead.
• She skipped work yesterday with no excuse. Her phone stayed off. The shop was a total disaster without her.
• The manager lost his temper. He yelled at her for ten straight minutes. Then he slapped her with a two-hundred-dollar fine.
• Nora worked from ten to six. Her hourly pay sat at thirteen bucks. Eight hours made one hundred four bucks.
• The fine took away two days of her hard-earned money.
• She missed the shift first. She took the hit without saying a word. She grabbed the shaker and got to work.
• The shop stayed mostly quiet. Most orders came through the app. Only a few people sat at the small tables.
• "Nora!"
• Dylan and Zoe walked through the front door together.
• Nora froze. Her hand stopped mid-shake. She slowly raised her head to look at them.
• Dylan looked clean and put together. He wore a light casual outfit. Wire-rim glasses sat on his bridge. His eyes looked warm. His smile looked kind. He was her exact type.
• Who could guess what lived under that clean face?
• "Why didn't you text me back this morning?" Dylan walked up to the counter. His brow twitched with worry.
• "If you disappear for a whole night like last time, how am I supposed to find you?"
• Zoe and Dylan deserved trophies. If Nora didn't die and come back, she would still fall for their fake care.
• They hid a whole baby behind her back. Yet they still acted like saints.
• "The shop was busy this morning. I didn't check my phone," Nora said. She faked a clueless look.
• Her stomach churned. Her hands shook with pure hate. She kept her face completely blank.
• "It's fine. I woke up with a weird stomachache. I think I need a prenatal checkup," Zoe said. She rubbed her flat belly. Her face lit up with fake motherly love.
• "My boyfriend was too busy. So I asked Dylan to come with me."
• Nora offered a small smile. "Oh. Is that right?"
• "You don't need to check in with me. You're my fiancé. She's my best friend. Of course I trust you both."
• Dylan let out a breath. He thought she bought the lie.
• "You're my fiancée. You need to know."
• Zoe rolled her eyes at Dylan behind Nora's back. She said nothing out loud.
• "Nora, are there many app orders today? I've got free time. Let me help out."
• Zoe walked around the front counter. She reached out to grab the plastic cup from Nora's hands.
• "No thanks, Zoe."
• Nora tried to step back. Zoe didn't stop. She grabbed for the cup anyway.
• Her fingers brushed against Nora's hand. Nora let her grip slip.
• The cup tipped over.
• Half a cup of cold milk tea spilled straight onto Zoe's lap.
• "Ah—!"
• Ice-cold milk soaked through her clothes right over her belly. Zoe shrieked out loud.
• "Nora, what do you think you're doing?!"
• Dylan lost his cool. He rushed behind the counter. He shoved Nora hard out of the way. He grabbed a wet napkin to wipe off Zoe's shirt.
• "You okay, Zoe?"
• "I'm fine. Just scared me." Zoe shook her head with a soft pout. She shot a quick side-eye at Nora. Her eyes flashed with pure joy.
• Nora caught that look instantly.
• "So sorry, Zoe! My hands just slipped!" Nora faked a guilty face. She grabbed a towel to help wipe the spill.
• Dylan blocked her path with a cold shove.
• "I'll do it. You're way too clumsy."
• "No, let Nora do it. I don't want her to feel bad," Zoe said. She flashed a sweet, fake smile and gave Dylan a light push.
• "Nora, help me out."
• In her past life, Nora fell for this act. She loved playing the helpful maid.
• Zoe loved watching the real fiancée run around like a servant. Carrying her lover's baby while the legal fiancée cleaned up her messes. It fed her sick ego.
• Nora smiled a dark, secret smile.
• "Sure thing."
• She knelt down with a wet towel. She dabbed at the milk tea stains near Zoe's waist.
• Zoe stared down at Nora's head. Her eyes overflowed with smug pride.
• Then, Nora whispered in a low voice.
• "Oh? Did your boyfriend visit last night, Zoe? Didn't you say your best friend came over instead?"
• Zoe and Dylan both stiffened.
• Nora wiped the fabric higher up, lifting the edge of Zoe's shirt.
• The skin on Zoe's waist showed dark red marks. They were fresh and messy. Anyone could tell they were made just hours ago.
• "Oh, he dropped by late last night. To check on the baby. He didn't tell me, so my friend left early," Zoe lied smoothly, fixing her hair.
• "I see..." Nora muttered.
• "Did Dylan see him when you two came to find me this morning? You've talked about him for months, but I've never met him."
• Dylan looked down at his shoes. He pushed up his glasses to hide his panic.
• "Didn't see him. He left early this morning."
• "Too bad," Nora whispered. "Wonder if anyone else saw him. I'm so curious."
• "Drop it. Why are you gossiping now? Zoe is pregnant. She'll catch a cold. I'm taking her home to change. Get back to work."
• Dylan cut her off with a hard frown. He put a fake, polite arm around Zoe's waist and tried to rush her out the door.
• The glass shop door swung open again. Someone walked inside.
• Before Nora could look up, a sharp gasp echoed through the room.
• "Oh god. It's Miles!"
• Nora's body locked up cold.