Chapter 3

I went to the house I'd saved for years to buy, the one I'd trusted Ryan to hold in his name after they convinced me I was dying.

When I opened the door, dust floated through the air. Cement bags and broken tiles littered the living room. Cigarette burns ruined the shirts I'd carefully hung in the closet. My cat hid in the bathroom, one paw injured.

Ryan had been using my home as a playground.

When I demanded to know what had happened, he arrived with Chloe and acted offended.

"I told you I was renovating. You should be grateful I took over."

"You hurt my cat."

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Ryan didn't mean anything by it. Don't be so dramatic."

The house was in Ryan's name. My savings had paid for it. Now I wasn't even welcome to be angry about what he'd done.

"Come stay at the wedding hotel," Chloe offered, looking relieved when I nodded. "We can talk when you've calmed down."

In the car I booked a one-way flight overseas.

I'd missed the northern lights. I'd missed the coast. I'd missed so much because they persuaded me I had no future. I wasn't going to miss another thing.