The Day I Stopped Hiding

Nathan Harrison stepped into the bedroom, his eyes locking onto the diamond necklace sitting on the vanity.

He rubbed his temples in frustration. Then, with a rare flash of patience, he offered an explanation.

"Susan is just my business partner’s daughter. Her dad did the Harrison family a massive favor, so I bought that necklace at an auction to thank her. Don’t overthink it, because there’s nothing going on between us.

"Lily, how many times do I have to say it? Susan and I are nothing!" He practically spat that last sentence out.

We had fought countless times over Susan Ferell. The worst one ended with him dumping me on a pitch-black back road on the outskirts of town and speeding off into the night.

A homeless guy had dragged me into an alley that night. I was desperately dialing Nathan's number, but when the call finally went through, it was Susan who answered.

She told me Nathan was passed out drunk right next to her, so whatever I needed could wait until tomorrow.

I stood frozen in the dark. Hanging up the phone felt like all the life drained right out of me. If a police cruiser hadn't passed by and picked me up, I would've died in that alley.

Seeing me staring silently at the floor, Nathan let out an exhausted sigh. "Lily, what do I have to do for you to believe me?"

I looked down at him and kept my voice soft.

"You don't need to do anything. Because I do believe you."

Nathan snapped his head up, total disbelief written across his face. My answer wasn't in his script, and his usual rock-solid composure completely cracked.

"Lily, you're not… mad?"

In the past, even a trace of another woman's perfume on his collar would send me off the deep end, demanding answers. I used to be stuck in this toxic loop, talking myself into believing his smooth excuses every single time.

But after that night? I just didn't care anymore.

"You gave your explanation. It was just a thank-you gift. I'm not mad."

I glanced at my watch.

Time was ticking, and this was one appointment I couldn't miss. I had to get to the courthouse to file the divorce papers.

I grabbed my bag, but Nathan's face instantly went cold.

"You never leave the house this early. Your friends don't even wake up before noon. So where are you heading at this hour?"

I hadn't expected him to care about my schedule. My grip tightened on my purse, right where the divorce filing was tucked away.

"If you're not meeting your friends, and I didn't give you any work today," he pressed, taking another step closer, his eyes scanning me. "Who are you rushing off to see?"

He reached out, going straight to snatch the bag from my hands.

My heart nearly stopped. We'd brought up divorce during arguments before, and his reaction had been way worse than I ever expected.

The first time, he completely lost control.

That night, he put the entire estate on lockdown and cut off every exit. He took my phone, locked away my passport, and by the next morning, the attorney I tried to hire got a heavy-handed warning from the Harrison family.

When I broke down crying and asked why he was trapping me, he just stood over me and said in a bone-chilling tone, "Lily, don't let me hear the word 'divorce' again. Here on Siciamira Island, nobody touches what's mine!"

If he saw what was inside my bag right now...

Suddenly, a custom ringtone broke the silence. It was the unique chime Nathan had set strictly for Susan.

Nathan's hand froze inches from my bag, then pulled back instantly. He turned and grabbed his phone.

"It's my partner, Mr. Ferell. I need to take this."

His eyes flickered with a hint of guilt as he turned toward the balcony. Right before stepping outside, he looked back and said softly, "Don't stay out too long. The custom sapphire earrings I ordered for you will arrive tonight. Whatever Susan gets, I'll get you something even better.

"You're always my number one. See you tonight, Lily."

I froze right before stepping out the door.

Nathan's priority was never going to be me.

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

Susan never waited for anyone, and I certainly wasn't waiting around for Nathan ever again.