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00:04Before our honeymoon to the Amalfi Coast, my husband Julian cancelled our flight behind my back.
00:10He swapped them for tickets to Ibiza with his childhood best friend, Poppy.
00:16Even his pack of party boyfriends thought he'd gone too far and tried to talk him down.
00:24The fuck, Julian? This is messed up. Claire's been looking forward to it forever.
00:30Julian didn't care. He brushed them off without a second thought.
00:33It's Poppy's birthday wish. One more single girl trip with her before I'm locked down for good.
00:38Claire always blows everything out of proportion. This'll be good for her. Reminder she's not the center of the universe.
00:43The Poppy he was talking about was his weepy childhood playmate.
00:47And I was Claire, the wife he couldn't even bother to say my wife about.
00:50I didn't fight. I didn't argue. I pretended I had no idea, quietly cancelled the honeymoon,
00:56and bought a one-way ticket to another country on the other side of the ocean.
01:00My phone was lagging. The cancellation screen kept spinning.
01:03Meanwhile, on Poppy's pink tablet, an iMessage group chat called Astor's Royal Guard wouldn't stop lighting up.
01:09I tapped it open. Poppy's avatar filled the screen.
01:12What the hell is wrong with you assholes? Every single one of you is taking Claire's side.
01:17Like she's your bro, not me.
01:19Fine. You're right. It's all my fault. I'm just a bitch. I shouldn't have a birthday.
01:25I definitely shouldn't have wished for Julian to come with me.
01:28I should be like the rest of you, kissing Queen Claire's ass.
01:31You're her real friends. I don't matter at all. Happy now.
01:34Julian, who'd been ghosting me for two days, claiming he was in meetings, replied in seconds.
01:39He add the other six guys and sent one thing. A single question mark.
01:44Sorry, sorry, sorry.
01:46It's just one bachelorette trip. Queen Poppy says jump. We don't just send Julian.
01:51All six of us drop everything and show up as bodyguards.
01:56Who are you? Claire's the one you actually answered to.
01:58Claire, please. So they had a wedding. Big deal.
02:01Julian still got that paperwork locked in his safe.
02:04She's a wife in name only.
02:09I blinked, staring at the group chat that was so much livelier without me in it.
02:14If Poppy hadn't left her tablet in Julian's car, I wouldn't have even earned a peek at all this fun.
02:20And there I'd been, naively reading travel guides, hoping the honeymoon would make for great photos.
02:26I stared at the empty itinerary for a long time.
02:30Then I went back to the home screen, typed in a new destination, and made a call.
02:37Mom, I'll go to London with you.
02:39On the other end, my mother caught it immediately.
02:42Something was wrong.
02:43Back then, she'd turned down a once-in-a-lifetime job offer for my sake.
02:47Mom, I know you have questions.
02:49But right now, I don't have the energy to explain everything that just happened.
02:55I've made up my mind.
02:56Once I wrap up work and get my visa sorted, I'll fly out.
02:59Then I'll tell you everything.
03:01Mom went quiet for a few seconds.
03:02In the end, she didn't push.
03:04I hung up and collapsed onto the couch, trying to steady myself.
03:07Julian's friends had a point.
03:09We'd signed a prenup.
03:10We'd had a wedding.
03:11But he deliberately locked the marriage license.
03:13The one we still had to file with City Hall.
03:15In his safe.
03:16Until it was legally binding.
03:17I was just a wife who could be swapped out at any moment.
03:20Which, right now, meant I didn't have to wait for him to come home.
03:23No divorce proceedings.
03:24No drawn-out fights over assets.
03:26I pushed the wave of feeling back down.
03:28And forced myself up to start packing.
03:30In the closet, the his and hers vacation outfits, freshly pressed, seemed to grin at me.
03:34I'd designed them myself.
03:36For the honeymoon.
03:37For Julian.
03:38I'd pulled all-nighters.
03:40Revising them over and over.
03:41The final pieces had just come in today.
03:43Half an hour ago, I'd still been waiting for Julian to come home and try them on.
03:48Now, I just wanted to throw every single one of them in the trash.
03:53By the time I'd packed and dragged my suitcase to the door, it was the middle of the night.
04:02Julian, say it.
04:04Come on.
04:04You're my royal stallion.
04:06Giddy up.
04:07Yeah, yeah.
04:08Through my stinging, blurred vision, I saw Julian, who hadn't been home in three days.
04:12Giving Poppy a piggyback ride.
04:14Her face was flushed red.
04:16One hand had his ear in a death grip.
04:18The other was patting his head, demanding he neigh.
04:25Poppy's drunk.
04:26I didn't know why he was bothering to explain.
04:28When he'd moved in with me, and Poppy bought the apartment directly above ours the very next day,
04:33he hadn't explained.
04:34When Poppy had giggled in our doorway, hanging off Julian and purring,
04:38Sweetie, I'll always be on top of you.
04:41He hadn't explained then either.
04:43All he ever said was,
04:45Claire, you know what we are to each other.
04:47They were childhood sweethearts, after all.
04:50Two old money families joined at the hip.
04:52Everyone had watched them grow up.
04:53For years, they'd been the golden couple in every photo.
04:56Until Julian launched a three-year campaign chasing me in college.
05:00To him, that was proof enough that there was nothing between him and Poppy.
05:03Once I tore myself apart over it, I obsessed.
05:06I picked fights.
05:07But now, whatever they did had nothing to do with me anymore.
05:10I looked away.
05:11All I said was,
05:12Yeah, of course.
05:13Then I started to wheel my suitcase past him.
05:15It was the answer he should have wanted.
05:18He didn't take it well.
05:20Say that again?
05:22I said,
05:23We're done, Julian.
05:25I'm breaking up with you.
05:28You're really not done throwing this tantrum, are you?
05:31And by the way, Claire,
05:32we had our wedding last week.
05:35If you're throwing a fit,
05:36the words divorce,
05:39not breakup.
05:40Breakup.
05:41Divorce.
05:42To Julian,
05:43they were the same kind of joke.
05:44He looked at me lazily,
05:45the way you humor a child who's being unreasonable.
05:48I didn't bother arguing.
05:50The corner of my mouth twitched.
05:51Call it whatever you want,
05:52but I couldn't leave.
05:53The standoff lasted only a few seconds.
06:01I can't deal with you two anymore.
06:07Julian instinctively reached down to help her up.
06:10She shoved him away.
06:11Don't touch me.
06:12I'm done.
06:13I'm done.
06:13The second she sees me,
06:15it's I want to break up.
06:16I'm leaving.
06:17Am I some kind of prop?
06:18Am I garbage?
06:19Why is she so disgusted by me?
06:21Julian,
06:23let's cut each other off.
06:25I am sick of walking on eggshells around her.
06:29It's all my fault.
06:30I shouldn't have ever shown up in your lives.
06:33I shouldn't have grown up with you.
06:35Right on cue,
06:35she launched into dramatic dry heaving,
06:37baking that she couldn't breathe,
06:38tearing through her Hermes bag for something.
06:40My pills.
06:40Where's my Xanax?
06:41I'm dying.
06:42Maybe I should just die.
06:43Anything's better than being treated like this every single time.
06:46The heat at my wrist disappeared.
06:48Julian had already pulled her into his arms,
06:50stopping her.
06:52It took maybe a few seconds.
06:55Poppy was gasping wildly against his chest,
06:58her eyes red.
07:01Happy now?
07:02It was always like this.
07:04The instant I showed even a hint of resistance,
07:07Poppy would declare an anxiety attack
07:08and start frantically hurting herself.
07:10Can't speak to her.
07:12Can't touch her.
07:13Can't even walk away.
07:14In the early days,
07:16Julian had begged me to humor her.
07:18Claire,
07:18you've been through it yourself.
07:19You know how it is.
07:20When she's like this,
07:21all you can do is go along with her.
07:23Because lives were on the line,
07:24I caved every time.
07:26I avoided the storm,
07:27but eventually,
07:28I figured it out.
07:29Poppy's condition
07:30only flared up
07:31when Julian wasn't choosing her over me.
07:33That so-called anxiety disorder,
07:34it was just possessedness in costume,
07:36forcing him to pick a side.
07:38I looked down at the smug little look on Poppy's face.
07:40I nodded.
07:42Sure.
07:43Very happy.
07:45Though,
07:45you moved a little too fast.
07:47You didn't get to find the pills.
07:49Your acting could use some work.
07:51Try harder next time.
07:53A flash of shock crossed Poppy's face.
07:54She froze,
07:55then started gearing up for round two.
07:57His tall frame loomed over me.
07:59Suddenly,
08:00my whole field of vision went dark.
08:02The shoulder that used to shelter me
08:04was now carrying another woman.
08:06Carrying her
08:07while blocking my way out.
08:09Claire,
08:10I really have been spoiling you too much.
08:15She has every right to make you pay for that.
08:17Be grateful, Claire.
08:19I'm the one holding her back.
08:20For a moment,
08:21the world went vacuum silence.
08:23I couldn't hear a thing.
08:25Even Poppy froze.
08:27Then she snapped out of it,
08:28jerked her hand free,
08:29and swung it hard at my face.
08:30A second before her palm hit me,
08:32Julian caught her wrist.
08:33Those eyes.
08:34The ones that used to watch over me through the night.
08:36That used to pull me out of nightmares.
08:38Tonight they were cold as ice.
08:40A flicker of disgust.
08:41A warning.
08:42You really thought you could just walk out on me?
08:45If she'd actually hit you,
08:46you'd be throwing a fit for days, right?
08:48She got hurt and you don't even care?
08:53When you're ready to be reasonable,
08:54you'll apologize to Poppy yourself.
08:57I stood there,
08:58watching the floor numbers climb,
09:00my whole body shaking.
09:01Cold.
09:02So cold.
09:03The kind that crept up from the bottom of you,
09:05that no coat,
09:06no matter how expensive,
09:07could keep out.
09:09Five years.
09:10Five whole years.
09:12My body could make a clean break.
09:13My heart couldn't pull free that fast.
09:16I don't know how long it took.
09:18Eventually,
09:18I flagged down a cab
09:19and headed to a hotel near work.
09:21Until I left the country,
09:23that's where I'd stay.
09:25While I waited for my visa,
09:26I had to close out the project
09:28I'd been leading for almost two years.
09:31My personal life was already a wreck.
09:34My career wasn't going to be.
09:35I buried myself in overtime,
09:38kept myself slammed,
09:39partly to speed things up,
09:40partly so I wouldn't have time to think.
09:42As long as I was busy,
09:44I couldn't dwell on anything else.
09:46Maybe it was the toll on my body and nerves.
09:48Lately,
09:48I'd been constantly tired,
09:50constantly nauseous.
09:51My boss reminded me to pull it together,
09:53The client was coming a-sting in this afternoon
09:55to finalize the contract.
09:58At the head of the table sat someone I knew.
10:01Julian,
10:01in a sharp suit,
10:02and beside him,
10:04in a cinched-waist,
10:05backless cocktail dress,
10:06sat Poppy.
10:07My nails dug into my palms
10:09before I could stop them.
10:10My boss thought I had nerves
10:12and whispered,
10:13Relax,
10:13the proposal and the designs
10:14have already been signed off
10:15by their project lead.
10:16These two are just bored
10:17trust fund babies playing it being adults.
10:19Smile through it,
10:20humor the rich kids,
10:20and we're done.
10:21Just give them your usual pitch.
10:24I drew a breath.
10:25I forced on a smile.
10:27I opened the deck
10:27and walked them through my design vision.
10:29Smooth, composed,
10:30point by point.
10:30Poppy propped her chin in her hand,
10:32nodding along all smiles
10:33under the table.
10:34My boss flashed me
10:35a discreet thumbs up.
10:37I exhaled,
10:38reading the room.
10:39Someone slid the contract
10:40across the table.
10:41Hmm,
10:41it's not doing it for me.
10:42The design's so boring.
10:44It gives me a headache
10:45just looking at it.
10:47I don't think I want a sign.
10:48The smile froze on my boss's face.
10:51I kept mine polite.
10:53Is there a specific element
10:54you're not happy with?
10:55Poppy didn't even glance
10:56at the contract.
10:57She held up her hand,
10:59admiring her fresh manicure.
11:00Hard to say.
11:01It's more of a feeling.
11:03Then she hooked her arm
11:04through Julian's.
11:05What do you think?
11:06Every eye in the room
11:07turned to him.
11:08Julian's eyes landed on me.
11:09On instinct,
11:11I looked away.
11:12Sounds like your project lead
11:13doesn't have much faith
11:14in her own work either.
11:15I'm suddenly losing interest
11:16in this investment.
11:18Pulling out.
11:20Oh,
11:20and just so you know,
11:21I've already authorized
11:23my people to begin
11:24a hostile takeover
11:25of your company.
11:26Congratulations, Claire.
11:27You'll be working for me
11:29very soon.
11:30Two years on this account.
11:32A thousand discarded drafts.
11:33I'd lost count of the nights
11:34I'd spent at my desk
11:35to get here.
11:36We were finally about to land.
11:37This was supposed to be
11:38the showcase project.
11:39The perfect closing chapter
11:40on this stage of my career.
11:42One careless sentence from him
11:43and it was all stillborn.
11:45Back at the office,
11:46my boss came tearing in,
11:47white as a shield,
11:49shaking from head to toe.
11:50He was practically sobbing.
11:53Claire, he will destroy
11:54the whole firm.
11:55Please, just go apologize.
11:58It wasn't that I didn't
12:00want to save the project.
12:02It was that I knew exactly
12:04who Poppy was actually here for.
12:07The only way this project survived
12:09was if I disappeared.
12:12I just hadn't expected
12:14the one thing tying me
12:15to this city
12:15would get torn apart this fast.
12:17The wave of nauseous hit again.
12:19I stumbled out of the office.
12:21Julian, still here.
12:23His hand started wandering somewhere.
12:25It had no business going.
12:27I bit down on him
12:28with everything I had.
12:29The taste of blood
12:30bloomed thick between our mouths.
12:32Get out!
12:34Julian stood there,
12:36his expression unreadable.
12:42Claire,
12:43after all this time,
12:45why haven't you learned?
12:46I tried to twist away.
12:47The harder I fought,
12:48the tighter he held me.
12:51If you'd just apologized
12:52for what happened last time,
12:56none of this would be happening today.
13:01How hard is it to lower your head
13:03just once?
13:04Julian's voice was softer
13:06than any sweet nothing
13:06he'd ever whispered in my ear.
13:08But I was shaking anyway.
13:10Not from the cold.
13:11From a cramp tearing through my stomach.
13:13An eerie, sinking,
13:15dragging down feeling.
13:16Something was rushing out of me.
13:19A ridiculous thought
13:20surfaced in my mind.
13:22I tried to look down.
13:24Julian's grip on my chin
13:25held me in place.
13:27All I could do
13:28was bite my lip
13:29and hold on.
13:30Something warm
13:31slipped down my thigh.
13:33Dripping onto the carpet,
13:35Julian noticed.
13:43Claire, you-
13:49Before our honeymoon
13:50to the Amalfi Coast,
13:52my husband Julian
13:53canceled our flight
13:54behind my back.
13:55He swapped them
13:56for tickets to Ibiza
13:57with his childhood
13:59best friend, Poppy.
14:01Even his pack
14:01of party boyfriends
14:03thought he'd gone too far
14:04and tried to talk him down.
14:09The fuck?
14:10Julian,
14:11this is messed up.
14:13Claire's been looking forward
14:13to it forever.
14:15Julian didn't care.
14:16He brushed them off
14:17without a second thought.
14:18It's Poppy's birthday wish.
14:20One more single girl trip
14:21with her before I'm
14:21locked down for good.
14:23Claire always blows
14:23everything out of proportion.
14:25This'll be good for her.
14:26Reminder she's not
14:27the center of the universe.
14:28The Poppy he was talking about
14:30was his weepy childhood playmate.
14:31And I was Claire,
14:33the wife he couldn't
14:33even bother to say
14:34my wife about.
14:35I didn't fight.
14:36I didn't argue.
14:37I pretended I had no idea,
14:39quietly canceled
14:40the honeymoon,
14:41and bought a one-way ticket
14:42to another country
14:43on the other side
14:44of the ocean.
14:44My phone was lagging.
14:46The cancellation screen
14:47kept spinning.
14:48Meanwhile,
14:49on Poppy's pink tablet,
14:50an iMessage group chat
14:51called Astor's Royal Guard
14:53wouldn't stop lighting up.
14:54I tapped it open.
14:55Poppy's avatar
14:56filled the screen.
14:57What the hell is wrong
14:58with you assholes?
14:59Every single one of you
15:00is taking Claire's side.
15:01Like she's your bro,
15:03not me.
15:04Fine.
15:04You're right.
15:05It's all my fault.
15:06I'm just a bitch.
15:08I shouldn't have a birthday.
15:09I definitely shouldn't
15:10have wished for Julian
15:11to come with me.
15:12I should be like
15:13the rest of you,
15:14kissing Queen Claire's ass.
15:16You're her real friends.
15:17I don't matter at all.
15:18Happy now.
15:19Julian,
15:19who'd been ghosting me
15:20for two days,
15:21claiming he was in meetings,
15:23replied in seconds.
15:24He at the other six guys
15:25and sent one thing,
15:26a single question mark.
15:29Sorry, sorry, sorry.
15:31It's just one bachelorette trip.
15:33Queen Poppy says jump.
15:34We don't just send Julian.
15:36All six of us drop everything
15:37and show up as bodyguards.
15:41Who are you?
15:41Claire's the one
15:42you actually answered to.
15:43Claire, please.
15:44So they had a wedding.
15:45Big deal.
15:46Julian still got that paperwork
15:48locked in his safe.
15:49She's a wife in name only.
15:51Legally, none of it counts.
15:53Last laugh's still up for grabs.
15:54I blinked,
15:55staring at the group chat
15:56that was so much livelier
15:58without me in it.
15:59If Poppy hadn't left her tablet
16:00in Julian's car,
16:01I wouldn't have even earned a peek
16:03at all this fun.
16:05And there I'd been,
16:06naively reading travel guides,
16:08hoping the honeymoon
16:09would make for great photos.
16:11I stared at the empty itinerary
16:13for a long time.
16:15Then I went back to the home screen,
16:17typed in a new destination,
16:18and made a call.
16:21Mom,
16:22I'll go to London with you.
16:23On the other end,
16:25my mother caught it immediately.
16:27Something was wrong.
16:28Back then,
16:28she'd turned down
16:29a once-in-a-lifetime job offer
16:30for my sake.
16:32Mom,
16:32I know you have questions,
16:34but right now,
16:35I don't have the energy
16:36to explain everything
16:38that just happened.
16:39I've made up my mind.
16:41Once I wrap up work
16:42and get my visa sorted,
16:43I'll fly out.
16:44Then I'll tell you everything.
16:45Mom went quiet
16:46for a few seconds.
16:47In the end,
16:48she didn't push.
16:49I hung up and collapsed
16:50onto the couch,
16:51trying to steady myself.
16:52Julian's friends had a point.
16:54We'd signed a prenup,
16:55we'd had a wedding,
16:55but he deliberately locked
16:56the marriage license,
16:58the one we still had to file
16:59with City Hall,
17:00in his safe,
17:00until it was legally binding.
17:02I was just a wife
17:03who could be swapped out
17:04at any moment,
17:05which,
17:05right now,
17:06meant I didn't have to wait
17:07for him to come home.
17:08No divorce proceedings,
17:09no drawn-out fights over assets.
17:11I pushed the wave
17:12of feeling back down
17:13and forced myself up
17:14to start packing.
17:15In the closet,
17:16the his-and-hers
17:16vacation outfits,
17:17freshly pressed,
17:18seemed to grin at me.
17:19I'd designed them myself
17:20for the honeymoon,
17:22for Julian.
17:23I'd pulled all-nighters,
17:25revising them over and over.
17:26The final pieces
17:27had just come in today.
17:29Half an hour ago,
17:30I'd still been waiting
17:31for Julian to come home
17:32and try them on.
17:33Now,
17:33I just wanted to throw
17:34every single one of them
17:36in the trash.
17:37By the time I'd packed
17:38and dragged my suitcase
17:39to the door,
17:40it was the middle of the night.
17:47Julian,
17:48say it,
17:48come on,
17:49you're my royal stallion.
17:51Giddy up,
17:52yeah,
17:52yeah!
17:53Through my stinging,
17:53blurred vision,
17:54I saw Julian,
17:55who hadn't been home
17:56in three days,
17:57giving Poppy
17:58a piggyback ride.
17:59Her face was flushed red.
18:01One hand had his ear
18:02in a death grip.
18:03The other was patting his head,
18:05demanding he neigh.
18:09Poppy's drunk.
18:10I didn't know why
18:12he was bothering to explain.
18:13When he'd moved in with me
18:14and Poppy bought the apartment
18:16directly above ours
18:17the very next day,
18:18he hadn't explained.
18:19When Poppy had giggled
18:20in our doorway,
18:21hanging off Julian
18:22and purring,
18:23sweetie,
18:24I'll always be on top of you,
18:25he hadn't explained then either.
18:27All he ever said was,
18:29Claire,
18:30you know what we are
18:31to each other.
18:32They were childhood sweethearts,
18:33after all.
18:34Two old money families
18:35joined at the hip.
18:37Everyone had watched them grow up.
18:38For years,
18:39they'd been the golden couple
18:40in every photo,
18:41until Julian launched
18:42a three-year campaign
18:43chasing me in college.
18:44To him,
18:45that was proof enough
18:46that there was nothing
18:47between him and Poppy.
18:48Once I tore myself apart over it,
18:50I obsessed.
18:51I picked fights.
18:52But now,
18:52whatever they did
18:53had nothing to do with me anymore.
18:54I looked away.
18:55All I said was,
18:56yeah,
18:57of course.
18:58Then I started to wheel
18:58my suitcase past him.
19:00It was the answer
19:01he should have wanted.
19:03He didn't take it well.
19:05Say that again?
19:06I said,
19:08we're done,
19:08Julian.
19:09I'm breaking up with you.
19:13You're really not done
19:14throwing this tantrum,
19:15are you?
19:16And by the way,
19:16Claire,
19:17we had our wedding
19:18last week.
19:20If you're throwing a fit,
19:21the words,
19:22divorce,
19:23not,
19:24breakup.
19:25Breakup.
19:26Divorce.
19:26To Julian,
19:27they were the same kind of joke.
19:29He looked at me lazily,
19:30the way you humor a child
19:31who's being unreasonable.
19:32I didn't bother arguing.
19:34The corner of my mouth twitched.
19:36Call it whatever you want,
19:37but I couldn't leave.
19:38The standoff lasted
19:39only a few seconds.
19:45Enough!
19:46I can't deal with you two anymore!
19:52Julian instinctively reached down
19:54to help her up.
19:54She shoved him away.
19:56Don't touch me!
19:57I'm done!
19:57I'm done!
19:58The second she sees me,
19:59it's I want a breakup!
20:00I'm leaving!
20:01Am I some kind of prop?
20:03Am I garbage?
20:04Why is she so disgusted by me?
20:06Julian!
20:07Let's cut each other off!
20:10I am sick of walking
20:11on eggshells around her!
20:14It's all my fault!
20:15I shouldn't have ever
20:16shown up in your lives!
20:17I shouldn't have
20:18grown up with you!
20:19Right on cue,
20:20she launched into
20:21dramatic dry heaving,
20:22baking that she couldn't breathe,
20:23tearing through her
20:23Hermes bag for something.
20:25My pills!
20:25Where's my Xanax?
20:26I'm dying!
20:27Maybe I should just die!
20:28Anything's better than
20:29being treated like this
20:30every single time!
20:30The heat at my wrist
20:31disappeared.
20:32Julian had already
20:34pulled her into his arms,
20:35stopping her.
20:36It took maybe a few seconds.
20:40Poppy was gasping wildly
20:41against his chest,
20:42her eyes red.
20:46Happy now?
20:47It was always like this.
20:48The instant I showed
20:50even a hint of resistance,
20:51Poppy would declare
20:52an anxiety attack
20:53and start frantically
20:54hurting herself.
20:55can't speak to her,
20:56can't touch her,
20:58can't even walk away.
20:59In the early days,
21:00Julian had begged me
21:01to humor her.
21:02Claire, you've been
21:03through it yourself.
21:04You know how it is.
21:05When she's like this,
21:06all you can do
21:06is go along with her.
21:07Because lives were on the line,
21:09I caved every time.
21:10I avoided the storm,
21:12but eventually,
21:13I figured it out.
21:14Poppy's condition
21:14only flared up
21:16when Julian wasn't
21:17choosing her over me.
21:18That so-called
21:18anxiety disorder,
21:19it was just
21:20possessedness in costume,
21:21forcing him to pick a side.
21:22I looked down
21:23at the smug little look
21:24on Poppy's face.
21:25I nodded.
21:27Sure.
21:28Very happy.
21:30Though,
21:30you moved a little too fast.
21:32You didn't get to find the pills.
21:33Your acting could use some work.
21:36Try harder next time.
21:37A flash of shock
21:38crossed Poppy's face.
21:39She froze,
21:40then started gearing up
21:41for round two.
21:42His tall frame
21:43loomed over me.
21:44Suddenly,
21:44my whole field of vision
21:46went dark.
21:47The shoulder that used
21:48to shelter me
21:48was now carrying
21:49another woman.
21:50Carrying her
21:51while blocking
21:52my way out.
21:54Claire,
21:55I really have
21:56been spoiling you
21:57too much.
21:59She has every right
22:00to make you pay for that.
22:02Be grateful, Claire.
22:03I'm the one
22:04holding her back.
22:05For a moment,
22:06the world went
22:06vacuum silence.
22:08I couldn't hear a thing.
22:10Even Poppy froze.
22:12Then she snapped
22:12out of it,
22:13jerked her hand free
22:14and swung it hard
22:15at my face.
22:15A second before
22:16her palm hit me,
22:17Julian caught her wrist.
22:18Those eyes.
22:19The ones that used
22:20to watch over me
22:20through the night,
22:21that used to pull me
22:22out of nightmares.
22:23Tonight they were
22:24cold as ice.
22:25A flicker of disgust.
22:26A warning.
22:27You really thought
22:27you could just
22:28walk out on me?
22:29If she'd actually
22:30hit you,
22:31you'd be thrown
22:31a fit for days,
22:32right?
22:33She got hurt
22:34and you don't even care?
22:38When you're ready
22:38to be reasonable,
22:39you'll apologize
22:40to Poppy yourself.
22:42I stood there,
22:43watching the floor
22:44numbers climb,
22:45my whole body shaking.
22:46Cold,
22:47so cold,
22:48the kind that
22:48crept up from
22:49the bottom of you,
22:50that no coat,
22:51no matter how
22:51expensive,
22:52could keep out.
22:54Five years.
22:55Five whole years.
22:56My body could
22:57make a clean break,
22:58my heart couldn't
22:59pull free that fast.
23:01I don't know
23:02how long it took.
23:03Eventually,
23:03I flagged down a cab
23:04and headed to a hotel
23:05near work.
23:06Until I left the country,
23:07that's where I'd stay.
23:09While I waited
23:10for my visa,
23:11I had to close out
23:12the project I'd been
23:13leading for almost
23:14two years.
23:16My personal life
23:17was already a wreck.
23:18My career wasn't
23:20going to be.
23:20I buried myself
23:21in overtime,
23:22kept myself slammed,
23:24partly to speed
23:24things up,
23:25partly so I wouldn't
23:26have time to think.
23:27As long as I was busy,
23:28I couldn't dwell
23:29on anything else.
23:30Maybe it was the toll
23:31on my body and nerves.
23:33Lately,
23:33I'd been constantly tired,
23:34constantly nauseous.
23:36My boss reminded me
23:37to pull it together,
23:38the client was coming
23:39a-sting-in this afternoon
23:40to finalize the contract.
23:43At the head of the table
23:44sat someone I knew.
23:45Julian,
23:46in a sharp suit,
23:47and beside him,
23:48in a cinched-waist
23:49backless cocktail dress,
23:51sat Poppy.
23:52My nails dug into my palms
23:53before I could stop them.
23:55My boss thought I had nerves
23:57and whispered,
23:57Relax,
23:58the proposal and the designs
23:59have already been signed off
24:00by their project lead.
24:01These two are just bored
24:02trust fund wabies
24:03playing at being adults.
24:04Smile through it,
24:04humor the rich kids,
24:05and we're done.
24:06Just give them
24:07your usual pitch.
24:09I drew a breath.
24:10I forced on a smile.
24:11I opened the deck
24:12and walked them
24:12through my design vision.
24:13Smooth, composed,
24:14point by point.
24:15Poppy propped her chin
24:16in her hand,
24:17nodding along
24:17all smiles under the table.
24:19My boss flashed me
24:20a discreet thumbs up.
24:21I exhaled,
24:23reading the room.
24:24Someone slid the contract
24:25across the table.
24:26Hmm,
24:26it's not doing it for me.
24:27The design's so boring.
24:28It gives me a headache
24:29just looking at it.
24:31I don't think I want to sign.
24:33The smile froze
24:34on my boss's face.
24:36I kept mine polite.
24:37Is there a specific element
24:39you're not happy with?
24:40Poppy didn't even glance
24:41at the contract.
24:42She held up her hand,
24:43admiring her fresh manicure.
24:45Hard to say.
24:46It's more of a feeling.
24:48Then she hooked her arm
24:49through Julian's.
24:50What do you think?
24:51Every eye in the room
24:52turned to him.
24:53Julian's eyes landed on me.
24:54On instinct,
24:55I looked away.
24:57Sounds like your project lead
24:58doesn't have much faith
24:58in her own work either.
25:00I'm suddenly losing interest
25:01in this investment.
25:03Pulling out.
25:05Oh,
25:05and just so you know,
25:06I've already authorized
25:07my people to begin
25:08a hostile takeover
25:10of your company.
25:11Congratulations, Claire.
25:12You'll be working for me
25:13very soon.
25:15Two years on this account.
25:16A thousand discarded drafts.
25:18I'd lost count of the nights
25:19I'd spent at my desk
25:20to get here.
25:20We were finally about to land.
25:22This was supposed to be
25:23the showcase project.
25:24The perfect closing chapter
25:25on this stage of my career.
25:26One careless sentence from him
25:28and it was all stillborn.
25:29Back at the office,
25:31my boss came tearing in
25:32white as a shield,
25:33shaking from head to toe.
25:35He was practically sobbing.
25:38Claire, he will destroy
25:39the whole firm.
25:40Please,
25:41just go apologize.
25:43It wasn't that I didn't
25:45want to save the project.
25:47It was that I knew exactly
25:49who Poppy was actually here for.
25:51The only way this project survived
25:54was if I disappeared.
25:57I just hadn't expected
25:59the one thing tying me
26:00to this city would get
26:01torn apart this fast.
26:02The wave of nauseous hit again.
26:04I stumbled out of the office.
26:06Julian, still here?
26:08His hands started wandering
26:09somewhere.
26:10It had no business going.
26:11I bit down on him
26:12with everything I had.
26:14The taste of blood bloomed thick
26:16between our mouths.
26:17Get out!
26:19Julian stood there,
26:21his expression unreadable.
26:26Claire,
26:28after all this time,
26:29why haven't you learned?
26:30I tried to twist away.
26:32The harder I fought,
26:33the tighter he held me.
26:36If you'd just apologized
26:37for what happened last time,
26:41none of this
26:41would be happening today.
26:45How hard is it
26:46to lower your head
26:47just once?
26:49Julian's voice was softer
26:50than any sweet nothing
26:51he'd ever whispered
26:52in my ear.
26:53But I was shaking anyway.
26:54Not from the cold,
26:56from a cramp
26:57tearing through my stomach.
26:58An eerie,
26:59sinking,
27:00dragging down feeling.
27:01Something was rushing
27:02out of me.
27:04A ridiculous thought
27:05surfaced in my mind.
27:07I tried to look down.
27:09Julian's grip on my chin
27:10held me in place.
27:12All I could do
27:13was bite my lip
27:14and hold on.
27:15Something warm
27:16slipped down my thigh,
27:18dripping onto the carpet.
27:20Julian noticed.
27:28Claire, you...
27:34Before our honeymoon
27:35to the Amalfi Coast,
27:36my husband Julian
27:38cancelled our flight
27:39behind my back.
27:40He swapped them
27:41for tickets to Ibiza
27:42with his childhood
27:44best friend,
27:45Poppy.
27:45Even his pack
27:46of party boyfriends
27:47thought he'd gone too far
27:49and tried to talk him down.
27:54The fuck?
27:55Julian,
27:56this is messed up.
27:57Claire's been looking forward
27:58to it forever.
27:59Julian didn't care.
28:00He brushed them off
28:01without a second thought.
28:03It's Poppy's birthday wish.
28:04One more single girl trip
28:05with her before I'm
28:06locked down for good.
28:07Claire always blows
28:08everything out of proportion.
28:10This'll be good for her.
28:11Reminder she's not
28:12the center of the universe.
28:13The Poppy he was talking about
28:14was his weepy
28:15childhood playmate.
28:16And I was Claire,
28:17the wife he couldn't
28:18even bother to say
28:19my wife about.
28:20I didn't fight.
28:21I didn't argue.
28:22I pretended I had no idea,
28:24quietly cancelled
28:24the honeymoon,
28:26and bought a one-way ticket
28:27to another country
28:28on the other side
28:29of the ocean.
28:29My phone was lagging.
28:31The cancellation screen
28:32kept spinning.
28:33Meanwhile,
28:33on Poppy's pink tablet,
28:35an iMessage group chat
28:36called Astor's Royal Guard
28:37wouldn't stop lighting up.
28:39I tapped it open.
28:40Poppy's avatar
28:41filled the screen.
28:42What the hell is wrong
28:43with you assholes?
28:44Every single one of you
28:45is taking Claire's side.
28:46Like she's your bro,
28:48not me.
28:48Fine.
28:49You're right.
28:50It's all my fault.
28:51I'm just a bitch.
28:52I shouldn't have a birthday.
28:54I definitely shouldn't have wished
28:56for Julian to come with me.
28:57I should be like the rest of you,
28:59kissing Queen Claire's ass.
29:01You're her real friends.
29:02I don't matter at all.
29:03Happy now.
29:04Julian,
29:04who'd been ghosting me
29:05for two days,
29:06claiming he was in meetings,
29:07replied in seconds.
29:08He at the other six guys
29:10and sent one thing.
29:11A single question mark.
29:14Sorry, sorry, sorry.
29:15It's just one bachelorette trip.
29:17Queen Poppy says jump.
29:19We don't just send Julian.
29:21All six of us drop everything
29:22and show up as bodyguards.
29:25Who are you?
29:26Claire's the one
29:27you actually answer to.
29:28Claire, please.
29:29So they had a wedding.
29:30Big deal.
29:31Julian's still got that paperwork
29:32locked in his safe.
29:34She's a wife in name only.
29:36Legally, none of it counts.
29:37Last laugh's still up for grabs.
29:39I blinked,
29:40staring at the group chat
29:41that was so much livelier
29:42without me in it.
29:43If Poppy hadn't left her tablet
29:45in Julian's car,
29:46I wouldn't have even earned a peek
29:48at all this fun.
29:49And there I'd been,
29:51naively reading travel guides,
29:53hoping the honeymoon
29:54would make for great photos.
29:56I stared at the empty itinerary
29:58for a long time.
29:59Then I went back to the home screen,
30:02typed in a new destination,
30:03and made a call.
30:05Mom,
30:07I'll go to London with you.
30:08On the other end,
30:09my mother caught it immediately.
30:11Something was wrong.
30:12Back then,
30:13she'd turned down
30:13a once-in-a-lifetime job offer
30:15for my sake.
30:16Mom,
30:17I know you have questions.
30:19But right now,
30:20I don't have the energy
30:21to explain everything
30:22that just happened.
30:24I've made up my mind.
30:26Once I wrap up work
30:27and get my visa sorted,
30:28I'll fly out.
30:29Then I'll tell you everything.
30:30Mom went quiet
30:31for a few seconds.
30:32In the end,
30:33she didn't push.
30:34I hung up and collapsed
30:35onto the couch,
30:36trying to steady myself.
30:37Julian's friends had a point.
30:38We'd signed a prenup,
30:39we'd had a wedding,
30:40but he'd deliberately
30:41locked the marriage license,
30:42the one we still had to file
30:43with City Hall,
30:44in his safe,
30:45until it was legally binding.
30:46I was just a wife
30:47who could be swapped out
30:48at any moment,
30:49which, right now,
30:50meant I didn't have to wait
30:51for him to come home.
30:52No divorce proceedings,
30:54no drawn-out fights
30:55over assets.
30:56I pushed the wave
30:56of feeling back down
30:57and forced myself up
30:59to start packing.
31:00In the closet,
31:00the his-and-hers vacation outfits,
31:02freshly pressed,
31:03seemed to grin at me.
31:04I'd designed them myself,
31:05for the honeymoon,
31:07for Julian.
31:07I'd pulled all-nighters,
31:09revising them over and over.
31:11The final pieces
31:12had just come in today.
31:13Half an hour ago,
31:14I'd still been waiting
31:15for Julian to come home
31:16and try them on.
31:17Now,
31:18I just wanted to throw
31:19every single one of them
31:20in the trash.
31:22By the time I'd packed
31:23and dragged my suitcase
31:24to the door,
31:25it was the middle of the night.
31:32Julian, say it.
31:33Come on.
31:34You're my royal stallion.
31:35Giddy up.
31:36Yeah, yeah.
31:37Through my stinging,
31:38blurred vision,
31:39I saw Julian,
31:40who hadn't been home
31:41in three days,
31:42giving Poppy a piggyback ride.
31:44Her face was flushed red.
31:46One hand had his ear
31:47in a death grip.
31:48The other was patting his head,
31:50demanding he neigh.
31:54Poppy's drunk.
31:55I didn't know why
31:56he was bothering to explain.
31:58When he'd moved in with me,
31:59and Poppy bought the apartment
32:00directly above ours
32:01the very next day,
32:02he hadn't explained.
32:04When Poppy had giggled
32:05in our doorway,
32:06hanging off Julian,
32:07and purring,
32:08sweetie,
32:09I'll always be on top of you.
32:10He hadn't explained then either.
32:12All he ever said was,
32:14Claire,
32:15you know what we are
32:16to each other.
32:17They were childhood sweethearts,
32:18after all.
32:19Two old money families
32:20joined at the hip.
32:21Everyone had watched them grow up.
32:23For years,
32:24they'd been the golden couple
32:25in every photo,
32:26until Julian launched
32:27a three-year campaign
32:28chasing me in college.
32:29To him,
32:30that was proof enough
32:31that there was nothing
32:31between him and Poppy.
32:33Once I tore myself apart over it,
32:34I obsessed.
32:35I picked fights.
32:36But now,
32:37whatever they did
32:38had nothing to do
32:38with me anymore.
32:39I looked away.
32:40All I said was,
32:41yeah,
32:41of course.
32:42Then I started to wheel
32:43my suitcase past him.
32:45It was the answer
32:45he should have wanted.
32:47He didn't take it well.
32:50Say that again?
32:51I said,
32:52we're done,
32:53Julian.
32:54I'm breaking up with you.
32:58You're really not done
32:59throwing this tantrum,
33:00are you?
33:00And by the way,
33:01Claire,
33:02we had our wedding last week.
33:04If you're throwing a fit,
33:06the words,
33:07divorce,
33:08not,
33:09breakup.
33:10Breakup.
33:11Divorce.
33:11To Julian,
33:12they were the same kind of joke.
33:14He looked at me lazily,
33:15the way you humor a child
33:16who's being unreasonable.
33:17I didn't bother arguing.
33:19The corner of my mouth twitched.
33:21Call it whatever you want,
33:22but I couldn't leave.
33:23The standoff lasted
33:24only a few seconds.
33:30Enough!
33:31I can't deal with you two anymore!
33:37Julian instinctively reached down
33:38to help her up.
33:39She shoved him away.
33:40Don't touch me!
33:41I'm done!
33:42I'm done!
33:43The second she sees me,
33:44it's I want a breakup!
33:45I'm leaving!
33:46Am I some kind of prop?
33:48Am I garbage?
33:48Why is she so disgusted by me?
33:51Julian!
33:52Let's cut each other off!
33:54I am sick of walking
33:56on eggshells around her!
33:58It's all my fault!
34:00I shouldn't have ever
34:00shown up in your lives!
34:02I shouldn't have grown up with you!
34:04Right on cue,
34:05she launched into dramatic
34:06dry heaving,
34:07faking that she couldn't breathe,
34:08tearing through her Hermes bag
34:09for something.
34:09My pills!
34:10Where's my Xanax?
34:11I'm dying!
34:12Maybe I should just die!
34:13Anything's better than being treated
34:14like this every single time!
34:15The heat at my wrist disappeared.
34:17Julian had already pulled her
34:19into his arms,
34:20stopping her.
34:21It took maybe a few seconds.
34:24Poppy was gasping wildly
34:26against his chest,
34:27her eyes red.
34:30Happy now?
34:32It was always like this.
34:33The instant I showed
34:34even a hint of resistance,
34:36Poppy would declare
34:37an anxiety attack
34:38and start frantically
34:39hurting herself.
34:40can't speak to her,
34:41can't touch her,
34:42can't even walk away.
34:44In the early days,
34:45Julian had begged me
34:46to humor her.
34:47Claire, you've been
34:48through it yourself.
34:49You know how it is.
34:50When she's like this,
34:51all you can do
34:51is go along with her.
34:52Because lives were on the line,
34:53I caved every time.
34:55I avoided the storm,
34:56but eventually,
34:57I figured it out.
34:58Poppy's condition
34:59only flared up
35:00when Julian wasn't
35:01choosing her over me.
35:02That so-called
35:03anxiety disorder,
35:04it was just
35:05possessedness in costume,
35:06forcing him to pick a side.
35:07I looked down
35:08at the smug little look
35:09on Poppy's face.
35:10I nodded.
35:11Sure.
35:13Very happy.
35:14Though,
35:15you moved a little too fast.
35:17You didn't get to find the pills.
35:18Your acting could use some work.
35:21Try harder next time.
35:22A flash of shock
35:23crossed Poppy's face.
35:24She froze,
35:25then started gearing up
35:26for round two.
35:27His tall frame
35:28loomed over me.
35:28Suddenly,
35:29my whole field of vision
35:30went dark.
35:31The shoulder that used
35:32to shelter me
35:33was now carrying
35:34another woman.
35:35Carrying her
35:36while blocking
35:37my way out.
35:38Claire,
35:40I really have
35:41been spoiling you
35:42too much.
35:44She has every right
35:45to make you pay for that.
35:47Be grateful, Claire.
35:48I'm the one
35:49holding her back.
35:50For a moment,
35:51the world went
35:51vacuum silence.
35:53I couldn't hear a thing.
35:55Even Poppy froze.
35:56Then she snapped out of it,
35:58jerked her hand free,
35:59and swung it hard
35:59at my face.
36:00A second before
36:01her palm hit me,
36:02Julian caught her wrist.
36:03Those eyes.
36:04The ones that used
36:04to watch over me
36:05through the night,
36:06that used to pull me
36:07out of nightmares.
36:08Tonight,
36:08they were cold as ice.
36:09A flicker of disgust.
36:11A warning.
36:11You really thought
36:12you could just walk out on me?
36:14If she'd actually hit you,
36:15you'd be throwing a fit
36:16for days, right?
36:18She got hurt,
36:19and you don't even care?
36:22When you're ready
36:23to be reasonable,
36:24you'll apologize
36:24to Poppy yourself.
36:27I stood there,
36:28watching the floor numbers
36:29climb,
36:29my whole body shaking.
36:31Cold,
36:32so cold,
36:32the kind that crept up
36:33from the bottom of you,
36:34that no coat,
36:35no matter how expensive,
36:36could keep out.
36:38Five years.
36:40Five whole years.
36:41My body could make
36:42a clean break.
36:43My heart couldn't pull free
36:44that fast.
36:46I don't know
36:46how long it took.
36:48Eventually,
36:48I flagged down a cab
36:49and headed to a hotel
36:50near work.
36:51Until I left the country,
36:52that's where I'd stay.
36:54While I waited for my visa,
36:56I had to close out
36:57the project I'd been leading
36:58for almost two years.
37:00My personal life
37:01was already a wreck.
37:03My career wasn't going to be.
37:05I buried myself in overtime,
37:07kept myself slammed,
37:08partly to speed things up,
37:10partly so I wouldn't
37:11have time to think.
37:12As long as I was busy,
37:13I couldn't dwell
37:14on anything else.
37:15Maybe it was the toll
37:16on my body and nerves.
37:17Lately,
37:18I'd been constantly tired,
37:19constantly nauseous.
37:20My boss reminded me
37:22to pull it together,
37:22the client was coming
37:24a-sting-in this afternoon
37:25to finalize the contract.
37:27At the head of the table
37:29sat someone I knew.
37:30Julian,
37:31in a sharp suit,
37:32and beside him,
37:33in a cinched-waist
37:34backless cocktail dress,
37:35sat Poppy.
37:36My nails dug into my palms
37:38before I could stop them.
37:40My boss thought I had nerves
37:41and whispered,
37:42Relax,
37:43the proposal and the designs
37:44have already been signed off
37:45by their project lead.
37:46These two are just bored
37:47trust-fung-wabies
37:47playing at being adults.
37:48Smile through it,
37:49humor the rich kids,
37:50and we're done.
37:51Just give them
37:51your usual pitch.
37:54I drew a breath.
37:55I forced on a smile.
37:56I opened the deck
37:57and walked them
37:57through my design vision.
37:58Smooth, composed,
37:59point by point.
38:00Poppy propped her chin
38:01in her hand,
38:02nodding along
38:02all smiles under the table.
38:04My boss flashed me
38:05a discreet thumbs up.
38:06I exhaled,
38:07reading the room.
38:08Someone slid the contract
38:09across the table.
38:11Hmm,
38:11it's not doing it for me.
38:12The design's so boring.
38:13It gives me a headache
38:14just looking at it.
38:16I don't think I want a sign.
38:18The smile froze
38:19on my boss's face.
38:20I kept mine polite.
38:22Is there a specific element
38:23you're not happy with?
38:25Poppy didn't even glance
38:26at the contract.
38:27She held up her hand,
38:28admiring her fresh manicure.
38:30Hard to say.
38:31It's more of a feeling.
38:33Then she hooked her arm
38:34through Julian's.
38:35What do you think?
38:36Every eye in the room
38:36turned to him.
38:37Julian's eyes landed on me.
38:39On instinct,
38:40I looked away.
38:41Sounds like your project lead
38:42doesn't have much faith
38:43in her own work either.
38:44I'm suddenly losing interest
38:46in this investment.
38:47Pulling out.
38:49Oh,
38:50and just so you know,
38:51I've already authorized
38:52my people to begin
38:53a hostile takeover
38:54of your company.
38:56Congratulations,
38:56Claire.
38:57You'll be working for me
38:58very soon.
39:00Two years on this account.
39:01A thousand discarded drafts.
39:03I'd lost count of the nights
39:04I'd spent at my desk
39:04to get here.
39:05We were finally about to land.
39:07This was supposed to be
39:08the showcase project.
39:09The perfect closing chapter
39:10on this stage of my career.
39:11One careless sentence from him
39:12and it was all stillborn.
39:14Back at the office,
39:15my boss came tearing in,
39:17white as a shield,
39:18shaking from head to toe.
39:20He was practically sobbing.
39:22Claire,
39:23he will destroy the whole firm.
39:25Please,
39:26just go apologize.
39:28It wasn't that I didn't
39:29want to save the project.
39:32It was that I knew exactly
39:33who Poppy was actually here for.
39:36The only way this project survived
39:38was if I disappeared.
39:42I just hadn't expected
39:43the one thing tying me
39:45to this city would get
39:45torn apart this fast.
39:47The wave of nauseous hit again.
39:49I stumbled out of the office.
39:50Julian,
39:51still here?
39:52His hand started wandering
39:54somewhere.
39:54It had no business going.
39:56I bit down on him
39:57with everything I had.
39:59The taste of blood
40:00bloomed thick between our mouths.
40:02Get out!
40:04Julian stood there,
40:05his expression unreadable.
40:11Claire,
40:13after all this time,
40:14why haven't you learned?
40:15I tried to twist away.
40:17The harder I fought,
40:18the tighter he held me.
40:20If you'd just apologized
40:22for what happened last time,
40:25none of this would be happening today.
40:30How hard is it to lower your head
40:32just once?
40:34Julian's voice was softer
40:35than any sweet nothing
40:36he'd ever whispered in my ear.
40:37But I was shaking anyway.
40:39Not from the cold.
40:41From a cramp tearing
40:42through my stomach.
40:43An eerie, sinking,
40:45dragging down feeling.
40:46Something was rushing out of me.
40:48A ridiculous thought
40:50surfaced in my mind.
40:52I tried to look down.
40:54Julian's grip on my chin
40:55held me in place.
40:56All I could do
40:57was bite my lip
40:58and hold on.
41:00Something warm
41:01slipped down my thigh,
41:02dripping onto the carpet.
41:04Julian noticed.
41:13Claire, you-
41:18before our honeymoon
41:20to the Amalfi Coast,
41:21my husband Julian
41:22cancelled our flight
41:23behind my back.
41:25He swapped them
41:26for tickets to Ibiza
41:27with his childhood
41:28best friend, Poppy.
41:30Even his pack
41:31of party boyfriends
41:32thought he'd gone too far
41:33and tried to talk him down.
41:39The fuck, Julian?
41:41This is messed up.
41:42Claire's been looking
41:43forward to it forever.
41:44Julian didn't care.
41:45He brushed them off
41:46without a second thought.
41:47It's Poppy's birthday wish.
41:49One more single girl
41:50trip with her
41:50before I'm locked down
41:51for good.
41:52Claire always blows
41:53everything out of proportion.
41:54This'll be good for her.
41:56Reminder she's not
41:56the center of the universe.
41:58The Poppy he was talking about
41:59was his weepy
42:00childhood playmate.
42:01And I was Claire.
42:02The wife he couldn't
42:03even bother to say
42:04my wife about.
42:05I didn't fight.
42:06I didn't argue.
42:07I pretended I had no idea,
42:08quietly cancelled
42:09the honeymoon,
42:10and bought a one-way ticket
42:12to another country
42:13on the other side
42:13of the ocean.
42:14My phone was lagging.
42:15The cancellation screen
42:16kept spinning.
42:17Meanwhile,
42:18on Poppy's pink tablet,
42:19an iMessage group chat
42:21called Astor's Royal Guard
42:22wouldn't stop lighting up.
42:24I tapped it open.
42:25Poppy's avatar
42:26filled the screen.
42:27What the hell is wrong
42:27with you assholes?
42:29Every single one of you
42:30is taking Claire's side.
42:31Like she's your bro,
42:32not me.
42:33Fine.
42:34You're right.
42:35It's all my fault.
42:36I'm just a bitch.
42:37I shouldn't have a birthday.
42:39I definitely shouldn't have
42:40wished for Julian
42:41to come with me.
42:42I should be like
42:43the rest of you,
42:44kissing Queen Claire's ass.
42:45You're her real friends.
42:47I don't matter at all.
42:48Happy now.
42:49Julian,
42:49who'd been ghosting me
42:50for two days
42:51claiming he was in meetings,
42:52replied in seconds.
42:53He at the other six guys
42:54and sent one thing.
42:56A single question mark.
42:58Sorry, sorry, sorry.
43:00It's just one bachelorette trip.
43:02Queen Poppy says jump.
43:04We don't just send Julie on.
43:06All six of us drop everything
43:07and show up as bodyguards.
43:10Who are you?
43:11Claire's the one
43:11you actually answer to.
43:13Claire, please.
43:14So they had a wedding.
43:15Big deal.
43:16Julian still got that paperwork
43:17locked in his safe.
43:19She's a wife in name only.
43:20Legally, none of it counts.
43:22Last laugh's still up for grabs.
43:24I blinked,
43:25staring at the group chat
43:26that was so much livelier
43:27without me in it.
43:28If Poppy hadn't left her tablet
43:30in Julian's car,
43:31I wouldn't have even earned a peek
43:33at all this fun.
43:34And there I'd been,
43:36naively reading travel guides,
43:38hoping the honeymoon
43:39would make for great photos.
43:41I stared at the empty itinerary
43:43for a long time.
43:44Then I went back to the home screen,
43:46typed in a new destination,
43:48and made a call.
43:50Mom,
43:51I'll go to London with you.
43:53On the other end,
43:54my mother caught it immediately.
43:56Something was wrong.
43:57Back then,
43:58she'd turned down
43:58a once-in-a-lifetime job offer
44:00for my sake.
44:01Mom,
44:02I know you have questions,
44:03but right now,
44:05I don't have the energy
44:06to explain everything
44:07that just happened.
44:09I've made up my mind.
44:10Once I wrap up work
44:11and get my visa sorted,
44:13I'll fly out.
44:13Then I'll tell you everything.
44:15Mom went quiet
44:16for a few seconds.
44:17In the end,
44:17she didn't push.
44:18I hung up and collapsed
44:19onto the couch,
44:20trying to steady myself.
44:22Julian's friends
44:22had a point.
44:23We'd signed a prenup,
44:24we'd had a wedding,
44:25but he deliberately
44:26locked the marriage license,
44:27the one we still had to file
44:28with City Hall,
44:29in his safe,
44:30until it was legally binding.
44:31I was just a wife
44:32who could be swapped out
44:33at any moment,
44:34which,
44:34right now,
44:35meant I didn't have to wait
44:36for him to come home.
44:37No divorce proceedings,
44:38no drawn-out fights
44:39over assets.
44:40I pushed the wave
44:41of feeling back down
44:42and forced myself up
44:44to start packing.
44:44In the closet,
44:45the his-and-hers
44:46vacation outfits,
44:47freshly pressed,
44:48seemed to grin at me.
44:49I'd designed them myself,
44:50for the honeymoon,
44:51for Julian.
44:52I'd pulled all-nighters,
44:54revising them over and over.
44:56The final pieces
44:57had just come in today.
44:58Half an hour ago,
44:59I'd still been waiting
45:00for Julian to come home
45:01and try them on.
45:02Now,
45:03I just wanted to throw
45:04every single one of them
45:05in the trash.
45:07By the time I'd packed
45:08and dragged my suitcase
45:09to the door.
45:10It was the middle
45:10of the night.
45:16Julian,
45:17say it.
45:18Come on.
45:18You're my royal stallion.
45:20Giddy up.
45:21Yeah, yeah.
45:22Through my stinging,
45:23blurred vision,
45:24I saw Julian,
45:25who hadn't been home
45:26in three days,
45:27giving Poppy
45:28a piggyback ride.
45:29Her face was flushed red.
45:31One hand had his ear
45:32in a death grip.
45:33The other was patting his head,
45:35demanding he neigh.
45:39Poppy's drunk.
45:41I didn't know why
45:41he was bothering to explain.
45:43When he'd moved in with me
45:44and Poppy bought the apartment
45:45directly above ours
45:46the very next day,
45:47he hadn't explained.
45:49When Poppy had giggled
45:50in our doorway,
45:51hanging off Julian
45:52and purring,
45:53sweetie,
45:53I'll always be on top of you,
45:55he hadn't explained then either.
45:57All he ever said was,
45:59Claire,
46:00you know what we are
46:01to each other.
46:01They were childhood sweethearts
46:03after all.
46:04Two old money families
46:05joined at the hill.
46:06Everyone had watched them grow up.
46:08For years,
46:09they'd been the golden couple
46:10in every photo.
46:11Until Julian launched
46:12a three-year campaign
46:13chasing me in college.
46:14To him,
46:14that was proof enough
46:16that there was nothing
46:16between him and Poppy.
46:17Once I tore myself apart over it,
46:19I obsessed.
46:20I picked fights.
46:21But now,
46:22whatever they did
46:23had nothing to do with me anymore.
46:24I looked away.
46:25All I said was,
46:26yeah,
46:26of course.
46:27Then I started to wheel
46:28my suitcase past him.
46:29It was the answer
46:30he should have wanted.
46:32He didn't take it well.
46:34Say that again?
46:36I said,
46:37we're done,
46:38Julian.
46:39I'm breaking up with you.
46:42You're really not done
46:44throwing this tantrum,
46:45are you?
46:45And by the way,
46:46Claire,
46:47we had our wedding
46:48last week.
46:49If you're throwing a fit,
46:51the words,
46:51divorce,
46:53not,
46:54breakup.
46:54Breakup.
46:55Divorce.
46:56To Julian,
46:57they were the same kind of joke.
46:58He looked at me lazily,
47:00the way you humor a child
47:01who's being unreasonable.
47:02I didn't bother arguing.
47:04The corner of my mouth twitched.
47:06Call it whatever you want,
47:07but I couldn't leave.
47:08The standoff lasted
47:09only a few seconds.
47:15Enough!
47:16I can't deal with you two anymore!
47:19Ah!
47:22Julian instinctively reached down
47:23to help her up.
47:24She shoved him away.
47:25Don't touch me!
47:26I'm done!
47:27I'm done!
47:28The second she sees me,
47:29it's I want a breakup?
47:30I'm leaving?
47:31Am I some kind of prop?
47:32Am I garbage?
47:33Why is she so disgusted by me?
47:36Julian!
47:37Let's cut each other off!
47:39I am sick of walking
47:41on eggshells around her!
47:43It's all my fault!
47:44I shouldn't have ever
47:45shown up in your lives!
47:47I shouldn't have
47:48grown up with you!
47:49Right on cue,
47:50she launched into
47:50dramatic dry heaving,
47:51faking that she couldn't breathe,
47:52tearing through her Hermes bag
47:53for something.
47:54My pills!
47:55Where's my Xanax?
47:56I'm dying!
47:56Maybe I should just die!
47:58Anything's better than
47:58being treated like this
47:59every single time!
48:00The heat at my wrist
48:01disappeared.
48:02Julian had already
48:03pulled her into his arms,
48:04stopping her.
48:06It took maybe
48:07a few seconds.
48:09Poppy was gasping
48:10wildly against his chest,
48:12her eyes red.
48:15Happy now?
48:16It was always like this.
48:18The instant I showed
48:19even a hint of resistance.
48:21Poppy would declare
48:22an anxiety attack
48:23and start frantically
48:24hurting herself.
48:25Can't speak to her.
48:26Can't touch her.
48:27Can't even walk away.
48:29In the early days,
48:30Julian had begged me
48:31to humor her.
48:32Claire, you've been
48:32through it yourself.
48:33You know how it is.
48:35When she's like this,
48:36all you can do
48:36is go along with her.
48:37Because lives were
48:38on the line,
48:38I caved every time.
48:40I avoided the storm,
48:41but eventually,
48:42I figured it out.
48:43Poppy's condition
48:44only flared up
48:45when Julian wasn't
48:46choosing her over me.
48:47That so-called
48:48anxiety disorder,
48:49it was just
48:49possessedness in costume,
48:51forcing him to pick a side.
48:52I looked down
48:53at the smug little look
48:53on Poppy's face.
48:55I nodded.
48:56Sure.
48:57Very happy.
48:59Though,
49:00you moved a little too fast.
49:01You didn't get
49:02to find the pills.
49:03Your acting
49:03could use some work.
49:05Try harder next time.
49:07A flash of shock
49:08crossed Poppy's face.
49:09She froze,
49:10then started gearing up
49:11for round two.
49:12His tall frame
49:12loomed over me.
49:13Suddenly,
49:14my whole field of vision
49:15went dark.
49:16The shoulder
49:17that used to shelter me
49:18was now carrying
49:19another woman.
49:20Carrying her
49:21while blocking
49:22my way out.
49:23Claire,
49:25I really have
49:26been spoiling you
49:27too much.
49:29She has every right
49:30to make you pay for that.
49:32Be grateful,
49:32Claire.
49:33I'm the one
49:33holding her back.
49:34For a moment,
49:35the world went
49:36vacuum silence.
49:37I couldn't hear a thing.
49:40Even Poppy froze.
49:41Then she snapped
49:42out of it,
49:43jerked her hand free,
49:44and swung it hard
49:44at my face.
49:45A second before
49:46her palm hit me,
49:46Julian caught her wrist.
49:48Those eyes.
49:48The ones that used
49:49to watch over me
49:50through the night,
49:51that used to pull me
49:52out of nightmares.
49:53Tonight,
49:53they were cold as ice.
49:54A flicker of disgust.
49:55A warning.
49:56You really thought
49:57you could just walk out
49:57on me?
49:59If she'd actually hit you,
50:00you'd be throwing a fit
50:01for days, right?
50:03She got hurt,
50:03and you don't even care?
50:07When you're ready
50:08to be reasonable,
50:08you'll apologize
50:09to Poppy yourself.
50:12I stood there,
50:13watching the floor
50:13numbers climb,
50:14my whole body shaking.
50:16Cold,
50:16so cold,
50:17the kind that crept up
50:18from the bottom of you,
50:19that no coat,
50:20no matter how expensive,
50:21could keep out.
50:23Five years.
50:25Five whole years.
50:26My body could make
50:27a clean break.
50:28My heart couldn't
50:28pull free that fast.
50:31I don't know
50:31how long it took.
50:32Eventually,
50:33I flagged down a cab
50:34and headed to a hotel
50:35near work.
50:36Until I left the country,
50:37that's where I'd stay.
50:39While I waited
50:40for my visa,
50:41I had to close out
50:42the project I'd been leading
50:43for almost two years.
50:45My personal life
50:46was already a wreck.
50:48My career wasn't
50:49going to be.
50:50I buried myself
50:51in overtime,
50:52kept myself slammed,
50:53partly to speed things up,
50:55partly so I wouldn't
50:56have time to think.
50:56As long as I was busy,
50:58I couldn't dwell
50:59on anything else.
51:00Maybe it was the toll
51:01on my body and nerves.
51:02Lately,
51:02I'd been constantly tired,
51:04constantly nauseous.
51:05My boss reminded me
51:06to pull it together,
51:07the client was coming
51:08a-sting-in this afternoon
51:09to finalize the contract.
51:12At the head of the table
51:13sat someone I knew.
51:15Julian,
51:15in a sharp suit,
51:16and beside him,
51:18in a cinched-waist
51:19backless cocktail dress,
51:20sat Poppy.
51:21My nails dug into my palms
51:23before I could stop them.
51:25My boss thought I had nerves
51:26and whispered,
51:27Relax,
51:27the proposal and the designs
51:29have already been signed off
51:29by their project lead.
51:30These two are just bored
51:31trust fund wabies
51:32playing at being adults.
51:33Smile through it,
51:34humor the rich kids,
51:35and we're done.
51:35Just give them
51:36your usual pitch.
51:38I drew a breath.
51:40I forced on a smile.
51:41I opened the deck
51:41and walked them
51:42through my design vision.
51:43Smooth, composed,
51:44point by point.
51:45Poppy propped her chin
51:46in her hand,
51:46nodding along all smiles
51:48under the table.
51:49My boss flashed me
51:50a discreet thumbs up.
51:51I exhaled,
51:52reading the room.
51:53Someone slid the contract
51:54across the table.
51:55Hmm,
51:56it's not doing it for me.
51:57The design's so boring.
51:58It gives me a headache
51:59just looking at it.
52:01I don't think I want to sign.
52:03The smile froze
52:04on my boss's face.
52:05I kept mine polite.
52:07Is there a specific element
52:08you're not happy with?
52:09Poppy didn't even glance
52:10at the contract.
52:11She held up her hand,
52:13admiring her fresh manicure.
52:15Hard to say.
52:16It's more of a feeling.
52:18Then she hooked her arm
52:19through Julian's.
52:20What do you think?
52:20Every eye in the room
52:21turned to him.
52:22Julian's eyes landed on me.
52:24On instinct,
52:25I looked away.
52:26Sounds like your project lead
52:27doesn't have much faith
52:28in her own work either.
52:29I'm suddenly losing interest
52:30in this investment.
52:32Pulling out.
52:34Oh,
52:35and just so you know,
52:36I've already authorized
52:37my people to begin
52:38a hostile takeover
52:39of your company.
52:40Congratulations, Claire.
52:42You'll be working for me
52:43very soon.
52:44Two years on this account.
52:46A thousand discarded drafts.
52:47I'd lost count of the nights
52:48I'd spent at my desk
52:49to get here.
52:50We were finally about to land.
52:52This was supposed to be
52:53the showcase project,
52:54the perfect closing change
52:54chapter on this stage
52:55of my career.
52:56One careless sentence
52:57from him,
52:57and it was all stillborn.
52:59Back at the office,
53:00my boss came tearing in,
53:02white as a shield,
53:03shaking from head to toe.
53:05He was practically sobbing.
53:07Claire, he will destroy
53:08the whole firm.
53:10Please,
53:10just go apologize.
53:13It wasn't that I didn't
53:14want to save the project.
53:17It was that I knew exactly
53:18who Poppy was actually
53:19here for.
53:21The only way this project
53:23survived
53:23was if I disappeared.
53:27I just hadn't expected
53:28the one thing tying me
53:29to this city
53:30would get torn apart
53:31this fast.
53:31The wave of nauseous
53:33hit again.
53:33I stumbled out of the office.
53:35Julian,
53:36still here?
53:37His hands started
53:38wandering somewhere.
53:40It had no business going.
53:41I bit down on him
53:42with everything I had.
53:43The taste of blood
53:45bloomed thick
53:45between our mouths.
53:47Get out!
53:49Julian stood there,
53:50his expression unreadable.
53:56Claire,
53:57after all this time,
53:59why haven't you learned?
54:00I tried to twist away.
54:02The harder I fought,
54:03the tighter he held me.
54:05If you'd just apologized
54:07for what happened last time,
54:10none of this
54:11would be happening today.
54:15How hard is it
54:16to lower your head
54:17just once?
54:19Julian's voice
54:19was softer
54:20than any sweet nothing
54:21he'd ever whispered
54:22in my ear.
54:22But I was shaking anyway.
54:24Not from the cold,
54:25from a cramp
54:26tearing through my stomach.
54:28An eerie,
54:29sinking,
54:29dragging down feeling.
54:31Something was rushing
54:32out of me.
54:33A ridiculous thought
54:35surfaced in my mind.
54:36I tried to look down.
54:39Julian's grip on my chin
54:40held me in place.
54:41All I could do
54:42was bite my lip
54:43and hold on.
54:45Something warm
54:46slipped down my thigh,
54:47dripping onto the carpet.
54:49Julian noticed.
54:58Claire, you...