Chapter 2

The moment I stepped outside the office building, it started raining.

Of course, I'd forgotten my umbrella.

The cold rain soaked through my blouse within minutes. I pulled out my phone to order an Uber, only to remember that I had forty-three cents left in my checking account.

Not even enough for a bus ride.

For years, Callum had insisted we put most of our income into a joint savings account for our wedding.

He managed the account, naturally.

He claimed I was terrible with money and that someone needed to be responsible. Eventually, he'd started questioning every little thing I bought.

Anything over ten dollars required his approval.

Once, I'd bought myself a coffee on the way to work. It cost $9.95.

Callum had lectured me for twenty minutes about wasting money on overpriced drinks when we had perfectly good coffee at the office.

Yet last week, he'd bought Briar a diamond necklace worth nearly two million dollars at a charity auction.

Apparently, money was only a problem when I was the one spending it.

I let out a bitter laugh and started walking home in the rain.

By the time I reached our apartment, my hair was dripping and my shoes were soaked.

All I wanted was a hot shower and some dry clothes.

But the moment I opened the door, I heard laughter coming from the kitchen.

Callum was standing at the stove wearing an apron, carefully tending to a pan of barbecue ribs.

And Briar was sitting on the kitchen counter, watching him cook.

"Easy there, troublemaker," he said, smiling at her. "Give me another five minutes. I promise these will be worth the wait."

Briar giggled.

"They'd better be. You know how picky I am."

I stopped in the doorway.

Callum barely knew how to cook.

During our entire relationship, he'd complained whenever I asked him to help with dinner. Most nights, I was the one cooking after spending ten hours at the office.

Yet here he was, making Briar's favorite meal.

Briar noticed me first.

"Oh, Maren! You're home!" She smiled brightly. "Callum's making ribs for me. You came at the perfect time."

Callum glanced over his shoulder.

His smile disappeared.

"Don't get too excited, Briar. I only made enough for two."

I knew exactly who that comment was meant for.

I didn't bother responding.

Instead, I bent down to take off my wet shoes.

Callum frowned.

"Well? Aren't you going to say anything?"

I hung my coat by the door.

"I figured coming home meant you'd finally realized you were wrong," he continued. "Apologize to Briar, and I'll forget what happened this morning. I might even keep a position open for you."

He didn't seem to notice my wet hair or the way I was shivering.

Not once did he ask why I'd walked home in the rain.

I looked at him standing beside Briar, waiting for me to thank him for his generosity.

There was a time when we'd been happy together.

Now, looking at him, I felt like a stranger in my own home.

I walked past them toward the laundry room.

"Are you seriously ignoring me?" Callum demanded.

Before I could answer, Briar appeared in front of me carrying a bowl of hot soup.

"Oh, Maren, wait—"

She stepped directly into my path.

Then, without warning, she tilted the bowl toward me and stumbled backward.

The soup splashed across the floor and over her clothes.

Briar dropped to her knees with a scream.

"Ow! That's hot!"

She clutched her hand, her eyes immediately filling with tears.

"Maren, I know you're upset with me, but did you really have to push me?"

I stared at her.

I'd seen this performance before.

At work, she'd claimed I forced her to stay late when she'd simply failed to finish her assignments.

Another time, she'd spilled water down her own blouse and told Callum I'd thrown it at her during an argument.

I'd usually ignored her little games.

But not today.

If she wanted so badly to play the victim, I might as well give her something real to complain about.

I reached for the plate of ribs on the counter.

Before Briar could get to her feet, I tipped the entire plate over her head.

Sticky barbecue sauce slid down her hair and onto her expensive blouse.

For a second, she sat there in stunned silence.

Then she shrieked.

"My hair! Oh my God!"

Callum rushed forward and shoved me away from her.

"Maren! Have you completely lost your mind?"

He crouched beside Briar, checking her hands and face.

"What is wrong with you? Why do you always have to go after her?"

I steadied myself against the counter.

"You've really disappointed me," he snapped.

I gave him a small smile.

"Good. Then we finally agree on something."

He looked up.

"What?"

"Let's stay out of each other's lives from now on."

Callum's face darkened.

Briar started crying harder, interrupting whatever he was about to say.

"My hand hurts, Callum. It really hurts."

He immediately turned back to her.

"Come on. I'm taking you to urgent care."

He helped her up, grabbed his keys, and hurried her toward the door.

Neither of them looked back.

A moment later, the front door slammed shut.

The apartment finally went quiet.

I stood in the kitchen, surrounded by spilled soup and barbecue sauce.

Strangely, I didn't feel angry anymore.

I felt lighter.

As if something I'd been holding on to for years had finally slipped out of my hands.

Callum, we're done.

And this time, I meant it.

I took out my phone, found the number I'd saved months ago, and called the recruiting director at Asterion Group, one of the most respected companies in our industry.