Chapter 2

I didn't go far. I sat in the convenience store downstairs for two hours.

Once Kelly left, I went back up.

Ronin sat on the couch, focused on his laptop. He didn't even look up when I walked in.

"Finally come to your senses?"

I ignored him and headed to the bedroom.

I pulled a black suitcase from the closet and started packing.

I didn't have much. Just a few cheap clearance finds. Ronin's custom suits took up most of the space.

"What are you doing?"

He stood in the doorway, frowning.

I shoved in my last two sweaters and zipped the suitcase.

"Packing."

He eyed the suitcase and laughed coldly.

"This pathetic stunt isn't fooling anyone. You think packing your junk and leaving will make people feel sorry for you? Forgot who dragged you out of the gutter? Walk out that door, and where will you go? You're pregnant, you reek, and you can't survive on your own. You won't last three days. Quit the drama and put your crap back."

I unzipped my bag, pulled out a bank card I'd prepared, and held it out.

"What's this?"

"The PIN is your birthday. There's sixty grand on it. Fifty for what I owed you. Ten for five years of interest. We're even."

My voice stayed calm.

Ronin's head snapped up. He grabbed my chin, eyes dark.

"Sixty grand? Helen, you never leave this apartment. Where'd you get that kind of money? Or did you already find your next meal ticket? You're using some other guy's money to throw this in my face?"

I'd earned that sixty grand through late-night translation and interpreting gigs after finishing the housework.

Ronin only ever complained that my typing was too loud.

He never once asked what I was doing.

"None of your business."

I knocked his hand away.

Ronin went quiet, then smiled.

"Wow. You finally grew a backbone. Still need to fix that attitude, though. I ordered you dessert."

He brought the box into the bedroom and opened it.

"Eat it while it's fresh. I had them add extra vanilla syrup, just how you like it."

I looked down at the creamy dessert.

Bright orange cubes floated on top.

Mango.

I was deathly allergic. One bite could make me break out in hives and leave me gasping for air.

Five years of marriage, and he still only remembered that Kelly loved mango.

My phone lit up.

Kelly had tagged me in a post.

[Ronin ordered my favorite mango panna cotta with extra vanilla syrup. Too bad my stomach's acting up. Guess someone else gets to enjoy it.]

The photo showed her smiling at the dining table.

My stomach turned.

Pregnancy nausea mixed with pure disgust.

I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom, dry-heaving over the toilet.

Ronin stood in the doorway, annoyed.

"What are you faking now? Kelly didn't even eat it. What's there to complain about? Just eat it. Don't waste food."

I dry-heaved until tears ran down my face.

I splashed cold water on my face and stared at my pale reflection.

Then Ronin's phone rang.

The second he answered, his face turned serious.

"What? The necklace is gone?" He glanced at me. "You're sure you left it on the coffee table?"

Kelly said something.

His eyes went cold.

He hung up and walked over.

"Did you take Kelly's limited-edition Bulgari necklace?"

"I didn't."

I dried my face.

"There are three people in this apartment. Who else could've taken it?" Disappointment filled his voice. "Helen, if you needed money, you could've asked. Why steal?"

His gaze shifted to my suitcase.

"You have thirty minutes. Give back the necklace and apologize to Kelly. Do that, and I'll pretend this never happened."