Chapter 3

By the time I got home, the blood on my legs had dried against my skin.

I didn't turn on the lights. I just sank into the couch, my last ounce of strength gone.

I'd decorated every inch of this home myself. Every piece of furniture, the color of the walls, even the potted plants.

Back when we lived in that rental, my birthday wish every year was for a home of our own.

But now, this place felt no different from a cage.

The living room lights suddenly came on. I opened my aching eyes and saw Rhett walk in.

He ignored me lying on the couch and headed straight for the kitchen.

Soon, the smell of food drifted over to me, and my empty stomach churned.

He came out carrying a dish, and only then did he notice how pale I was.

Rhett looked a little surprised. "When did you get back?

"So, are you done being mad now?"

I didn't answer. My eyes landed on the sticky-sweet honey-glazed ribs in his hands.

In all the years I'd known him, he'd never once cooked a meal.

Even when I was on my period, in so much pain I couldn't get out of bed, and begged him to make me a cup of hot tea, he'd just shake his head. "Isn't that what the housekeeper's for?"

Before I could say anything, Rhett explained.

"Noah's been begging for these.

"Take some time to cool off. I'll be back after I drop off dinner."

I pressed a hand to my throbbing temple and laughed. "So you can't even be bothered to pretend in front of me anymore?

"Should I pack my things tomorrow and make room for the two of them?"

Rhett kept packing up the food without even looking up.

"Don't be so dramatic."

Before I could respond, the fingerprint lock beeped. Colette let herself in like she'd done it a hundred times and set her bag down on the cabinet I'd spent ages hunting down at vintage markets.

The boy trailed in behind her.

"Dad!"

He came bouncing in and plopped down in the hanging chair I'd picked out.

Clearly, this wasn't the first time they'd been in my home. They'd come while I was busy at work, while I was visiting family back home, even while I was sick in the hospital.

Suddenly my stomach churned so badly I wanted to throw up.

"Housekeeper, why haven't you left yet?"

He looked completely puzzled, staring at me as if I were a pile of trash that didn't belong there.

"Noah, don't be rude."

Colette scolded him half-heartedly, then turned to me.

"We're here to look at the place today. We're moving in next week."

Then she covered her mouth, looking surprised. "Rhett didn't tell you?"

Rhett lowered his head, as if he couldn't quite bring himself to look at me.

"Talia, we can always buy another place. Noah's starting school, and he needs to be in a good school district.

"I'll buy you something else. Or I'll bring in another seven hundred and fifty thousand for your studio."

Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

That wasn't even a year of Colette's living expenses.

I looked at Rhett, the man I'd loved with my whole heart for seven years, and he felt like a total stranger.

He'd bought me this place with the first real money he made from his startup.

I remembered the day we got the keys. He'd been crying as he held my hand, but he was smiling too.

"Talia, we finally have a home. I can finally marry you."

But now, with the wedding just around the corner, he wanted to hand our home over to another woman and make me give it up without a fight.

"Fine."

I took out my phone and ran some numbers.

"I'm going to have building management pull the security footage right now. However many times Colette has been here over the years, that's how many times she pays me rent."

Colette's jaw dropped.

"Got a problem with that?"

I raised a brow and spelled it out slowly. "First, the deed's in my name. I'm the owner here.

"Second, can you swear you've never been here before?"