Chapter 3

"Natalie, are you going to apologize or not?"

Derek seemed to have run out of patience. He looked at me coldly.

I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood.

"I'll say it one more time. I didn't push her, and I'm not apologizing."

Crystal scoffed and turned toward the door.

"Fine. I'm leaving. I'm done with school."

"Crystal!"

The shout left my mouth before I could stop it.

Less than a hundred days until the SATs. How could she gamble with her own future like this?

Derek grabbed Crystal's arm and turned on me with a roar.

"Natalie, are you determined to ruin your daughter's future?

"Over a stupid bottle of perfume, you're willing to sacrifice her SATs?"

Candy dabbed at her eyes with a performance worthy of an award.

"Derek, Crystal, stop fighting. It's all my fault.

"She doesn't like me. I'll leave. Please don't let me come between you."

She made a move toward the door, but Derek caught her and held on tight.

"Candy, don't go. You're not the one who should be leaving today."

Derek turned to me, his gaze dark and menacing.

"Natalie, if you can't stand having Candy here, then get out."

I froze.

"You're telling me to leave?"

"That's right. Get out and cool off. Come back when you've come to your senses."

Crystal backed him up.

"Exactly, Mom. You're terrifying right now, acting like some kind of lunatic.

"Go stay somewhere else for a few days. You're ruining my study time."

I looked at the two people closest to me in this world, and the cold that had been building inside me swallowed me whole.

Without a word, I walked into the bedroom and packed a few things.

On my way through the living room, I caught Candy sitting on the couch, watching me with a smirk.

"Bye-bye, lady. Don't let the door hit you."

I didn't acknowledge her. I walked straight out.

Out on the street, the cold wind hit me, and it dawned on me that I had nowhere to go.

I checked into a cheap motel, my mind a complete mess.

The next morning, I went to the bank.

I had to find out exactly how much money Derek had spent on that woman.

When the teller handed me the transaction history, I felt the ground drop out from under me.

He'd actually cashed out our $150,000 certificate of deposit early!

Every last dollar had been transferred to an account under the name "Candy Shaw."

I dialed Derek's number like a woman possessed.

"Derek, where is the $150,000 from our savings? What did you do with the money?"

On the other end, Derek sounded perfectly calm.

"I invested it."

"Invested it? You gave it to Candy? Have you lost your mind?"

"Natalie, stop with the hysterics.

"Candy knows someone with a great business opportunity. We put the money in, and it'll double in a few months.

"What would a housewife like you know? Don't mess this up for me."

I was trembling with fury.

"Get that money back now! That's Crystal's college fund!"

Candy's voice suddenly came through the phone.

"Oh, relax, lady. Don't be so stingy.

"Derek is doing this for the family. Once it doubles, you think Crystal won't have tuition money?

"Besides, Derek is a shareholder in my company now. The money's already invested. You can't just take it back."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Derek, you went behind my back and started a company with her?"

Derek cut me off, irritated.

"Enough. Stop nagging. I'm busy.

"You'd better behave and stay out of my way."

The line went dead.

I slumped into a chair at the bank, feeling like the whole world was spinning.

What was happening? Had Derek actually lost his mind?