Chapter 6

Before Alexandra could react, someone shoved her hard from behind. She fell against the coffee table, striking her forehead on the corner. Blood welled from the cut.

Wincing, she drew a sharp breath and looked toward Ron, who had just burst into the office.

He didn't even spare her a glance. All his attention was on Melissa. He carefully disinfected her injured finger and covered it with a Band-Aid, his face tight with concern.

Alexandra finally understood what Melissa had been plotting.

Still shaking, she got to her feet, picked up the bloodstained tiara, and held it out to Melissa.

Ron thought she was deliberately flaunting it, and his temper flared. But before he could say a word, Alexandra spoke.

"You want it? It's yours. Take it."

Melissa was so stunned that she forgot to fake another tear.

Ron frowned, baffled by her reaction.

"Mom and Dad gave you that."

But they hadn't given it to Alexandra, not really. They'd given it to their daughter-in-law, and she wouldn't be holding that title much longer.

Alexandra set the tiara down. "I'm a clean freak. I don't want anything that's been stained with blood. Feels like bad luck now. She can have it."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the office.

Ron watched her walk away without a backward glance, his frown deepening.

Throughout their marriage, Alexandra had loved buying houses and collecting jewelry. Whenever he'd upset her, he'd tried to win her back with one or the other.

And now she'd given away a rare tiara worth a fortune without a second thought?

Ron still hadn't come home when Alexandra's birthday arrived.

At her party, guests kept asking where he was and whether he had some surprise planned. After all, he'd always been practically inseparable from her.

But Alexandra didn't care where he was. All she wanted was to enjoy her birthday.

She was turning 27, with a whole new life waiting just around the corner. Why waste another moment on people and things she was leaving behind?

Alexandra ignored their questions. Instead, she grabbed a bottle of champagne, gave it a shake, and popped the cork.

"Happy birthday to me!"

She sounded so carefree, so genuinely happy, that the guests laughed and raised their glasses.

"Happy birthday to our sweet, gorgeous, fun-loving Mrs. Drennan!"

Mrs. Drennan?

Alexandra smiled. "Not anymore. Ron and I are getting a..."

Before she could say the word "divorce," the door burst open.

Everyone turned to find Melissa standing in the doorway, supporting a drunken Ron. The sudden attention left her flustered.

Her cheeks reddened, and she stammered, "S-sorry to interrupt. I brought Mr. Drennan home."

Why was Ron out drinking on his wife's birthday?

Everyone seemed to be wondering the same thing.

Alexandra, however, remained unfazed. She set down her glass and went over to help Ron inside.

But he wouldn't let go of Melissa's hand. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead, right in front of everyone.

Melissa turned scarlet.

The guests stared in disbelief.

Alexandra pretended not to notice and tightened her grip on Ron. But he shoved her away impatiently and buried his face in Melissa's neck.

"Why do you smell so good?" he murmured, his voice low and suggestive.

The living room fell silent.

Melissa blushed harder, though the smug glint in her eyes betrayed her.

"Mrs. Drennan, Mr. Drennan's drunk. He doesn't know what he's saying, so please don't take it personally. H-he's just been so busy lately that he forgot your birthday."

Her show of concern was almost sickening.

Alexandra saw right through Melissa's little act but couldn't be bothered to call her out. She simply stepped back to let them through.

"His bedroom's upstairs, all the way to the left. You can take him up."