Chapter 2

The car pulled up smoothly outside the familiar luxury apartment building overlooking the river.

This was the home Claire and Adrian had bought together after years of hard work, back when they'd started with nothing.

During their year-long divorce battle, Claire had been living in a hotel.

She hadn't wanted to come back.

She hadn't dared to.

But today, she'd finally found the courage to return to a home that no longer felt like the one she remembered.

Her fingers entered the door code she'd memorized long ago.

The door opened to a cold, empty silence.

Claire stood in the entryway.

Every trace of Adrian was gone.

His favorite black suits were missing. So were the watches he'd casually leave lying around and the white tea diffuser he always used.

The spacious apartment now held only her belongings.

Her assistant had already told her what happened.

Six months earlier, Adrian had moved all his personal possessions into the apartment he shared with Lillian.

Claire slowly made her way into the living room.

The fabric sofa was still there.

They'd bought it together during their first year after graduation, saving up for months before they could afford it.

She remembered one late autumn when she'd taken on a rush design project and worked for three days and nights straight.

Her eyes had been bloodshot, and she'd been so exhausted she could barely move.

She'd collapsed onto that sofa and curled up in Adrian's arms, whining playfully.

“I'm so tired. I don't want to draw another design.”

Adrian had held her close, gently massaging her aching shoulders and back.

“You've worked so hard, Claire. If you don't want to do it anymore, then don't. I'll take care of you.”

Claire rubbed her eyes and slowly walked toward the balcony overlooking the river.

Their wicker loveseat was still in its usual spot, swaying gently in the breeze.

She sat down.

They'd spent countless evenings there together, enjoying the cool breeze.

Adrian would wash a bowl of fresh strawberries and feed them to her one by one.

She'd lean against his shoulder, watching the lights come on in the buildings below.

“Adrian, do you think we'll always be like this?”

He'd kiss the top of her head without hesitation.

“Of course. For the rest of our lives.”

The rest of our lives.

Apparently, forever had been too much to ask.

The love he'd once reserved just for her had lasted only a few short years.

Claire stood and walked into the kitchen.

Back when they'd first started their business and money was tight, Adrian had never cooked a day in his life.

But for her, he'd learned how to cook.

The first time he tried making rice pudding, he burned the bottom of the pot, leaving the whole batch with a bitter, scorched taste.

He stood there awkwardly, holding out a bowl, his ears turning red.

“It's awful, isn't it? I'll do better next time. Will you try it again?”

She'd smiled and swallowed the bitter pudding anyway, nodding enthusiastically and insisting it was delicious.

In the master bedroom, the bedding had been replaced with a brand-new set.

Claire remembered all those nights she'd worked on designs in bed until she fell asleep over her sketches.

Adrian would return late from business dinners, exhausted himself.

But no matter how tired he was, he'd always enter the room quietly and carefully pull the covers over her, afraid of waking her.

Then he'd lean close to her ear and whisper,

“Just hang in there a little longer, Claire. Once I've established myself, I'll make sure you never have to worry about anything again.”

He'd kept his promise to become successful.

But somewhere along the way, he'd stopped wanting her beside him.

Finally, Claire entered the bathroom.

The double vanity now held only her toiletries.

Once, their mornings had been the happiest, most carefree part of their day.

They'd squeeze together in front of the little mirror to brush their teeth and get ready.

Adrian had loved teasing her.

He'd dab a little toothpaste foam onto the tip of her nose, then laugh warmly as she glared at him and chased him around the bathroom.

Claire stood motionless, her chest aching.

Then she turned and headed toward the study at the far end of the apartment.

She gently pushed the door open.

The sight before her made her freeze.

The floor was a complete mess.

Hundreds of yellowing slips of paper lay scattered everywhere.

They were the Make-Up Coupons she'd written out by hand years ago.

An entire box of them.

More than a hundred.

Back when they were dating, they'd made a promise.

No matter how badly they argued or how long they gave each other the silent treatment, either of them could pull out one of those coupons.

And once they did, they had to put the argument behind them, forgive each other, and make up.

No more holding grudges.

No more silent treatment.

A year ago, when Claire discovered Adrian's affair with Lillian, she'd completely fallen apart.

She'd been devastated, hysterical, and desperate.

She couldn't believe that ten years of love could disappear overnight.

Clutching the entire box of coupons, she'd begged him through her tears.

“Adrian, can we use one? Just one? Can we please make up?”

But he'd merely looked down at her, his expression cold.

Then he'd knocked the box from her arms.

The coupons had scattered through the air before falling all over the floor.

He hadn't shown the slightest hint of sympathy.

“Claire, things we wrote when we were in love don't mean anything once that love is gone. They're worthless now. Why would you expect me to honor them?”

Claire lowered her eyes, her long lashes concealing the pain beneath them.

She gently closed the study door.

Just then, her phone rang, breaking the heavy silence.

She took a deep breath and forced down the emotions threatening to overwhelm her before answering calmly.

On the other end was the florist, speaking in a warm, polite voice.

“Miss Bennett, sorry to bother you. I just wanted to check whether you'd like us to deliver the flowers to the cemetery tomorrow, as we have in previous years.”