Chapter 2

Camille had transferred a hundred thousand dollars into my account. That was her go-to apology, the same way it had always been.

Years ago, after she got drugged and took advantage of me, the very first thing she did was pay for my entire college education. I had been completely shattered. I told her I wasn't some escort she could buy off.

Camille had held me close and whispered reassurances over and over, her eyes burning fiercely with desperation. "Miles, of course you're not. You saved me. Once you graduate, I'll marry you."

She did keep that promise, eventually. But it never stopped her from having her fun on the side while keeping me waiting at home.

A few minutes passed. When it was clear I had no intention of responding, another message came through.

"Why aren't you home? Where are you?"

My head was swimming, and I didn't bother replying. After a while, I dragged myself out of the hospital bed and took a cab home.

But when the front door swung open, Camille wasn't the one standing behind it.

Bryce was wrapped in my bathrobe, his eyes flickering with something almost territorial. The second he heard footsteps approaching behind him, though, he slipped right back into his wounded, helpless routine.

"I didn't mean to come over, Miles. I got caught in the rain and Camille just let me use the shower, that's all."

The excuse was so transparent it was almost insulting. A shower didn't explain the hickeys scattered across his neck and shoulders.

Bryce noticed where I was looking and puffed out his chest, clearly pleased with himself.

I hadn't even opened my mouth before Camille stepped forward and pulled him behind her like a shield, planting herself between us.

"I'm the one who brought him here," she said, her expression dead serious. "If you want to blame someone, blame me."

"Move," I said. "I need to grab my things."

I walked right past both of them before she could finish, and I didn't spare her a single glance.

Camille froze. The color drained from her face as she let go of Bryce and followed me inside.

She watched me shove clothes into a bag for a long moment before her voice went cold and flat. "You walk in the door and immediately throw a tantrum? Can't you give me a moment of peace?"

She fished out a cigarette, lit it, and took a hard drag. When she looked up again, I still hadn't stopped packing.

She gritted her teeth and swore under her breath. "Fine, I'll send him away right now. Is that what you want? I'm pregnant, Miles. Are you trying to stress me into a miscarriage?"

My hands stilled. I laughed before I could stop myself.

Pregnant and still smoking and screwing around, and now she wanted to play the concerned mother. My eyes stung, but it didn't matter anymore. None of it did. The baby, the wedding, the promises.

Camille must have caught the strange, hollow smile on my face, because something in her expression shifted. She looked unsettled for the first time, like she was trying to figure out what had changed in me but couldn't quite place it.

Before she could, Bryce rushed in and dropped to his knees right in front of me.

"Miles, don't be mad at Camille. This is all my fault. If you need to take it out on someone, take it out on me."

He grabbed my hand and tried to slap himself with it. Camille's voice cut through the room before I could react. She yanked Bryce to his feet in one sharp motion.

"Enough! If he wants to leave, let him leave. We'll see who ends up regretting it."

Then her eyes dropped to Bryce's knees, and her whole tone shifted to something soft and concerned. "Did you scrape yourself? Let me get you something for that."

Bryce shook his head with a shy little smile. "That's not from just now. That's from earlier, when we were in bed…"

Panic flashed across Camille's face, and she shot a glance in my direction.

I didn't react at all.

Bryce suddenly yelped and wrenched his hand free. "Camille, you're hurting me."

But she wasn't listening anymore. She was already chasing after me out the door.