Chapter 1

Home from a two-week business trip, I couldn't get onto the WiFi, so I called my boyfriend.

“William Delgado, did you switch providers? None of the login info connects anymore.”

It was noisy on his end. He gave a low laugh and a lazy “Mm,” then said,

“The username is DoCardioFiveTimesADay……”

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at the cherry-flavored lip balm someone had left sitting in my palm.

“And the password?”

He paused, hemming and hawing for a long moment before he finally spoke.

“I'll text it to you.”

He hung up fast and sent a message.

“imtheoldbird.”

The moment I saw the password, I couldn't help laughing.

How indulgent of him, letting her step all over my face in broad daylight.

Nine years ago, if he'd done this to me, I'd have been hurt, miserable, wrecked.

But I'm twenty-nine now, and I have plenty of ways and plenty of energy to make them both regret it.

1

When I stayed quiet, William sent a voice message.

“My coworkers threw me an early promotion party. I'll explain the WiFi thing when I get home.”

On this trip, I'd gone to his parent company specifically to close a twenty-million-dollar partnership, and I'd named William to lead the signing.

I'd meant it as a surprise. I hadn't expected him to already be popping champagne on the way.

When I found the celebration, William was peeling shrimp for the intern, Mabel Butler.

He peeled one, she ate one, blissful on her face.

Two big plates of shrimp shells were piled up in front of them.

The second he saw me, William's face froze and he shot to his feet.

“What are you doing here?”

I shoved my phone screen in his face, my voice flat.

“The WiFi at my place. Who changed it.”

His first reaction wasn't guilt. It was an excuse.

“The kid was just messing around, it's only a WiFi name. Don't pull that face at me. I'll change it back the second I'm home.”

A month ago he was complaining to me about how the new intern was dumb and useless.

Now he opened his mouth to defend her.

I followed his gaze to Mabel. Young, pretty, sure.

Too bad there was nothing behind it.

Her taunt, I could understand.

But I would not stand for my boyfriend helping another woman needle me.

I cut off his frantic, defending, all-over-the-place explanation and asked with a smile,

“Cardio five times a day? You're that impressive, and I never knew?”

Both their faces went red in an instant.

Mabel scrambled up, stirring a wave of cloying cherry sweetness, and bit her lip as she explained,

“Priscilla Swanson, it's not what you think. You've got the wrong idea about me and William.”

I ignored her and stared straight into William's eyes.

“I want to know what was going through your head when you typed in that new password.”

“Did you agree with her, that I'm the old bird?”

William's face went cold, his voice heavy.

“That's enough, Priscilla. If you want to make a scene, could you at least look at where you are?”

“You need to pick a good day to catch a cheater and beat the dog?”

I grabbed both plates of the shrimp shells he'd peeled and slammed one down over each of their heads.

The grease soaked into their hair and ran down their cheeks.

Everyone's mouth fell open in shock, no one daring to make a sound.

William, humiliated and mortified, was so furious his mouth twisted.

Mabel shrieked in terror.

“Ah! Priscilla, you shrew, you lunatic!”

“What gives you the right to do this to me? My hair, my clothes……”

She raised her hand and moved to rush at me, but William quickly held her back.

I wiped my hands clean before I turned to look at her. She jutted her chin out and glared back at me, refusing to back down.

That look of hers, brave and reckless and stupidly cute, no wonder William liked her.

I couldn't help laughing.

“Does eating shrimp my boyfriend peels scratch that itch for you?”

“Calling me the old bird? You planning not to live to twenty-nine?”

Mabel couldn't hold her own, choked speechless, her face redder, tears streaming down.

“William, how can she be this vicious? What kind of life are you living every single day?”

William stepped in front of her, aching for her, like a fearless knight.

“Priscilla! You've gone too far! Apologize to Mabel right……”

“Slap!”

“Apologize right……”

“Slap!”

“You……”

“Slap!”

William clutched his red, swollen face, unable to get out a word, his chest heaving as he glared at me with pure venom.

I shook out my aching wrist, feeling absolutely wonderful.

“William, as of right now, we're officially done. Don't come bothering me again.”

William froze, then flushed with humiliated rage.

“Over one WiFi password? Nine years together, and you just end it, just like that?”

I answered him without a shred of hesitation.

“Yes. Over one WiFi password.”