Chapter 2

I turned and walked away without looking back.

Lucas tried to follow me.

Then Brielle coughed once.

His footsteps stopped.

I laughed at myself.

Whatever last bit of hope I'd carried finally disappeared.

At the airport, I closed the map on my phone and let out a long breath.

Mom called almost immediately.

"Sweetheart, how was the trip with Lucas?

"When are you coming home?

"Mrs. Kelly next door was asking again. She says she can't wait for the wedding..."

"Mom."

My voice went quiet.

"There isn't going to be a wedding.

"Lucas and I broke up."

Mom went silent.

When she spoke again, I could hear the emotion in her voice.

"Okay.

"That's okay.

"You just come home safe.

"I'll make you something good when you get here."

My eyes stung.

I bit my lip.

After the call ended, I put my head down on my knees and cried.

My heart had no visible wound.

It still felt like it was dying.

Once the first crack appeared, every emotion I'd been holding back came spilling out.

I changed my phone wallpaper, then opened my photos—three years of pictures with Lucas—and hit Delete All.

At the beginning, he used to get jealous if a male coworker spoke to me too long.

He picked me up after work every day.

He insisted our couple photo be my lock screen.

He never forgot a birthday or anniversary.

Everyone told me I'd never find another man who treated me that well.

I believed them.

He'd fought with his parents over me, lost friends defending me, and held my hand in public as if letting go for even a second would mean losing me.

"Nora, you're as adorable as a little kid.

"I've got to watch you carefully.

"If you ever get lost, I'll never forgive myself."

Three years later, he and Brielle abandoned me in the mountains without a phone.

Apparently devotion could evaporate that quickly.

When my flight landed, I went straight to the sales office for the apartment I'd been planning to buy.

My income was stable.

I received an annual bonus.

In fact, I'd wanted a place that belonged only to me before Lucas and I ever started talking about marriage.

Later, he suggested it could become our marital home.

That was the only reason his family had finally stopped objecting to me.

Now that we were over, the apartment was still something I'd chosen for myself.

I gave the salesperson my card for the down payment. Declined. She tried again. Declined.

The woman who'd been smiling at me five minutes earlier looked annoyed.

"If you can't afford it, don't waste our time.

"We have other customers."

"There has to be a mistake."

Then I remembered.

Lucas and Brielle had kept my phone for hours.

My bank account was linked to it.

My hands started shaking as I called Lucas.

He answered quickly.

"Where did the money in my account go?"

He laughed.

"Looks like Brielle was right.

"Ignore you long enough and you come running back.

"So?

"Ready to admit you overreacted?"

I gripped the phone.

"I'm asking one last time.

"Did you transfer money out of my account?"

His voice became impatient.

"Nora, you called me over money?

"I used some yesterday.

"I bought Brielle a bag."

The world went black.

I nearly fell, and my heart pounded like it was about to burst out of my chest.

That luxury shopping bag.

Her little thank-you.

Now I understood.

My whole body shook.

Everything blurred.

"Lucas, what gave you the right?

"That was my down payment."

He sounded completely unconcerned.

"Why are you separating yours and mine like we're strangers?

"I did it for you anyway.

"Brielle was furious yesterday. If I hadn't calmed her down, do you think she'd have forgiven you that quickly?

"She's your best friend, not mine.

"I'm helping you and you're blaming me?

"When did you become this unreasonable?"

"Lucas—"

He hung up.

I stood frozen outside the sales office, cold all the way through.

Then I called a car and went straight to the police.

"I need to report an unauthorized transfer from my account."