Chapter 2

Chuckling, I walked over and called out, "Nathan."

Nathan paused and turned to look at me. "What is it?"

"Where's my gift?" I asked.

"What gift?"

He'd forgotten about it.

"The ring."

He froze, but his first instinct was to glance at Zoey.

I smiled again. "The elevator's here."

He hummed absentmindedly before hurrying out with Zoey. Within seconds, they disappeared from my sight.

Five years ago, I'd asked Nathan when he was finally going to marry me. He'd ruffled my hair and looked at me with an unwavering gaze as he promised, "I'll propose to you the day my company goes public. I want to make you the happiest woman in the world."

But how could he propose without a ring?

I made a phone call.

"Remember that event you asked me to cater with you? I'm doing it."

Logan Hughes immediately exclaimed, "I've been begging you to join my catering business for three years now! You're finally agreeing to it."

As if suddenly remembering something, he asked, "But aren't you supposed to be marrying Nathan this year?"

I looked around the empty house and shook my head before saying, "Not anymore."

…

When I got up the next morning, Nathan had already left for work. He'd only been home for one night, but the house was already full of traces he'd left behind.

His unwashed clothes were in the bathroom. His half-finished cup of coffee sat on the dining table. Even his socks from the night before were still lying by the front door.

After glancing around the place, instead of tidying everything up myself, I hired a temp housekeeper.

Her name was Angela Dennings, and she was a very efficient worker. In less than 30 minutes, she put the house back in order and even made me breakfast.

"It was a pleasure working for you today. If you ever need my services again, feel free to reach out to me, Mrs…"

"I'm not married," I said.

"Oh," Angela said, her voice turning a little tentative. "Ms. Jackson?"

"Yes. For the next five days, come at this same time every day. I'll pay you for the full day."

Angela beamed at the news. "Absolutely! You got it!"

After she left, I started packing my things.

Teddy came over with his dog bowl in his mouth and dropped it right into my suitcase. He panted at me, his mouth stretched into a wide grin.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

I ruffled his head.

"Okay. Mommy's taking you along, of course."

Teddy was six years old. Nathan had given him to me the year I miscarried. He'd said, "When I'm not around, Teddy can keep you company."

Nathan had told so many lies, but that was one thing he'd gotten right. Ever since that day, Teddy had been the only one who stayed by my side. He was the only one I wanted to take with me.

…

At 6:00 pm, my phone rang with a call from Nathan.

"Don't make dinner for me. I've got a dinner engagement."

I glanced at the takeout spread across the table and replied, "Got it."

"Oh, and it's your father's birthday today. Remember to give him a call," Nathan added.

I stopped chewing. "When did you two get so close?"

"That's not important," Nathan said. "When it comes to business, no one's an enemy forever. Come on. Just do it for my sake."

He ended the call before I could refuse. It was as if he were certain that, because I loved him, I'd let go of my resentment toward my father, Fergus Jackson.

I did love Nathan then, but not anymore.

I put down my phone and went back to my food, ignoring what he'd said to me.

Ten minutes later, my phone lit up again. This time, it was Zoey. She'd sent me a video that was less than a minute long.

It was taken during a family dinner at the Jackson residence. Nathan was in attendance. The video showed him sitting beside Zoey, peeling shrimp for her. After removing every last bit of the shell, he placed the shrimp on her plate.

He'd never waited on me like that before.

Fergus, whom I'd sworn never to address as Dad again, remarked teasingly, "Looks like our little girl has grown up and is ready to leave the nest. I guess we'll be planning a wedding before long!"

Nathan didn't deny it.

Zoey sent me another message, this time a short message.

"You can't make him happy."

Smirking, I typed out an earnest reply.

"You're right, so I'm giving him to you. Want him?"

"Yes."