The Red Scarf

After five years of breaking up and making out with Miles because of Daisy, I was exhausted. I chose Caleb, the boy who had grown up next door and had always stayed by my side.

We had been together for seven years, and everyone said Caleb loved me to death. He took care of every little detail in my life.

But right after we submitted our marriage application to the local registrar, I found a stack of letters.

They were letters Caleb had written to Daisy.

They were a detailed record of how deeply Caleb loved her.

The end of the last letter read:

"For Daisy's happiness, I am willing to sacrifice myself. I will spend the rest of my life with a woman I don't love, as long as she can be happy."

It turned out the happiness I thought I had was nothing but a cage he had meticulously built with lies just to keep me trapped.

I didn't cry or make a scene. Instead, I quietly submitted a request for a transfer to the National Agricultural Research Center in the Northwest.

After retrieving the marriage documents from the clerk's office, I walked to a public phone booth on the street corner.

My father's voice on the other end was full of heartache. "Sweetheart, have you really decided not to marry Caleb? Are you sure you want to come all the way to the research center in Montana?"

I gave a soft hum of affirmation. My father probably heard the sadness in my voice because he started telling jokes to cheer me up.

After a long silence, he sighed. "Don't worry, baby. Your dad is here. I won't let anyone treat you like garbage."

A wave of warmth hit my chest. The grievances I had bottled up over the past few days made me want to sob, but I held it back. I chatted with him for a few more minutes before hanging up.

When I pushed the front door open, I saw Caleb sitting in the shadows. He quickly hid something before standing up to embrace me.

"Why are you back so late? Are you hungry? I can make you a grilled cheese or some soup if you want."

I shook my head and looked at him intensely.

Caleb gave a light laugh. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

My voice was raspy. "Caleb, are you hiding anything from me? Do you really want to marry me?"

I saw his expression stiffen for a split second, but he masked it quickly.

He rested his head on my shoulder. "Of course I want to marry you. You have no idea how much I love you."

My heart grew colder by the inch.

If I hadn't seen those letters, I would have never known. This man, who looked like he loved me to his core, actually had someone else in his heart.

Just then, a shouting match broke out outside. It was Miles and Daisy fighting again.

Caleb's grip on my hand tightened instantly.

"I'm going to go check on them," he said.

Without waiting for my response, he grabbed his jacket and bolted out the door.

The wind blew the door wide open. I saw Caleb wrapping his jacket around Daisy's shoulders with a look of pure agony on his face.

This man, usually a refined intellectual, was now screaming at Miles for Daisy's sake until his face was red.

I suddenly lost interest in watching the drama and simply shut the door.

I pulled out the thing Caleb had been hiding earlier.

It was a hand-knitted scarf, bright redDDaisy's favorite color.

In all our years together, he had never made me a handmade gift; everything he gave me was store-bought.

I had asked him once to knit me a scarf, but he had just laughed and said his hands were too clumsy.

Now I realized he was only clumsy when it came to me.

Even though I had already read the letters, my heart still throbbed with a dull ache.

You're so noble, Caleb. Sacrificing your own love for Daisy's sake.

But what about me?

I let out a cold laugh as I gathered every gift he had ever given me and threw them on the floor.

I don't want them anymore. I don't want any of this, Caleb.

A while later, Caleb returned. Daisy followed him, still draped in his jacket.

He looked at me with a hint of apology. "Sutton, Daisy has nowhere else to go tonight. She's going to stay with us for a bit."

I didn't say anything, just stared at him. He finally noticed the pile of things at my feet and recognized them as his gifts.

"What's this?"

"They're broken. I don't want them anymore," I replied flatly.

Daisy tugged on Caleb's sleeve.

Caleb glanced at me and spoke up. "Sutton, let Daisy sleep in your room tonight, okay?"

Before I could say a word, Daisy spoke first. "Caleb, I'm not used to sharing a bed with anyone."

"Then it's settled. Sutton, there's a cot in the storage room on the east side. You can make do there for the night."

Caleb made the decision without even asking me.

The storage room did have a bed, but it was a dusty mess that nobody had ever used.

I frowned. "That's my bedroom. I should be the one to decide who sleeps there. Besides, I'm not comfortable with someone else in my bed either."

Daisy's eyes welled up with tears. She grabbed Caleb's cuff. "It's my fault for not thinking it through. Caleb, it's fine. I can sleep anywhere. Since Miles doesn't want me anymore, I'm used to being ignored."

Caleb looked at her with pure heartbreak, wiping her tears and completely ignoring my feelings. "Don't say that. You'll always have me."

Then he turned to me with a tone that brooked no argument. "Sutton, be reasonable."

For once, I stood my ground. "And what if I say no?"

Caleb's face darkened. "Sutton, don't forget that this is my house."

I froze. I had left everything behind years ago just to stay here with him. Even during our worst fights, he had never said something like that.

But he was right. It was his house.

I lowered my head to hide the tears in my eyes.

A flash of guilt crossed Caleb's face, but before he could speak, I grabbed my things and slammed the door to the storage room.

I looked at the calendar on the wall. Only three days left. I can do this, I told myself.

But as I lay on that hard cot, the tears wouldn't stop falling.

My heart still hurt like hell.

The next morning, as soon as I opened the door, I saw Caleb coming out of Daisy's room.

He looked guilty and lowered his gaze. "Daisy said she was scared last night, so I stayed to keep her company. Don't overthink it."

I curled my lip into a smirk but stayed silent.

Yesterday she wasn't used to sleeping with others, but she managed to change her mind in a single night.

That's when Daisy walked out.

She was wearing a vibrant red dress, smiling as she took Caleb's hand. "Caleb, does it look good on me?"

She did a little spin for him.

Caleb stood there mesmerized, the love in his eyes practically overflowing. "You look beautiful."

Daisy noticed my stare and put on a fake apologetic face. "Oh, Sutton, I'm so sorry. I just saw this dress and thought it was so pretty, I had to try it on."

That was the dress I had customized for my wedding with Caleb.

Before I could utter a word, Caleb shielded Daisy behind him. "If Daisy likes it, just let her have it."

I saw the obsession in Caleb's eyes. Maybe he had always pictured Daisy wearing that dress from the start.

I spoke calmly, not missing the smug glint in Daisy's eyes.

"Sure. Let her have it."

The wedding wasn't happening anyway. I didn't need these things anymore.

I walked past them and went back to my room.

Suddenly, I heard Parker's voice from outside. "Caleb, you lucky dog! Look at Daisy in that dress. You two look perfect together."

When I finally stepped out, Parker saw me and stumbled over his words. "Oh hey, Sutton."

Parker had been Caleb's best friend for years. I glanced at him and realized that I was probably the only person who didn't know about Caleb and Daisy.

It was almost funny.

Parker rubbed the back of his neck, looking between Caleb and me before finally finding his voice.

"A few of the guys are getting together tonight. We're all bringing our partners."

He glanced at Daisy and added, "Close friends are welcome too."

See? Caleb loved Daisy so much that even his friends were looking out for her.

I originally wanted to decline, but Caleb must have sensed my coldness lately. He grabbed my hand in front of Parker and smiled. "Of course I'm bringing your sister-in-law."

Caleb was a stubborn man. Back then, he was convinced that if he broke Miles and me up, Daisy would be happy. He never let me have a moment alone with Miles.

Now, he was convinced that marrying me would fix everything for Daisy. If he knew I was leaving, he would definitely cause trouble.

When we arrived at the bar, everyone was already there.

Everyone had their partners with them.

Daisy walked ahead, clinging to Caleb's arm. Some of the guys who didn't know better greeted her as if she were the one Caleb was marrying.

Caleb used to hang out with them all the time, but he never invited me. He must have been bringing Daisy this whole time.

I ignored the awkward looks from the people who did recognize me and found a corner seat.

After a few drinks, Daisy's face was flushed. She burst into tears and threw herself into Caleb's arms.

"Caleb, what am I going to do? Miles doesn't want me anymore."

Caleb frantically patted her back, his voice more tender than I had ever heard it. "It's okay, Daisy. You still have me."

Daisy continued to sob uncontrollably. "But you're getting married. I'll be all alone."

Caleb looked at her with such devotion, gently wiping her tears. "Don't worry. Even after I'm married, you will always be my number one priority. No one can ever take your place."

I felt a strange sense of relief that I had found out now. I wouldn't have to waste half my life being kept in the dark.

I got up to go to the restroom, and when I came out, I found a very smug Daisy waiting for me.

She was leaning against the wall with a cup of coffee, grinning like a predator. "Sutton, look at you. Even with your family's money and status, you were born to be unloved. Miles dumped you, and Caleb belongs to me."

Under the flickering lights, I could see the malice in her eyes.

She counted on her fingers and laughed. "You probably don't know this, but Caleb told me you're a complete bore in bed. Maybe I should find some guys to teach you a thing or two."

I couldn't take it anymore. I swung my hand and gave her a hard slap across the face.

She didn't get angry. Instead, she smiled and poured the hot coffee down her own arm. She clutched her face as tears began to stream down.

"Sutton, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have tried to take him from you!"

A second later, Caleb's voice roared with fury. "Sutton! What the hell are you doing?"

Before I could even process it, a palm landed heavily across my own face.

I clutched my burning cheek, unable to believe that Caleb would ever hit me.

The force was so strong that my ears were ringing. I could only see the raw hatred and disgust in Caleb's eyes.

Daisy looked up with a pale face, her arm trembling as she showed off the red, scalded skin.

"It's okay, Caleb. I know Sutton is still mad about Miles and me. I understand."

"It's my fault. I just wanted to convince her to be a good wife to you, but I didn't realize she was still obsessed with Miles."

"I know Miles still has feelings for her too. I just wanted you guys to be happy."

With every word she spoke, Caleb's expression grew darker.

"Sutton, how can you be so pathetic?"

Even with my ears ringing, I heard those words clearly. All these years, I had kept my distance from Miles just so Caleb wouldn't feel insecure. We lived in the same neighborhood and I hadn't spoken to him once.

Caleb knew that. But now, because of a few lies from Daisy, he was looking at me like I was his worst enemy.

I dragged my exhausted body home in the middle of the night. Caleb had taken Daisy to the hospital.

I clutched my train ticket in my hand, finally feeling a bit of peace.

I was leaving tomorrow.

I lay in bed, wrapping myself tightly in the blanket to find some warmth.

Half-asleep, I heard a noise outside my door.

I jumped up to open it, only to realize I had been locked inside.

Caleb stood on the other side, his voice dripping with a sickly, twisted tenderness. "Be a good girl, Sutton. You've been disobedient. How could you still be thinking about Miles? Don't worry. I'll let you out on our wedding day."

I gripped the doorframe, paralyzed by a wave of terror. Tears flowed uncontrollably. "Caleb, let me out! Please, I'm scared!"

He took a step back and sighed. "I told you, I'll let you out once you learn how to behave."

He turned and walked away, ignoring my desperate pleas for help.

When I was a kid, Daisy had once locked me in a closet during a game. Ever since then, I've had a crippling fear of small, enclosed spaces.

I couldn't stay trapped here!

Driven by pure terror, I found a surge of adrenaline. I threw my body against the door.

After several agonizing attempts, the wood finally groaned.

With one final shove, the door gave way, and I collapsed onto the floor. My shoulder was screaming in pain.

But I didn't hesitate. I scrambled to my feet and ran toward the station as fast as I could.

Meanwhile, Caleb was feeding Daisy some porridge at the hospital.

"Don't worry. She won't be bothering you or Miles anymore."

Daisy looked at him with teary, grateful eyes. "Thank you, Caleb. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Caleb will you always stay by my side?"

This time, Caleb avoided her gaze. For some reason, he thought of Sutton.

He was supposed to marry her soon, but he felt a strange sense of unease in his gut.

He stepped back and didn't answer Daisy.

He felt like he needed to go home.

As he was rushing back, he bumped into someone. He looked up to see Miles.

Caleb assumed Miles was there for Daisy and decided to be helpful. "I know you're fighting with Daisy because of Sutton. You must have misunderstood her."

Miles gave him a bizarre look. "Who told you that? Daisy cheated on me, that's why I left her. And I haven't spoken to Sutton in years."

In that moment, Caleb's heart sank. A terrible realization hit him, and he sprinted toward the house.

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