THE KISS OF VENGEANCE

I had just put down the remote when my husband, Christian Falkner, walked into the bedroom. He picked it up and smiled.

"Why did you turn off the TV? You love watching the local news."

He turned the TV back on. On the screen was footage of him hugging Sheryl Jensen outside a hotel.

The host said excitedly, "Christian Falkner, the Falkner family's heir, and Sheryl Jensen, daughter of the Jensen family, were spotted together at a hotel.

"Photos of the two embracing have quickly become the talk of the town.

"As they're from two of the country's most powerful business families, a union between them could undoubtedly make headlines across the business world."

With a sharp click, Christian turned off the TV. His face darkened as he pulled off his tie.

"The media is just making things up," he said. "The Jensen family held a business party last night. Sheryl drank on my behalf and got a little tipsy, so I took her to the hotel to rest."

For once, he actually set aside his pride and patiently explained himself to me.

I kept my head down as I organized the clothes in the closet and calmly said, "I see."

My reaction surprised Christian, and a confused look crossed his face.

"Viola, aren't you upset?" he asked. "Why are you being so understanding?"

I hadn't always been this way.

In the past, if Christian spoke more than a few words to his female secretary, I would question him about it for hours.

If he came home late from a party, I would call him again and again to make sure he wasn't with another woman.

I became even more out of control after Sheryl showed up.

I fought with him over her countless times and lost my composure in front of other people.

But after we divorced and remarried, I seemed to stop caring about anything.

Christian grabbed my hand and looked at me with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Viola, what are you upset about now?" he asked. "How many times do I have to tell you? Sheryl and I have to work together because our families are business partners.

"We have several major projects together, and we have to maintain a working relationship.

"Don't you dare use that as an excuse to bring up divorce again!"

His final words were unmistakably threatening.

I knew exactly what he meant, and my fingers tightened around the clothes in my hand.

"Don't worry. I won't bring up divorce again," I said.

Christian's expression softened, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Good. It looks like you've learned your lesson after what happened," he said. "As a reward, I spent a fortune to win a priceless diamond necklace from a royal collection at auction.

"It'll be your birthday present tomorrow."

I said nothing more, as if I had accepted his gesture.

I wasn't going to bring up divorce again because I knew Christian would never agree. Instead, I had chosen to give up my Seronian residency and leave the country for good.

I checked the time and saw that my flight was coming up soon, so I made up an excuse and got ready to leave.

"I have a personal appointment, so I'll be heading out now," I said.

I turned to take my handbag from the drawer, but Christian snatched it from me.

When he saw the documents inside, his expression suddenly darkened. "What kind of appointment requires you to bring documents? Who are you going to see this early in the morning?

I hadn't expected him to search my handbag. My heart pounded in my chest.

If he flipped through the documents, he would find a name he didn't know.

It was the new identity I was going to assume at Evinor after giving up my old one. If Christian found out…

Just as Christian reached for my documents, his phone rang. It sounded like the ringtone he had set for Sheryl.

A hint of guilt flashed in his eyes.

He let go, and the handbag fell onto the bed. My documents were scattered all over the place.

"It's Ms. Jensen. I have to take this," he said.

He stopped questioning me and left the room to answer the call.

I let out a huge sigh of relief and quickly stuffed the documents back into my handbag.

Just as I zipped it shut, I heard Christian's voice from the doorway. "Come home early. The diamond necklace will arrive tonight. I promised I would give you the best. Happy Birthday."

I gripped my handbag tightly.

Last year, I had told Christian many times that I wanted a blue diamond brooch that had appeared at an auction.

It looked a lot like the one Mom wore when she was young.

I told Christian that I would be elated if I ever received it. But on my birthday, I saw the brooch featured on the news at Sheryl's private jewelry show.

She told reporters, "Christian knew I liked it, so he won it at auction for me."

Now, hearing his promise, I felt nothing.

I said quietly, "You should take the call. Don't keep Sheryl waiting."

Sheryl hated waiting, and so did I.

This time, I wouldn't stay behind and wait for him.

As for my birthday, he wouldn't be part of it ever again.