Chapter 3

Sure enough, my eyes were swollen the next morning.

I held a cold compress against them for a while before heading to work.

I'd barely settled at my desk when my coworker Megan Ellis leaned over, eager to gossip.

“Did you see Ms. Sinclair's necklace? Apparently her fiancé gave it to her to celebrate the new job.”

“I just looked it up. Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars!”

“Seriously, there are so many rich people in the world. Why couldn't I have been one of them?”

Blake had given me a necklace for my birthday the year before.

He'd ordered the supplies online for less than ten dollars, then spent three days following a video tutorial to make it.

When he handed it to me, he looked nervous.

“Baby, you don't mind that it didn't cost much, do you?”

“I'm sorry. I wish I were doing better. I just don't make enough…”

I'd hated hearing him put himself down. I quickly took the gift and reassured him.

“Of course I don't mind. You made this yourself. That means more to me than any diamond necklace. I love it.”

“And don't worry about your salary. I can support us. All that matters is that you're trying.”

I'd treasured that necklace. Worn it every day.

What an idiot I'd been, treating a few dollars' worth of cord and beads like something precious.

Beside me, Megan was still raving about Chloe and her fiancé's wonderful love story.

“Apparently, when Ms. Sinclair was living abroad, he flew out to see her every single month. Never missed a visit. Can you imagine someone loving you that much?”

Every month, Blake went away on a five-day business trip.

He told me he had to work in some remote town where he couldn't even get cell service. We never had any contact while he was gone.

I'd complained about his boss for him.

“What kind of slave driver sends you to the middle of nowhere like that? Look at you. You've even lost weight!”

He'd laughed and wrapped his arms around me.

“Don't be mad. I get an extra twenty dollars a day.”

“I'll save it up and buy you a big gold necklace someday.”

Remembering how touched I'd been made it hurt even more.

While I was missing him and worrying about him, he was off romancing Chloe.

I didn't want to break down in front of everyone. I forced myself to hold it together.

Once Megan went back to her desk, I yanked the necklace off and dropped it in the trash.

I was done with it.

And I was done with Blake.