Chapter 2

It took me all night to pack my things.

The house that had felt lived-in was half-empty by the time I finished.

Six years of marriage, and a few hours to erase myself from the place.

I don't hate Sebastian as much as you'd expect.

The marriage was a mistake from the first day.

Back then, both the Grant and Ashford families were in trouble.

The Ashford company's cash flow had dried up, and it needed capital from the Grant family.

And the Grant family was caught in a business scandal and could only repair its reputation with the Ashford name.

The elders of both families immediately agreed that we should marry.

Nobody asked whether I wanted it.

And nobody asked him either.

He didn't dare defy his family, so he took all his anger and resentment out on me.

On our wedding night, he didn't touch me once.

In the middle of the night, he stood at the window and looked at me without a trace of warmth in his eyes.

"Vivian, are you satisfied?"

I didn't understand. My fingers tightened around the fabric of my wedding dress.

"What... do you mean?"

He took a drink of liquor, looking pained.

"If it weren't for you, Cara would never have left. She wouldn't have been forced abroad.

"This marriage was a mistake from the start!

"Don't think being Mrs. Grant will win you my heart.

"I will never love you as long as I live, and I will never touch you.

"Keep to yourself. Don't get any ideas about taking Cara's place."

Then he moved into the room next door.

And I cried in that bedroom until dawn.

I told myself he was only venting his anger at having his marriage arranged by his family.

He meant every word of it.

I had a 104-degree fever and was barely conscious.

The housekeepers called him more than a dozen times and sent him message after message. He answered none of them.

By the time they got me to the hospital, I'd learned that he was at a private party with Cara.

My father had a heart attack and needed Sebastian to coordinate with the doctors.

He wasn't busy. He still didn't come. He said something had come up.

Cara's dog had been hurt that day.

Another time, I was in a car accident late at night and needed seven stitches in my arm.

He reached the hospital just as Cara called.

When the call ended, he didn't ask once how badly I was hurt. He only said, "Cara's alone and she's frightened. I have to go."

In all those years, he never once did what a husband should.

And I kept making excuses for him.

He's working too hard.

He hasn't gotten used to this marriage yet.

His heart belongs to someone else. That's why he can't accept me.

I even believed that if I kept treating him well, time would change everything.

I understand now. Time can't make a man who doesn't love you return your feelings.

All it does is show you how ridiculous you have been.

At first light, the housekeepers watched as I stacked my suitcases.

They looked at the half-empty living room, unable to hide their pity.

They've been with me for six years. They know exactly what my life has been like.

One of the younger housekeepers hesitated for a long time before coming over to me.

"Mrs. Grant, are you... going away?"

I looked at the brightening sky outside and shook my head.

"No.

"I'm leaving."

She froze where she stood.

I didn't explain. I turned toward the door.

And then a car pulled up outside.

Sebastian was back.