Chapter 2

Daniel pushed the settlement paper toward me.

"Playing hard to get won't work. Sign it."

"I mean it. I'm leaving you."

Sienna immediately began to cry. Daniel told her it wasn't her fault, making me look unreasonable again.

Then he used the one thing I'd told him in confidence: I had been born outside marriage and had spent years being shamed for it.

"You won't leave," he said. "You don't want our child to grow up like you did."

I was pregnant again. I'd kept hoping this time would be different.

I signed the station's mediation form, not because I forgave them, but because I wanted to leave.

Daniel mistook my signature for surrender.

"See? We can get our marriage license the day after tomorrow. I'll buy you the necklace you wanted."

He'd already used the same necklace as an apology after Sienna ruined a previous plan.

I quietly booked a medical consultation to discuss ending the pregnancy. Whatever I decided would be mine, not a bargaining chip he could hold over me.

Outside, a stray dog ran toward us barking. Instinctively I reached for Daniel's sleeve and grabbed air.

He'd pulled Sienna into his arms and was whispering, "Still scared of dogs after all these years?"

I looked at my engagement ring. It had always been too large. I'd learned to curl my fingers to keep it on.

I slipped it off and set it in Sienna's palm.

"You two should get back together. Clearly you're both waiting for it."

Daniel's expression hardened. "Don't be ridiculous. Our wedding is practically here."

That was the problem. Everything was practically here. Nothing ever truly arrived.