Chapter 1

Cecily Monroe awkwardly pulled her hand back. She clutched the takeout bag and muttered under her breath.

"The day you were released, I went to the prison to pick you up. The guard said you'd already left. Did you really not want to see me that badly?"

She was going to stand there and play the victim. It made me scoff.

That day, I stood in the rain like a fool for eight hours.

The officer handling my release had gotten bored waiting alongside me and started scrolling through short reels on his phone. He clicked his tongue and held the screen up to my face, his voice thick with envy.

"Look at this. It's the CEO of Monroe Group with her whole family. Must be nice."

In the video, Cecily was holding Adrian Burke's arm, her smile warm and content. An adorable little girl stood beside them, tilting her chin up at the camera with a playful pout. The backdrop was the largest airport in Stonebridge.

The officer was still marveling.

"Just got back from the Meridian Islands, too. You'd better get your act together, kid, and start working toward the good life. A wife, kids, the whole nine yards."

Cold rain hit my eyes, mixing with something salty and bitter. If not for what happened, I might have had that kind of happiness too.

Before I could respond, a little girl's whiny voice drifted out from inside the room.

"Mommy, is the food here yet? Daddy and I are starving!"

She threw her arms around Cecily's leg and tilted her head to peer at me. The last time I had seen her, she could not stand the sight of me. Now, at 10 years old, Ruby Nash actually smiled and said thank you.

Adrian walked over and casually ruffled Ruby's hair. He was about to close the door when he recognized me.

"Vincent? What are you..." He trailed off, his mocking gaze settling on my clothes, faded from too many washes. "Life in Bayshore must be rough. You should've said something sooner. I could've at least helped you out with some new clothes."

Cecily took Ruby's hand and gently pushed her toward me. "Ruby, say hi to your dad."

Ruby ducked behind Adrian and shouted back. "He's my real daddy! That man is bad!"

Satisfaction flickered through Adrian's eyes. He put on a disapproving look and shook his head. "Vincent, this kid's been spoiled rotten by me. Don't take it personally. Besides, it's been years. Can you really blame her for not recognizing you?"

I had heard worse. Adrian's little performance was not going to get to me.

My silence made him switch tactics. He put on a wounded expression instead.

"Vincent, are you mad that I took your place? Three years ago, you walked out on your wife and daughter without a word. I just stepped in to take care of them..."

I cut him off, my voice flat, "Does that have anything to do with me? You could have another kid together for all I care."

Adrian's expression froze. He looked to Cecily for help. Whatever guilt she had felt toward me curdled into anger the moment he looked wounded.

"Vincent Nash, what happened back then was my doing. I'm the one who put you in prison. If you have a problem, take it up with me."

In the first few months behind bars, I had wished her dead. I could not understand how a woman who swore she loved me could be the one to put me there.

Later, I found myself pathetically hoping she would come see me, just once, even if it was only through the glass, just to hear her say she would wait.

I marked the days on the wall in red tallies until every inch was covered, until my sentence was served.

She never came, not once.

A bitter smile pulled at my lips. "There's no point bringing up the past."