Chapter 2

Linnie's POV

Lorcan’s flight had just touched down at O'Hare. Through the receiver, I could hear our daughter babbling excitedly in the background.

"Clemmie hasn't stopped asking for Mommy since takeoff," he told me, the warmth evident in his voice. "We're heading straight to you."

All the tension drained out of me. "Okay. I'll wait right here."

Pulling the phone away, I caught Ansel staring at me, his eyes narrowed.

"As you heard, my husband is en route," I said plainly. "And that suit belongs to him."

I extended an expectant hand for the garment bag. Rather than hand it over, Ansel let out a scoffing laugh.

"You really will just say anything, Linnea. You don't have to put on this whole act. We both know there's no husband. You just faked that call to make me jealous."

His delusion was so baffling I didn't even want to dignify it.

"Think whatever helps you sleep at night. Hand over the suit."

I snatched at the bag, but he had the audacity to yank it back.

During the brief struggle, a sickening little pop echoed through the quiet shop. A button bounced across the hardwood, coming to rest right at the tip of my shoe.

I went completely rigid.

It had taken me weeks to source those specific hand-polished horn buttons from a boutique artisan in Florence.

Ansel dismissively waved a hand. "It's just a button. Get the tailor to fix the whole thing. The timing is great, actually. I'll wear it to Tam's birthday bash next week."

That was the final straw. Blind rage took over.

I pulled my arm back and aimed a violent slap right at his jaw.

I completely missed Tamsin darting into my blind spot.

"Linnie, if you have to take it out on someone, take it out on me!"

Momentum carried my hand forward. Flesh smacked loudly against flesh as my palm violently connected with her cheek.

She shrieked and immediately collapsed onto the floor.

All the color drained from Ansel's face. "Tam!"

He fell to his knees, frantically scooping her up just as my parents charged into the room.

"Tam, why did you throw yourself in the line of fire?"

When my parents looked up at me, there was pure venom in their eyes.

"Linnea, what is wrong with you? Your sister is pregnant!"

Striking her had never been the intent. For a brief second, I was totally speechless. "She leapt right into it."

Tamsin hugged her abdomen, contorting her features in agony.

"Mom, Dad, please don't be mad at Linnie," she cried weakly. "She's just upset with me. If striking me brings her peace, I'll take it. I just couldn't bear watching Ansel take the hit for my sake."

Ansel looked utterly devastated. "Tam, you shouldn't have done that. You're far more important than I am."

He hoisted her firmly into his arms. As he brushed past me, he shot me a dirty look.

"You crossed a massive line today, Linnea. I'm rushing Tam to the ER to make sure the baby is okay. Buy a dozen red roses—you know she loves them—and bring them over to apologize. She needs the gesture."

I remained dead silent.

The bespoke suit lay in a tangled heap where he had abandoned it. Feeling a wave of nausea, I gathered the fabric and handed it back to Mrs. Calloway.

"I'll return later to commission a new piece. Just throw this one in the trash, please."

"As you wish, honey," the tailor murmured.

The moment I walked out the door, my mother was on my heels. Her fingers locked around my wrist like an iron vise.

"Linnea, I only donated my kidney to you so that you wouldn't stand in the way of your sister's happiness. You have a piece of me inside you. Why are you still determined to destroy her life?"

My free hand balled tightly into a fist.

When she offered me that organ without a second thought, I had sobbed in sheer gratitude for days. I foolishly believed it was a mother's unconditional love. It took years to realize it was actually a choke collar—a lifelong debt designed to control me forever.

I pushed the bitter words past my lips.

"Her happiness? Mom, from the very beginning, she was the mistress in my marriage."

The impact of her hand against my cheek was so brutal it whipped my head to the side.