Chapter 1

My boyfriend came from a family with more money than they could ever spend. In seven years together, he'd never given me a gift. After proposing, he'd asked for the diamond ring back so he could return it. When we were supposed to get married at the courthouse, he decided even the license fee was a waste of money.

Then he married the girl he'd grown up with and booked the city's most expensive hotel for the engagement party he'd promised her.

The shock brought on my grandmother's heart attack. While the hospital tried to save her, I went down on my knees and begged him to return the wages he'd been keeping for me. I needed that money for her medical bills and the care I hoped she'd live to need.

He put an arm around his new wife and pretended he didn't know me. He said he didn't support beggars too lazy to work, then had security throw me out.

Grandma died on New Year's Eve, with fireworks going off outside.

While everyone else celebrated, I handled her funeral alone. I also accepted a job overseas.

When I went home for my passport, he was in a good mood after visiting his family with his childhood sweetheart. He thought I was sulking. For the first time, he made me a generous offer.

“Oh, come on. How bad can things be with your grandmother? I'll give you a big wedding. Let her show off a little.”

He didn't know that the moment Grandma stopped breathing, I stopped wanting to marry him.

————————

I'd just picked up my passport when a hand snatched it from mine.

“What are you looking for? You didn't even hear me come in.”

Ethan Whitmore had just arrived home. The tip of his nose was red from the cold.

He looked down at the passport. His faint smile disappeared, and he frowned.

“What's this for? You're threatening to leave the country now? I told you, Liv's parents were pressuring her. We only got married to get them off her back. We'll get a quiet divorce in a while.”

I took it back without looking up.

He rubbed his cold fingertips together. Usually, when he came home, I'd ask if he was freezing, bring him hand warmers, and make him a hot drink.

Today, I did none of that.

He cupped my face, his hands icy against my skin, and forced me to look at him.

“Claire Bennett, how jealous can you get? Do you have any idea who was at that party? If any of this gets back to my father, we'll both be in trouble.”

I gave a bitter little smile. To him, I was still something to keep out of sight.

I pulled his hands away. He reached for me again, lifting my chin with cold fingers to examine the small scratches on my cheek.

“What the hell were those guards thinking? Look what they did to your face, sweetheart. I'll make sure they don't see a penny of their pay.”

Here we went again. He used to wear me down with this routine until I forgave him, however angry I'd been.

It wasn't going to work this time.

Seven days earlier, at his engagement party, those guards had thrown me out of the hotel on his orders. They'd shoved me to the ground.

“Think a girl like you can marry into his family? Mr. Whitmore and Ms. Grant belong together. I've seen plenty of gold diggers like you.”

People passing by had pointed and laughed. I was perfectly capable of working, they said, yet here I was on my knees, begging a man for money.

There hadn't been any dignity left to lose.

Ethan saw that I still wasn't smiling and reached for his last resort. He picked up the box of vitamins he'd left by the door.

“These are for your grandmother. And don't tell me she needs surgery again just to get my attention. It's getting old.”

Grandma and I had only each other. She'd wanted to be there when Ethan and I got married at the courthouse, to be the first to congratulate us.

Instead, she'd watched him marry another woman. She'd collapsed on the spot.

At the hospital, the doctor had told me surgery might give her a chance. They were treating her, but I had no idea how I'd manage the bills or look after her afterward. I needed fifteen thousand dollars from my own savings. Just some of the money I'd earned.

On New Year's Eve, I'd swallowed my pride and called everyone I could think of. Some wouldn't pick up. Others snapped that I was ruining their holiday.

The fireworks were still going when Grandma closed her eyes for the last time. The surgery hadn't saved her. I was alone.

The memory of her pale face hurt so much that my eyes filled immediately.

I left the vitamins in Ethan's hands.

“Ethan, we need to—”

Break up. I didn't even get the words out.

“Enough. You've been spending the holidays with your grandmother. You must be running low on money.”

He tapped his phone and sent me thirty dollars.

“Buy her something nutritious. You don't have to write me an IOU for this one.”

It was almost funny. He was so afraid I wanted him for his money that he made me hand over my paycheck. I had to get his approval for an allowance.

Every extra transfer came with an IOU.

After seven years together, I supposedly owed Ethan Whitmore a fortune.

I'd told myself that growing up in a business family had made him careful with money. I'd indulged him, given him whatever reassurance he asked for.

But he was only careful with money when it came to me.

For Olivia Grant, he could spend a fortune on a diamond necklace or buy a mansion without blinking. Every grand gesture made the society pages.

It was easy enough to see who mattered to him.

I sent the thirty dollars straight back.

“No, thanks. I don't need it.”

He finally took a proper look at me. Then, apparently deciding he'd worked out the problem, he sighed.

“It's not enough? Fine. We'll have a wedding. Your grandmother can show off, too. Your whole family is exactly the same.”

Showing off. Vanity. I'd listened to those accusations for seven years.

All I'd wanted was an ordinary relationship, where we could buy each other gifts or go shopping together. He'd called me shallow and accused me of wanting his family's money.

“There's no reason for a wedding. You and I aren't married.”

His face tightened with the anger I knew so well.

Someone knocked at the front door.

He shot me a look and went to answer it. A second later, his voice brightened.

“What are you doing here?”

I turned. Olivia stood in the doorway in a puffer jacket that matched his.

She tapped his chest and laughed.

“Prince Charming, my girlfriends are in town. They want to meet the husband. Give me one more day?”

She looked past him at me, her eyes wide with fake innocence.

“You don't mind, do you, Claire? You were fine with everything the other day. Ethan and I are just buddies. You know that.”

As she spoke, she complained about the cold and laced her fingers through his, making sure I could see their matching wedding bands.

He looked at her with such affection. As if he'd done it a thousand times, he slipped their joined hands into his pocket to keep hers warm.

“Of course she doesn't mind. Don't worry. I'm not going to let you down.”

He picked up his car keys and started out.

Two steps later, he seemed to remember me. He let go of Olivia's hand, came over, and held my face while he kissed the corner of my mouth.

“Last time, I promise. After this, you get me every day.”

There wasn't going to be an after this for us.

I wiped my mouth hard and watched them leave, laughing and teasing each other.

Then I picked up the resignation letter I'd already prepared.