Chapter 3

Ethan’s face went white. Grant shifted behind him, suddenly less certain of himself.

“Mia, let me explain,” Ethan said.

“You had three years.”

“I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”

“You meant for me to find out eventually?”

He stepped closer. “I did care about you.”

“You told your friend I was a joke.”

Grant looked between us. “Ethan, you said she was fine with it.”

“Shut up.”

I took the document envelope from the drawer under the register. My passport and training papers were inside. The money was gone, but I didn’t feel poorer.

Ethan pointed at Grant’s screen. “You gave him everything you saved?”

“You said it was a small amount. You said it was pocket change.”

“That was different.”

“How?”

He couldn’t answer.

I left the shop. Ethan followed me down the sidewalk, calling my name. He said he could explain why the house had never been in danger. He said the first call had been a test. He said he’d planned to give me the truth after he made up his mind about marriage.

“You were never going to marry me,” I said.

“I was confused.”

“You weren’t confused when you laughed.”

Rain began to fall. I stopped under a streetlamp and held out my hand.

“Give me Marie’s ring.”

Ethan touched the red cord around his neck. “You’re leaving over a joke?”

“I’m leaving because you made me believe your life depended on me, then used my work to entertain your friends.”

He yanked the cord over his head. “Fine. Take your cheap ring.”

He threw it. The ring struck a metal grate and vanished into the storm drain.

I dropped to my knees and reached between the bars. Rainwater rushed through the drain. My fingers scraped the concrete, but I couldn’t reach the ring.

Ethan grabbed my shoulders. “Stop. It’s not worth it.”

I pulled free and kept searching.