Chapter 3

The air in the living room seemed to stop moving.

Standing beside the man I'd shared eight years of my life with, I felt like I was looking at a stranger.

To please his mistress, he was willing to sacrifice his own daughter's future.

He was certain I wouldn't dare fight back, certain I couldn't leave him.

I lowered my eyes and hid the cold in them.

When I looked up again, my eyes were rimmed red, wounded and yielding.

“All right. I'll do whatever you say.”

My voice came out small, a little unsteady.

Glen clearly hadn't expected that.

He'd braced for me to scream and throw a fit, had even rehearsed his comebacks.

He hadn't imagined I'd agree so easily.

“You……you're really agreeing?” he asked again, like he couldn't believe it.

“What else can I do?” I said with a bitter smile. “You're right. Mia's a girl. Finn is what carries on the James line.”

“I can't win this fight, and I don't want to.”

Glen's expression melted into tenderness at once.

He crossed over and pulled me up into his arms.

“Honey, I know this isn't fair to you.” He patted my shoulder, wearing a look of feigned emotion.

“Don't worry. I promise I'll make it up to you and Mia someday.”

Make it up?

I rested against his chest, my eyes ice cold.

The next morning, Glen had barely gotten to the office when Polly showed up at the door.

She carried a box of expensive health tonic, a victor's smile on her face.

“Summer, Glen already told me.”

She slipped into a pair of house slippers as if she owned the place and walked into the living room.

“Thank you for giving the spot to Finn. I was actually worried you'd be angry.”

She went to the cabinet and, with easy familiarity, took out my treasured Okura tea set.

It was the wedding anniversary gift Glen had bid on for me in Japan years ago and brought home.

Polly brewed herself a cup, then sat on the sofa holding it, playing the lady of the house.

“Summer, honestly, there's no need to be so upset.”

“She's a girl. What good is all that schooling? She'll just get married one day anyway.”

“Finn is different. He's the one who'll inherit the James family business.”

She took a sip of tea, and the words slid neatly into the softest part of me.

I sat across from her, watching her get carried away with herself, and felt not a flicker of anger. Only amusement.

“True.” I agreed mildly. “Then here's to a bright future for Finn.”

Polly must have felt like she'd thrown a punch into cotton. It took the fun out of it.

She set the cup down and stood.

“Well, I won't keep you from your rest. Glen's taking me this afternoon to finish the paperwork for the transfer.”

At the door she turned back and looked at me, her eyes full of challenge.

“Summer, Glen really does love you, you know. Just be a good girl and do as you're told, and this home is still yours.”

With that, she strutted out, pleased with herself.

I looked at the cup she'd used, then picked it up and dropped it in the trash.

Ding.

My phone buzzed.

A voice message from my mother.

I answered the call, and there was a fawning note in her voice.

“Summer, Mom heard you gave the spot to Finn?”

“Now that's more like it! A woman needs to be gracious. Keep Glen happy, and that five million for your brother's project comes through sooner.”

“Don't you worry. Once the money's in, I'll have your brother buy you a designer bag!”

Not one of them cared what Mia had lost.

They cared only about how much they could scrape off Glen's plate.

I said nothing, just powered the phone off.

Two o'clock.

By now, I figured Glen and Polly had finished their business at the education office.

I changed my clothes and drove to Mia's preschool.

“Mrs. James, what brings you here?” Her teacher was surprised to see me.

“I'm here to withdraw Mia.” My tone was calm.

The teacher froze.

“Withdraw? But Mia's about to move up to the senior class, and she does so well……”

“Something's come up at home. We're leaving the city.”

I didn't explain any further, just followed the procedure through.

Once I had the withdrawal notice in hand, the last weight lifted off my chest.

I took Mia and left the preschool.

“Mommy, do we not have to come to school anymore?” Mia asked, tipping her head up at me.

“That's right. Mommy's taking you somewhere new, to make new friends. How does that sound?”

“Okay!” Mia nodded hard.

Back home, I set the two suitcases I'd already packed by the door.

I walked to the dining table and took a document out of my bag, laying it down.

It was the divorce papers, already signed with my name.

Tucked beneath Mia's school withdrawal notice.

I looked around at the place I'd lived in for eight years.

No longing. Only release.

I locked the door, took Mia's hand, and stepped into the elevator.

“Mommy, where are we going?”

“Somewhere without Daddy.”