Chapter 2

I zipped the suitcase shut and turned around. When I saw the smug look on Liam's face, I couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"Don't flatter yourself," I said.

I grabbed the suitcase, took aim at his face, and swung it at him with all my strength. It slammed into him hard, making him shout in pain and fall straight onto his ass.

"I'm not that stupid." I pointed at the front door. "Don't forget whose name is on the deed—it's mine. You're the one who needs to get the hell out. Take your crap and get out of my house, now!"

Liam stared at me, his eyes wide with disbelief, as if he were looking at a monster. "Are you nuts, Erica? I paid half the down payment on this place! What gives you the right to kick me out?"

"What gives me the right?" I stared him down, my eyes frosty. "Because you're the one who cheated. You don't get to negotiate with me."

I pulled out my phone and waved it in front of him. "Take a good look. I've been recording ever since I walked through the front door. All that disgusting crap you and Mia did on the couch is right here."

The color drained from his face in an instant. He panicked and lunged for my phone.

I dodged easily and slapped him again. "Don't touch me. You're filthy. If you don't want your life ruined, you'd better grab that bitch and get out of my sight."

Liam pressed a hand to his cheek and glared at me. His eyes were full of fear and the bitter resentment that came with being helpless.

"You're heartless, Erica. You're selfish and vile to the core!" He forced the words out through gritted teeth.

Heartless, huh? Selfish?

He could call me whatever he wanted. As long as I felt good, why would I care if someone else went down in flames?

That was just how I'd always been.

I'd always known exactly what I wanted since I was a kid. I'd never been the kind of "good girl" who swallowed her anger and played nice. I only considered things from my perspective.

Once, back in elementary school, my family was sharing out some fruit. Mom had deliberately picked the biggest slice and given it to my sister, Esther Lodge. Her excuse was half-assed at best—something about Esther being weak.

I hadn't cried or thrown a tantrum. I'd just walked over, picked up the entire fruit plate, and dumped everything straight into the trash.

If I couldn't have something, then no one would.

Mom had gone ballistic. She'd jabbed a finger at me and called me an imbecile.

I'd just looked at her coldly and shot back, "If you wanna play favorites, that's your business. Whether or not I cooperate is mine."

Later, Dad had dragged me out to the balcony for a lecture. He'd puffed himself up and tried to brainwash me with all that crap about how I had to learn to take a loss once in a while. He went all in on guilt-tripping me.

I'd shot down every line he tried, one after another. I hadn't bought a single word of his nonsense.

And from that point on, I'd understood something—other people had the right to decide how they treated me, and I had the exact same right to decide how I treated them. If someone treated me like crap, I would make sure to return the favor.

When I got older, this side of me only became more extreme.

If a friend borrowed money and didn't pay it back, I never hinted or danced around it. I showed up at their door to collect.

If a coworker tried to snatch credit for my work in front of the boss, I called them out on the spot in the conference room and called them out to their face.

If some relative tried to shut me down with that nonsense about how they meant well, I never backed off just because they were older. If they crossed the line, I cussed them out.

My whole philosophy was simple—I wouldn't let anything make me spiral. If I had a grudge, I settled it immediately.

So when it came to picking a boyfriend, my goal had been crystal clear. I looked specifically for someone gentle, easygoing, and endlessly tolerant of me.

Liam had ticked every box.

He really did have a great temper, and he'd always liked trailing after me since we were kids. I'd thought he would always stay that way, always going along with whatever I wanted. I never imagined that deep down, he was an ungrateful snake who dared to hook up with my best friend.

Still, at least we hadn't gotten married yet. It wasn't too late to cut my losses.