Chapter 2

After paying the deposit, Claire drove back to the Southbay mansion.

Elliot had bought it for her when his career first began taking off.

He'd personally approved every detail, from the design to the renovations.

Their wedding portrait still hung on the wall.

In it, Elliot looked sharp and confident. Claire smiled so brightly, she couldn't hide how happy she was.

She still remembered the day they moved in. Elliot had wrapped his arms around her, his voice full of hope.

"Claire, we finally have a home. Someday, we'll have two kids and be the happiest family in the world. Okay?"

Then he brought Jovie into that same house and flaunted their affair right in front of her.

Maybe that was when Claire should've learned.

Promises broke easier than anything.

The first thing on Claire's bucket list was getting rid of everything in the house that belonged to her.

She called a maid over and pointed at the wall.

"Take down the wedding portrait. Pack up everything else that's mine and throw it all out."

The maid hesitated.

"Mrs. Paulson... isn't this your favorite picture? Two months ago, after you and Mr. Paulson fought, the frame got broken. You spent a fortune having it restored..."

Claire smiled.

For the first time in a long while, she felt at peace.

"Not anymore."

Seeing she'd made up her mind, the maid quietly got to work.

Claire sat on the couch, silently watching the home she'd built piece by piece grow emptier with every box.

Then the front door opened.

She looked up.

Elliot walked in with Jovie clinging to his arm.

His eyes swept over the packed boxes. He paused, then let out a laugh.

"Claire, I'm impressed. You finally know when to cooperate. You heard I'm transferring the house to Jovie, so you packed your stuff without making a scene.

"Everyone in our circle has a woman on the side. If you'd been this reasonable from the start, none of this would've gotten so ugly."

...He was giving their home to Jovie.

Something tugged at Claire's heart.

Then it was gone.

She was never coming back here anyway.

It was just a house.

He could give it to whoever he wanted.

A faint smile tugged at Claire's lips.

"Then I'll leave my things for you to deal with. Saves me the trouble."

She picked up her coat and headed for the door.

She'd barely taken two steps when a slender hand caught the edge of it.

"Ms. Carlisle, Elliot and I are getting engaged soon. I still can't find a necklace that goes with my ring."

Jovie's smile was soft and sweet.

"I heard the one you're wearing was custom-made by Elliot as part of your wedding set. Would you give it to me?"

Her voice was gentle.

Her eyes weren't.

The challenge in them was impossible to miss.

Claire looked down.

On Jovie's outstretched hand was the wedding band that had once been hers.

She'd thought nothing could hurt anymore.

Then she saw the engraving.

It had been changed from [E&C] to [E&J].

A sharp pain still cut through her chest.

The silence made Elliot frown.

Thinking Claire was about to make another scene, he instinctively pulled Jovie behind him.

He was just about to defend her when Claire reached up, slipped off the necklace, and placed it in Jovie's hand.

She met Elliot's surprised gaze and almost laughed.

"Congratulations on your wedding.

"If there's anything else you want, just ask Martha for it.

"I don't have time for this."