Love Fades Without A Trace

Six years after marrying Rhiannon Westley, she takes a lover. He's like a puppy—timid and clingy.

He flinches at the slightest raised voice, so Rhiannon never loses her temper in front of him.

But when he acts up in front of me, Rhiannon snaps. She's furious, and she gives him a harsh scolding.

The next day, he sends me a photo of his neck covered in red marks. "Zane, Ms. Westley is so fierce..."

I was quiet for a long time as I stared at the red marks on the neck in the photo.

Yesterday, a man named Callum Lowry sought me out and told me he was Rhiannon Westley's boyfriend, and he wanted me out of the picture. At first, I was taken aback by his bold statement. Then, I registered the fact that Rhiannon had cheated on me.

Callum lifted his chin, his eyes sparkling like a kid who had been spoiled rotten. Before I could snap out of my daze, he splashed coffee on me. "Hey, did you hear me? I want you to divorce Rhiannon so I can marry her!"

The brown liquid stained my newly bought white T-shirt, and I looked pathetic with coffee droplets running down my face.

Callum didn't seem to think that was enough, for he paid no mind to the speculating looks thrown in our direction as he continued to bait me. "Rhiannon's pregnant with my child. I don't want my kid calling some other dude 'Dad.' Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered to pick a fight with you.

"I know you're childhood friends with Rhiannon and that you've been married for six years, but both of you have been together for so long. She doesn't see you as anything more than family. She doesn't love you anymore.

"You should know better and leave her. Maybe I could even convince her to pay you a handsome settlement fee as compensation. Otherwise, don't blame me when I have her kick you out."

Rhiannon, kicking me out?

I sputtered at the idea of it.

Callum pointed at me, called me crazy, and demanded to know why I laughed.

I stared at his face. He was quite the looker—adorable, even. He simply wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

I jested, "Does Rhiannon know about you coming here to see me, kiddo?"

He flushed, then pointed at me as he let loose a torrent of abuse.

I tilted my head to the side and peered past him at Rhiannon, who was closing in on us with long, angry strides. She was scowling as she grabbed Callum by the arm and struck him hard across the face.

At once, Callum's face turned red and swollen from the slap. A thin line of blood even trickled out of the corner of his mouth.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he gaped at Rhiannon in disbelief and hurt. "Ms. Westley, you just hit me…"

Anyone's heart might have gone out to him if they saw him cry,