Chapter 1

When I didn't respond, the officer must have thought I hadn't heard her.

"Ma'am, you might want to check this again."

That finally snapped me back to reality. I took the form from her and forced a small smile.

"No, that's okay. Thank you."

I froze for a couple of seconds, then reached for my phone without thinking and called Richard Leigh. I needed to know what was going on.

The phone rang and rang.

But when someone finally answered, it was Mia Ferguson.

"Janet, Richard's in a meeting. Is there something you need? You can tell me, and I'll pass it along. Though unless it's about groceries or something around the house, I doubt it's anything important.

"We're discussing an acquisition right now, so as a housewife, you should probably stay out of it."

Her voice was sweet, but every word had a sting. I couldn't say a thing.

Then I heard Richard's voice faintly in the background. "What is it?"

Mia laughed softly. "Nothing. Just a pointless call. Focus on the contract."

The call ended.

I watched my phone screen go dark as tears rolled down my face. By the time I finally stopped crying, all I could do was laugh bitterly.

Looking back, I really shouldn't have been surprised. Richard and Mia had grown up together and had been each other's first loves. I'd known that before Richard and I ever got together.

But back then, Richard had taken my hand and looked me straight in the eye.

"That's all in the past, Janet. You're the one I love now."

And like a fool, I'd believed him.

Not long after I moved to Alverra with Richard, Mia came too, saying she'd relocated for work. Richard was worried about her living alone and talked me into letting her stay with us.

"She's all alone here and doesn't know anyone. I don't feel comfortable with her living by herself."

So just like that, Mia moved in with us.

Later, she changed jobs and became Richard's assistant. Anyone could see there was something off between them.

But all Richard had to say was, "She's like a sister to me. Don't overthink it."

And I believed him.

I ignored what was right in front of me and shut out everything I didn't want to hear because, as far as I knew, I was Mrs. Leigh.

Before I left the country to marry Richard, Mom knew I had my heart set on going. She didn't try to stop me. She just gave me a tired, helpless smile.

"You're young. I won't stop you, and I couldn't even if I tried. Someday you'll understand. When you depend on someone else for everything, the moment they stop giving, you're left with nothing. Being a housewife never ends well."

Back then, I was too young to believe her. I thought love mattered more than life itself.

I didn't take a cent from my family. I followed Richard to Alverra, full of hope and ready to build a life in a country where I didn't speak the language and didn't know anyone.

It took me five hard years to finally find my footing. By then, Richard had already stopped loving me.

Only now did I finally understand what Mom had meant.

Without hesitating, I pulled out my phone and booked the next flight home. The next flight out was that night.

I'd already given Richard five years of my life, and I didn't have another five to let him waste.

The booking confirmation had barely appeared on my screen when Richard's name flashed across the top.

He was calling me back.