Chapter 2

"Holly's always saying she hates homewreckers. She's a witch and still plays the saint."

Dad walked out on Mom and me for another woman, and we'd paid the price for half our lives. Now, thanks to Kyle, I was the one people were calling the homewrecker.

In his office, Kyle reached for me, but I stepped back. "Mr. Grayson, this is the office."

His brows drew together as he frowned. "Don't be mad. How about I go with you to see Florence tonight?"

I shook my head. "There's no need anymore."

Mom was gone, and I wouldn't have wanted her to see Kyle anyway. If she'd known that people were calling me a homewrecker because of him, she would've been furious.

Kyle must've sensed something was off. After a moment of silence, he said, "I'll be able to divorce Ruby in two days. We can get married after that." He handed me a gift box. "I bought these supplements for Florence. It'll help with her recovery."

I looked at it, my mind going a little blank.

His thoughtfulness had come too late. Mom didn't need them anymore.

When I said nothing, a flicker of worry crossed Kyle's face. He was about to speak when his ringing phone cut in. He pulled out his phone, glanced at me, and, after a brief moment of hesitation, walked out.

I knew it was Ruby. She was his legal wife, after all.

I felt nothing. I didn't care anymore.

After that, I turned in my resignation letter.

Mr. Anthony Zeller, the vice president, didn't seem surprised by my sudden resignation. He looked like he'd been expecting it.

"Holly, I'm sure Mr. Grayson will make sure you're taken care of."

I bit my lip. The whole thing felt absurd. It felt like everyone saw me as Kyle's canary in a gilded cage at work and thought he'd mapped out my whole future for me.

No one wanted to believe I was actually Kyle's girlfriend, that it was my heart he'd broken, and that I was getting ready to leave.

As I was leaving the office, I ran into Kyle and Ruby by the elevators.

The moment he saw me, Kyle's gaze flickered. He blurted, "Don't get the wrong idea. I brought Ruby here to—"

Ruby slipped her arm through his. "To get a tour of my husband's company."

I said nothing.

She added, "Holly, you don't mind, do you?"

The look she shot me was openly challenging.

I stepped out of the elevator in silence and made room for them. Kyle glanced at me, hesitation in his eyes, as if he meant to say something. But Ruby had already steered him away.

…

That afternoon at the crematorium, I watched Mom turn into fine gray ash. Then, I took her to the cemetery and laid her to rest.

By nightfall, Kyle still hadn't shown up or even sent a text. I didn't mind. Without him, Mom could go in peace.

If she were looking down on me, I doubt she would want me tangled up with him anymore. And she certainly wouldn't want me to get married to him.

Six years was enough. It was time to end it for good.

Leaving the cemetery, I walked home. It had been a long time since I'd been out on foot after dark.

I used to hold Mom's hand while walking, and later, I'd linked my arm through Kyle's. From now on, I would walk alone. I figured I would probably get used to it.

I didn't reach home until the wee hours of the morning. The living room light was on. Kyle was slouched on the couch, thumbs flying across his phone screen.

As I stepped inside, the crease in his brow eased. He jumped up and grabbed my hand. "Where were you? You wouldn't pick up or answer my texts. I was about to call the cops, you know that?"

I hesitated and slipped my hand out of Kyle's.

"I was with Mom. I didn't want her to be disturbed."

At the mention of her, he seemed to remember what he'd said earlier. Guilt flickered across his face. He looked at me with quiet hope and pulled out a small box.

I took it without thinking and opened it to see a diamond ring. I froze immediately.

Once, with my hand in his, Kyle had sworn he would put a diamond ring on my finger, that we would get married, and that Mom would see me happy.

I waited and wished for that day for such a long time.

But that was before.