Chapter 2

I stared at Morrison in disbelief.

If it hadn't been for the intel I received three months ago saying Luca would attend this year's Family gathering, I would have ended things with Morrison the first time he cheated.

I had thought our relationship had simply fallen apart.

But now Morrison had erased our past without a second thought.

He wouldn't even acknowledge what I was to him.

Sarah's smile returned. She wrapped her arms around Morrison's neck and pouted. "I knew you wouldn't lie to me. From now on, you have to tell me about every woman who shows up around you. I was so worried I almost cried.

"And to make it up to me, I want the latest-model sports car."

Morrison pinched her nose indulgently. "Done. Whatever you say."

Watching them like that, I was afraid that one more second would break my composure and I'd lash out at Morrison for his cruelty and hypocrisy.

I took a deep breath and turned to leave.

But I had barely taken a step when Morrison called out, "Celine, where are you going?"

His tone was cold and distant. "Sarah is staying here tonight. Go get the guest room ready. Make sure you wipe the floor by hand, inch by inch. No red decorations..."

He rattled off Sarah's preferences one by one, as if he truly saw me as nothing more than the hired help.

Morrison had always been attentive and thoughtful with the woman he loved.

But his love was like fireworks: brilliant, yet far too brief.

Everything he had once done for me, he was now giving to Sarah.

Sarah's face was pure bliss.

The Four Families' gathering would be held at this mansion in seven days.

As long as I remained here, whether as Morrison's companion or as his housekeeper, I could get Luca's fingerprints.

So I couldn't afford to turn on Morrison. Not yet.

I forced down my anger and managed a hollow smile. "Of course. I'll get on it right away."

I thought he'd be pleased by my obedience.

But I didn't notice the way his gaze lingered on my retreating back, filled with nothing but anger and disappointment.

I wasn't familiar with where things were kept in the guest room.

When I asked the household staff, they looked uneasy.

"Ms. Greer, Mr. Lehman has instructed that you handle everything on your own. Please don't put us in a difficult position."

I understood.

Morrison was deliberately making things hard for me.

I didn't ask again and went to the guest room alone.

By the time I had cleaned it to his exact specifications, it was one in the morning.

I went to check the living room but found no sign of Morrison or Sarah.

Then I walked to the bedroom Morrison and I shared.

Breathy moans kept drifting through the door:

"Morrison, slow down..."

"Babe, you're so beautiful..."

My hand froze in midair. A wave of absurdity and fury crashed over me, and my heart felt like it was being sliced apart.

Why?

Why did it have to be in our room?

In that room, we had fallen asleep in each other's arms on countless nights, confiding our sorrows and joys.

Nausea surged through me. I couldn't take it anymore, and I kicked at the door.

But before my foot touched the wood, a bodyguard stepped in and blocked me.

He pushed me aside with professional detachment.

"Ms. Greer, the boss has ordered that from now on, your quarters are the housekeeper's room downstairs. Your belongings have already been moved."

His words snapped me back to my senses.

If I made a scene now, three months of restraint would be for nothing.

It took every ounce of strength I had to turn my stiff body around and walk down the stairs, one step at a time.

In the housekeeper's room, my things had been tossed carelessly on the floor.

The shattered snow globe stood out among the mess.

Morrison had given it to me.

Inside, the two figurines were miniature replicas of us.

They had broken apart right down the middle.

Only the damaged music box sputtered out Morrison's recorded voice, on and off.

Then he said, "Celine, I... love you...

"Celine loves... Morrison too...

"Celine will... always be... with Morrison."

In the dead of night, his sweet voice played over and over.

I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

The tiny room filled with my muffled sobs.

When the crying stopped, I picked up the shards of the snow globe.

I took one last look at the two figurines that had once been embracing.

Then I threw them all into the trash without hesitation.

What's lost never comes back.

I didn't want this love anymore, either.