Chapter 5

Nora's POV

Suddenly I found it kind of funny.

"Yeah, I'm petty." I nodded, my lips curling into a mocking smile. "Not only am I petty, I'm cold-hearted. If you think I'm so awful, why did you marry me?"

Preston's face darkened instantly.

"Nora, stop being unreasonable. I said once her injury heals, she'll move out."

"Whatever."

I turned and walked into the bedroom, locking the door behind me.

Leaning against the door, I slowly slid down to the floor.

No tears, just a deep sense of helplessness.

The next day was Saturday.

I got up early, washed up, and got ready to head to the office to work.

Walking past the guest room, I noticed the door was half open.

Preston was crouched by the bed, holding an ice pack, carefully applying it to Stella's ankle.

"Does it hurt? I'll be gentle." His voice was so tender it could drip honey.

Stella was propped up against the headboard, her eyes red, like a startled fawn.

"Preston, I'm sorry. I keep causing you trouble."

"Silly, what kind of talk is that?" Preston reached out and ruffled her hair. "With me here, you have nothing to worry about."

I stood outside the door, quietly watching this scene.

My heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, every breath bringing pain.

Once upon a time, that tenderness belonged to me.

I pulled my eyes away, turned, and went downstairs.

The office on a weekend was quiet.

I sat at my computer staring at design blueprints on the screen, but all I could see were images of Preston and Stella together.

My mouse drifted aimlessly over the drawings, lines becoming chaotic and disordered.

My phone buzzed.

A message from Preston on Snapchat.

[What do you want for lunch? I'll have the housekeeper make something and send it over.]

I stared at the message, finding it darkly ironic.

I didn't reply. I tossed the phone aside and forced myself to focus on work.

At three in the afternoon, Lily pushed open the door.

"Nora, someone's downstairs looking for you."

I paused. "Who?"

"I don't recognize her. She's a woman, pretty, with a cast on her foot."

Stella.

What was she doing here?

I frowned and got up to head downstairs.

In the lobby's lounge area, Stella was sitting on a couch, a pair of crutches next to her.

When she saw me, she struggled to stand up.

"Don't move." I walked over and sat across from her. "What did you want?"

Stella looked at me with a hint of timidity.

"Ms. Hayes, I came to apologize." She bit her lip, her voice soft. "Last night was my fault. I shouldn't have called Preston and ruined your anniversary."

I looked at her, with her pitiful expression, and felt a wave of irritation.

"Does Preston know you came to find me?"

Stella shook her head. "He went to the office. I snuck out."

"If you knew it would ruin things, why did you call?" I stared into her eyes, my tone calm but sharp.

Stella paled.

"I... I was just so scared, and his number was the only one on my phone..."

"Stella." I cut her off. "You don't need to put on an act for me. You know what you want, and I know it too."

She jerked her head up, panic flashing in her eyes.

"Ms. Hayes, you're misunderstanding. There's really nothing between me and Preston. He's just taking care of me because my husband died..."

"Your husband died two years ago." I looked at her coldly. "And in these two years, you've come to him for everything. He stayed at the hospital when you were sick. He helped you move. Hell, when your cat died, he dropped work to go cry with you."

I paused and took a deep breath.

"Are you actually depending on him, or are you using your husband's death to manipulate him?"

Stella's tears spilled instantly.

"I'm not... I really am not..." She cried pitifully, as if she'd been deeply wronged.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from the lobby entrance.

Preston rushed in, his face stony.

He shielded Stella behind him, glaring at me.

"Nora, what are you doing! Her foot is still injured, why did you drag her here!"

I looked at him, terrified that I might hurt Stella, and suddenly found it absurdly funny.

"Why don't you ask her—did I call her here, or did she come on her own?"

Preston turned to look at Stella.

She clutched his sleeve, sobbing uncontrollably. "Preston, don't blame Ms. Hayes. I came on my own. I wanted to explain to her, I don't want to come between you two..."

"What is there to explain to her!" Preston tenderly wiped her tears. "Your foot isn't healed, why are you running around."

He turned back to me, his eyes full of disappointment and disgust.

"Nora, I thought you were just being stubborn. I didn't realize you were so narrow-minded. Stella is already pitiful enough, why do you have to target her at every turn?"

I looked at this man I'd loved for seven years, and suddenly he felt like a stranger.

So much a stranger that I didn't even want to defend myself.

"Think whatever you want." I stood up and straightened my hem. "Take your Stella and get out of my office. Don't get in my way here."

With that, I turned and walked toward the elevator.

Behind me came Preston's angry shout: "Nora, you're impossible to talk to!"

The elevator doors slowly closed, cutting off his voice.

I leaned against the elevator wall, tilted my head back, and forced the sting in my eyes to stay there.

I was already too disappointed to be sad anymore.