Chapter 2

I booked a flight overseas. It was scheduled for the next three days.

I still had plenty of money left from borrowing against the only thing my father had left me. It was enough to buy my mother a plot in a good cemetery and support myself while I started over abroad.

I dug out the plans for studying abroad that I had shelved five years earlier.

I brushed off the dust.

The notes were in my mother’s handwriting.

After my father died, she would often tell me, “We have to keep going.”

She was gone, too.

I tried to comfort myself with the same words.

Too afraid to fall asleep, I remained awake all night.

I was afraid I would dream of her yelling at me again. Though the thought of not dreaming of her was just as frightening. What if she was still so angry with me that she refused to see me, even in my dreams?

So, I packed through the night until everything was ready to go.

Around nine, a commotion broke out downstairs. I stayed out of it. It was Neal’s house, after all. Besides, I had an appointment to look at burial plots that morning.

Most of my things were packed. I was about to take my suitcase downstairs when a sweet, breathy voice came from behind me. “Erica, you’re packed already!”

I turned around. It was Mimi.

She held up her left hand to flash the diamond ring on her ring finger. Her pretty face wore a smug smile as she showed it off.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, but Neal proposed last night. He wants to get married as soon as possible, so I wasted no time moving in.

“Some women spend five years engaged and still never get to call themselves Mrs. Beckett.

“I’ve only known Neal a few months, and he already wants to marry me. I’m not about to let him get away. So, thanks for stepping aside.”

I glanced at her, then looked away.

There were no pleasantries to exchange, no words. I hated Mimi too much for all of that. I just took my suitcase and started to leave.

Girls her age never knew when to quit.

My indifference did not give her the satisfaction she wanted.

She stepped in front of me.

“Erica, isn’t this ring gorgeous? It cost twenty million! Even when his company was about to go under, Neal never considered selling it.

“I had no idea he loved me this much. You have to come to the wedding! I’ll save you a seat at the head table.”

I glanced at the ring on Mimi’s finger.

Funny. It was the very ring I had kicked aside the night before.

I almost told her that keeping the ring had nothing to do with love. Diamonds were simply not that easy to turn into cash.

For a man like Neal, love barely mattered.

He said he loved me, but I was never more than his girlfriend. He said he needed variety and excitement, so he kept finding women like Mimi to kiss and sleep with.

The only person he ever loved was himself.

“Sure. Just send me an invitation.”

My indifference made Mimi look like a fool.

She grew livid.

She grabbed the handle of my suitcase.

“Wait! How do I know you haven’t stuffed that suitcase with valuables from this house? I’m about to become Mrs. Beckett. I’m not letting you steal from me and get away with it. Open that suitcase. I want to see what’s inside!”

I was not going to indulge her tantrum.

I pulled her hand away and tried to leave.

While we were struggling over the suitcase, Neal came home.

I was surprised to see him. He should have been at the office for his morning meeting.

He took one look at us and instinctively pulled Mimi behind him. Then, he asked irritably, “Are you picking a fight with Mimi?”

He looked at me as though I was a threat. I felt utterly drained.

“She wants to search my suitcase.”

Mimi tugged at Neal’s jacket and explained, “Neal, I just wanted to make sure Erica wasn’t sneaking a key out in her suitcase.

“This is going to be our home once we’re married. I don’t want someone who can’t take a hint showing up uninvited. Is that really too much to ask?”

Her voice was soft and sugary sweet.

Neal gave in and turned on me instead.

“Erica, open the suitcase.”

I frowned and shook my head in disbelief.

“Neal, the front door has a fingerprint lock. You’ve never even given me a key. I know you want to protect your precious fiancee, but at least be reasonable.

“We’re over. The least you can do is let me walk away with my dignity.”

I did not know which part of that had set him off.

His face hardened.

He called for the butler and the household staff. The threat in his voice was unmistakable.

“Just cooperate. We’re just keeping Mimi happy. Your dignity isn’t worth anything to me. Open it yourself. Don’t make me get rough.”