Proposal

Lia didn't go back to Isla's apartment that night.

She drove around Silvercrest for hours, windows down, letting the cold air sting her face. Trying to feel something other than numb. Other than broken.

By the time she pulled back into the driveway of Ravencourt Estate, it was past midnight. Julian's car was gone. Of course it was. Probably back at Vanessa's place, or whoever else he was fucking this week.

She let herself into the dark, empty house and went straight to the guest bedroom. Couldn't sleep in that bed. Not after what she'd seen. The sheets were probably still warm from their bodies.

Her stomach lurched and she barely made it to the bathroom before she threw up.

When there was nothing left, she sat on the cold tile floor and cried until her eyes burned.

Morning came too fast. Weak sunlight filtered through the curtains. Her phone showed seven missed calls from Margaret and three from Julian. She deleted them all without listening.

She showered, dressed in jeans and a sweater. Real clothes. Not the designer prison uniform Margaret insisted she wear. If her marriage was over, she was done playing dress-up.

By nine, she was in her car heading to The Daily Grind. The only place that felt safe anymore.

Isla took one look at her face and immediately flipped the sign to "Closed for 15 minutes." She dragged Lia to the back corner table and shoved a latte into her hands.

"Talk. Now. What the hell happened after you left here yesterday?"

"I caught him." The words came out flat. Dead. "Julian. In our bed. With his secretary."

"Oh my God." Isla's face went pale, then red with fury. "That motherfucker. Lia, I'm so sorry."

"It gets better." Lia laughed, but it sounded hysterical even to her own ears. "He said it wasn't a big deal. That I was overreacting. That I drove him to cheat because I'm boring."

"I'm going to kill him. I'm actually going to murder your husband."

"Margaret knew. She called right after he left and told me successful men have needs. That I should have been more attentive." Lia's hands shook around the cup. "They all knew, Isla. His whole family. They knew and they didn't care."

"Jesus Christ." Isla grabbed her hand across the table. "You're leaving him. Right now. Today. You're packing your shit and you're leaving."

"I can't. The prenup. I'd have nothing. No money, no job, nowhere to go."

"You have me. You can stay with me as long as you need."

"And when the Whitmores come after you? When Margaret destroys your business because you helped me? I can't do that to you."

Isla's jaw set. "Let her try. I'm not scared of that cold bitch."

They sat in silence, the reality of Lia's situation settling over them like a weight.

"There has to be another way," Isla said finally. "Some way to fight back. To make him pay for what he's done."

Before Lia could answer, her phone buzzed. Julian.

**Julian:** Where are you? We need to talk.

Her stomach twisted. "He wants to talk."

"About what? His amazing ability to be a piece of shit?"

"I don't know. But I should probably go find out."

"Lia, no. You don't owe him anything."

"I know. But if I don't go back, it'll just be worse." She stood, legs shaky. "I'll text you later, okay?"

"If he touches you, you call the cops. I mean it."

Lia drove home with dread pooling in her gut. Whatever Julian wanted to say, it wasn't going to be good.

She found him in the living room, showered and dressed in fresh clothes. Like last night never happened. Like he hadn't destroyed their marriage in their own bed.

He was pouring whiskey. At ten in the morning. That was new.

"You wanted to talk?" Lia stayed in the doorway, not willing to get closer.

Julian turned, and his expression was cold. Businesslike. "Sit down."

"I'll stand."

"This is going to be a long conversation. Sit."

She perched on the edge of the couch, every muscle tense. Ready to run if she needed to.

Julian took a long drink before speaking. "I've been thinking about last night. About our situation."

"Our situation." Her voice was flat. "You mean the fact that you're a cheating bastard?"

"Don't be dramatic." He waved a hand dismissively. "We both know this marriage has been dead for years."

The casual cruelty of it took her breath away.

"So what?" she asked. "You want a divorce? Fine. Let's do it."

"No. Divorce would be messy. Expensive. Our families would lose their minds and there'd be a scandal." He set down his glass. "I have a better solution."

Dread crawled up her spine. "What solution?"

"An open marriage."

The words hung in the air between them.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Lia's voice rose.

"Exactly what it sounds like. We stay married. Keep up appearances for society and our families. But we're both free to see other people. No lying, no sneaking around. Just freedom to do what we want."

She stared at him, unable to process what she was hearing. "You're asking me to give you permission to keep cheating?"

"I'm asking us both to be honest about what this marriage really is. A business arrangement. A social contract. Not a love story."

"We took vows, Julian. In front of God and everyone we know."

"And those vows were a mistake." His voice was harsh now. "We were too young. We didn't know what we wanted. But we're stuck with each other because of the prenup and our families and a million other reasons. So why keep pretending? Why not at least be honest?"

Lia's mind raced. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real.

"You think I'm just going to say yes to this? After everything you've done?"

"I think you're smart enough to see that it's the best option for both of us." He refilled his glass. "You get to stay in this house, keep your lifestyle, keep the Whitmore name. And if you want to see other people, you can. No judgment from me."

"How generous." The sarcasm dripped from every word.

"I'm trying to be fair here, Lia. More fair than I have to be. The prenup means I could divorce you tomorrow and you'd walk away with almost nothing. This way, you keep everything."

"Except my dignity. Except my self-respect."

Julian shrugged. "That's your choice. But let me be clear about something. This is happening whether you agree or not. I'm going to keep seeing other people. The only question is whether we do it honestly or if I keep lying to you."

The ultimatum was delivered so casually. So cold. Like he was discussing a business deal instead of destroying what was left of their marriage.

"And if I say no?" Lia asked quietly. "If I file for divorce anyway?"

"Then you get nothing. No money, no house, no car. You'd be broke and unemployed with no work experience. Is that really what you want? To throw away your entire life out of pride?"

He was right. God help her, he was right. The prenup was ironclad. Margaret had made sure of it. If she left Julian, she'd have nothing.

"I need time to think," she managed.

"Take all the time you need. But Lia?" His voice turned sharp. "Don't make the mistake of thinking you have any real power here. You don't. This marriage works on my terms or it doesn't work at all."

She stood on shaking legs. "I'm going out."

"Where?"

"Does it matter? You don't actually care."

She grabbed her purse and left before he could respond. Got in her car and drove with no destination in mind, tears streaming down her face.

Her phone rang. Isla.

"How bad was it?" her friend asked as soon as she answered.

"Worse than I thought possible." Lia pulled over, unable to see through her tears. "He wants an open marriage. Said I can see other people too if I want. Like that makes it okay. Like that makes up for five years of lying and cheating."

"That absolute fucking bastard."

"He said it's happening whether I agree or not. That the prenup means I have no choice." A sob caught in her throat. "Isla, what do I do? I'm trapped. Completely trapped."

"No, you're not. There's always a choice."

"What choice? Stay and let him humiliate me? Or leave and lose everything?"

Silence on the other end. Then Isla's voice, quiet but intense. "Or you call his bluff."

"What?"

"He wants an open marriage? Fine. Give him one. But on your terms. Not his."

"I don't understand."

"He thinks you'll just sit at home crying while he fucks whoever he wants. Prove him wrong. Go out. See someone. Show him you're not his doormat anymore."

The idea was insane. Impossible. Lia had never cheated on anyone in her life. Had never even thought about it.

But then again, she'd never thought Julian would do what he did either.

"I wouldn't even know how," she said weakly.

"That's what I'm here for." Isla's voice turned fierce. "If you're really doing this, if you're really going to fight back, then let's do it right. Let me help you."

Lia sat in her parked car, watching people walk by living their normal lives, and felt something shift inside her.

Julian wanted an open marriage? Wanted the freedom to do whatever he wanted?

Fine.

But two could play that game.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd finally learn to play dirty.

"Okay," she heard herself say. "What do I need to do?"