Chapter 1

On the day Ethan proposes, he promises me a home.

The day after I move in, I find out he gave each of his three mistresses a home too, all in the same building as mine.

His childhood best friend, Audrey Marsh, lives upstairs.

His ex-girlfriend, Sophia Deane, lives downstairs.

His personal assistant of seven years, Nicole Webb, lives in the unit across the hall.

I go to the front desk to set up my resident registration. The building manager tilts his head at me.

"Mrs. Cole, you're not in the building group chat?"

He turns his phone toward me. He thinks I'm already in it.

The group name is Ethan's Girls.

Ethan's buddies are in it. Our mutual friends are in it. The building concierge is in it.

Everyone who knows about my marriage is in that chat. Everyone except me.

Audrey messaged the group asking maintenance to fix her AC.

Sophia asked Ethan which floor he's coming to for dinner tonight.

Nicole posted a photo.

In the photo, Ethan is asleep on her couch, covered with the blanket I knitted for him by hand.

And last night, the night I moved in, Audrey left a message in the group.

"The wife showed up today. Everyone keep it low-key for a few days."

A row of smiley faces underneath.

One of Ethan's buddies dropped fifty bucks in and started a pool.

"Place your bets. How long before she figures it out?"

Someone said three months.

Someone said six.

Then Ethan himself replied.

"Don't give her that much credit. I gave her one condo and she acted like I handed her the world."

I stare at that line for a long time.

He didn't give me a home.

He gave me a seat in a game they were all playing behind my back.

I don't make a scene.

I text my lawyer.

"Draw up divorce papers. As fast as you can."

Then I book a flight to Miami.

Before I walk out, I send the screenshots from the manager's phone to myself.

This city doesn't have a home for me. And it never will again.