Chapter 2

"Baby, I think I hear something outside."

"It's just the dog in the living room. Relax."

I glanced back. Domi was in his crate, wagging his tail at me.

Once I finish here, I'll get you a chew stick.

I kicked open the bedroom door and raised my phone to record.

The curtains were drawn, the room glowing under a red mood light.

The second he saw me, Julius flinched all over and started grabbing for anything he could find.

In the end he snatched a towel off the floor and wrapped it around his waist.

"Patsy, are you insane? How the hell did you get in here?"

The young mistress shrieked and clutched the blanket tight.

"Patsy, I've been too damn nice to you, haven't I? You're an outsider. None of this is your business!"

Julius yanked his belt free and came at me.

I pulled out the fruit knife. He laughed. "You've got to be kidding me. You even know how to use that? You wouldn't dare stab me."

He slapped his own belly. "Come on, come on. If you've got the guts, stick it right here."

"Sure."

I didn't hesitate. I drove the knife straight in.

Julius went white in an instant.

I pulled the knife out. "Want the other side too?"

He couldn't get a word out, so I took that as a yes.

One more into the other side.

"Aah! You lunatic! You crazy bitch!"

Honestly, it was the first time I'd ever heard a grown man scream like that.

Julius was gasping, in too much pain to string a full sentence together.

The man who'd been strutting a second ago, daring me to do it, was chalk-pale now, cold sweat all over his forehead.

The one under the covers finally snapped out of it too. She scrambled off the bed without even bothering to fix her tangled clothes.

She had nothing on but Julius's shirt, the loose hem hanging off her.

The young mistress threw herself down beside Julius, tears spilling instantly.

"Baby, are you okay?"

"Don't scare me! Open your eyes, look at me."

Watching the two of them cling to each other so tenderly, I was almost moved.

I didn't even bother going at him again.

Tsk. I could've patted myself on the back. My temper really is too good.

I lit a cigarette, leaned against the wardrobe, and tipped my head back, a little worn out.

A huge wedding photo hung on the master bedroom wall. In it, Julius wore a suit, smiling gently.

Beside him, Paige stood in a spotless white gown, her eyes full of happiness.

Back then she'd told me she'd finally married for love.

She said Julius was the best man in the whole world.

I'd teased her at the time, told her she had good taste.

Looking at it now, I shook my head and gave a bitter smile.