Chapter 2

In the dark I couldn't see his face, only the fury pouring off him.

"Making a scene?"

I laughed, cold, and shoved at him with all my strength.

He didn't budge.

"Having dinner with another man, posting a photo meant to make people talk, and then hanging up on me. If that isn't making a scene, what is it?"

He asked it like the moral high ground was his.

"Owen, can we try being reasonable for once."

My voice came out very calm.

"You're the one who threw away our seven years first. You chose to give your little assistant her dignity."

"You're picking a fight with me over a man you've known a few days?"

His tone was all disbelief and the irritation of a man who thought no one had the right to challenge him.

"At least he knows how to respect me."

That one landed.

The grip on my shoulders tightened all at once.

"Respect? Eudora, you belong to me. Everything I've given you still isn't enough?"

"Everything you've given me? Owen, and what exactly is that?"

I threw his hand off and felt along the wall until I found the entryway light.

The sudden brightness stung my eyes.

Owen stood across from me, his face dark, his eyes shot through with red.

He really had been drinking.

"I gave you a house, a car, more money than you could spend, every friend you have envies you, and that still isn't enough?"

It was almost funny.

"So I'm supposed to be grateful, and just let it slide when you hand the token of our future to another woman?"

"That's different!"

He raked a hand through his hair, agitated.

"Grandmother is old. Teresa was keeping her happy. It's one necklace. Do you really have to make this into something?"

"Yes."

I looked him in the eye and said it word by word.

"I really do."

Just then my phone rang.

A message.

I pulled it out, and my pupils shrank.

It was from Teresa.

A photo.

Her neck. The jade necklace I never got to wear, resting quietly against her collarbone.

Below the photo, a line of text.

Dora, thank you for stepping aside. The necklace is beautiful. Owen has such good taste.

A provocation.

Naked provocation.

I was shaking with rage. This scheming little snake had gone too far. I nearly crushed the phone in my hand.

Owen noticed something was wrong and reached for my phone, frowning.

"What are you looking at?"

I shoved the screen straight into his face.

The moment he saw the photo, his expression changed.

"She—"

He seemed to want to explain.

I didn't give him the chance.

"Get out."

I pointed at the door, my voice cold.

"Eudora!"

"I said get out!"

I screamed it with everything I had, my chest heaving.

Seven years of love, in that instant, had become a joke.

Owen's face went white and green at once.

He stared at me, hard.

"Fine. Very good."

He ground the words out through his teeth.

He spun around and yanked the door open.

"Eudora, don't you regret this."

The door slammed shut behind him with a bang.

The world was finally quiet.

Every last bit of strength drained out of me, and I slid down the door to the floor.

The tears finally fell, despite everything.

I thought that was the worst of it.

I didn't know the greater humiliation was still coming.