Chapter 2

It was January 7. Everyone was back at work, and when I finally came in, my coworkers exchanged knowing looks and hid their laughter behind their hands.

“She actually showed up? Claire Bennett must really be desperate for cash. Did you see her at Ethan's engagement party? On her knees, begging him for money. No shame at all.”

“She's always so stuck-up, like working for him for seven or eight years makes her special. My dog has more dignity begging for food. Serves her right.”

I walked past them without reacting and went into HR.

The woman behind the desk gave me a dismissive look.

“I've submitted your resignation for processing. Once Mr. Whitmore signs off, you can clear out. And don't expect severance under the circumstances.”

I nodded, said nothing, and left the building.

By the time I was walking home, the sun was going down. The holiday decorations were still up. Couples and families with children filled the sidewalks.

I was on my own.

The loneliness hit me all at once. The only family I had, the career I'd spent years building, the man I loved—all gone.

I walked slowly along the route I'd taken between home and work for seven years. I couldn't stop remembering.

My parents had died in a car accident when I was seven. Greedy relatives had taken every penny of the settlement, leaving Grandma and me with nothing but each other.

Years later, Ethan had fallen down a cliff while visiting the mountain town where she lived. Grandma had found him and helped save his life. She'd looked after him as if he were her own grandson.

That was how he'd come into my life.

I was still in college then, working several jobs just to keep us afloat. Ethan had offered to check on Grandma for me. He'd send updates all the time.

Whenever I broke down, convinced I couldn't keep going, he'd hold me and speak so gently. He'd promised he'd always be there. He wasn't going anywhere.

Back then, he really had seemed to love me. He wanted to spend every day with me.

It didn't matter how plain my clothes were. He'd take my hand and proudly introduce me to everyone.

“My girlfriend. Isn't she beautiful? Best girlfriend in the world.”

Gradually, though, he'd begun looking at me with suspicion. What if I was after his inheritance?

He wanted me to turn over all my wages and let him decide how to spend them.

The control only got worse. Even asking for three dollars for a coffee could make him suspicious.

Then, three months ago, Olivia had come home from abroad.

That very day, he'd bought her an outrageously expensive gemstone ring at auction. He'd also spent more than a million dollars filling the city's digital billboards with a message:

“WELCOME HOME, OLIVIA!”

It was the first night he'd stayed out without coming home.

When I finally found him with the police, he was drunk. His eyes were red as he held Olivia's arm.

“When we were five, you said you were the princess and I was the prince. You said you'd marry me. Why did you just leave?”

I went cold all over.

After he sobered up, we had a terrible fight. I asked who he really wanted.

He told me I was overthinking it, asking questions I already knew the answers to. If Olivia hadn't left, he said, I'd never have had a chance with him.

He refused to speak to me until the day Olivia posted that she wanted to get married.

Then he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.

I'd cried with happiness. I thought he'd finally chosen me. Of course I'd said yes.

Now this ridiculous relationship was finally coming to an end.

When I looked around, I realized I'd walked much farther than I'd intended.

Shouting broke through my thoughts.

“Hey, husband! You can't back out of truth or dare! Liv's waiting!”

Outside a karaoke bar up ahead, Ethan stood in the middle of a group of people, holding Olivia's hand tightly.

“I'm Ethan Whitmore, and Olivia Grant is the only woman I love!”

He shouted it three times. Each time was louder, more certain. People all along the block stopped to watch.

The tips of his ears turned red. I'd never known him to be shy about anything.

Olivia slipped her arm through his and smiled sweetly.

Their friends cheered them on.

“Come on! You might as well kiss her now!”

Ethan hesitated.

Olivia hurried to rescue him. “Don't push him. My husband's shy—”

Before she could finish, he took her face in his hands and kissed her.

It was brief. He kept his eyes open, looking at her as if he wanted to remember every detail. He looked so happy. So completely satisfied.

As though that one kiss was enough.

Then, apparently afraid she'd misunderstand, he tried to sound casual. His ears were scarlet.

“I, uh, lost my balance.”

Before she could answer, he rushed on.

“It's late. We should get home. My father will kill me.”

That awkward, unguarded affection was something I'd never been able to get from him. With her, he almost seemed afraid to reach for what he wanted.

I was standing less than fifty feet away.

The cold wind cut through my clothes. I hadn't thought there was anything left in me for him to hurt. I was wrong.

Ethan hurried along with his head down and walked straight into me.

He looked up. The moment he recognized me, his eyes widened.