Chapter 2

Nathan calls me on the way to the airport.

His name lights up my screen, and I answer before the driver reaches the terminal.

"The event work isn't finished," he says. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to the airport."

Nathan pauses for a few seconds.

"Are you doing this because of tonight?"

I almost laugh.

"Nathan, you proposed to three women right in front of me, so what am I supposed to be to you?"

His voice stays calm, as if I am the one making this difficult.

"They've been with me for years, and they only wanted to wear wedding dresses in public once."

"You gave them rings."

"The proposal was for the crowd and the cameras, but you are my wife."

"What about the staff badge and the bet?"

"It was just a joke."

He says it so easily that I wonder how many times he has practiced making cruelty sound harmless.

Then he adds, "You only picked up a few pieces of candy, and you'll still get paid for the work."

My phone buzzes with a new email.

A ticket appears on my screen for the next stop on the concert tour.

The seat is front row, center.

Nathan says, "I'll take you to the next show myself, and I'll give you a ring too."

I decline the ticket.

"I don't need it."

"Then go away for a few days and clear your head," he says. "When you come back, we'll celebrate our anniversary again."

I hang up before he can finish.

There is nothing left for us to celebrate.

The car keeps moving through the night while the airport lights get closer.

I open our joint account because I need to cancel the automatic transfers.

For five years, I put money into that account because Nathan promised we would have a real wedding one day.

He said the courthouse marriage was only temporary.

He said he would give me flowers, guests, a dress, and a ring he chose himself.

I believed him because I wanted to believe my husband.

Now the account history shows me the truth.

Three diamond rings come out of our joint account.

Three custom wedding dresses come out of our joint account.

The concert proposal setup, the flowers, the cameras, the candy favors, and the VIP section all come out of our joint account.

The money I saved for my wedding paid for his proposal to three other women.

I cancel the automatic transfers.

Then I move every dollar that belongs to me into my own account.

The driver pulls up outside the airport.

Just as I reach for my suitcase, my home security app sends me an alert.

The camera has detected motion at the front door.

I open the live feed.

Nathan walks into our house with Claire, Sophie, and Vivian behind him.

They are still wearing their wedding dresses, and each of them is pulling a suitcase.

Claire looks around the living room like she already owns it.

"I won the bet tonight," she says. "The master bedroom is mine, right?"

Nathan gives a short hum.

"Yes."

Sophie's face changes at once.

"Where are we supposed to sleep?"

"You can pick any guest room."

Vivian walks farther inside and glances toward the hallway.

"What happens when Nora comes back?"

Nathan laughs under his breath.

"She only went out to cool off, and she'll accept you once she calms down."

He says the words like my acceptance is already settled.

He thinks I will accept them in my house, in my marriage, and in my bed.

Nathan walks into the master bedroom.

A minute later, he comes back holding my pillow.

I bought that pillow when we moved into the house.

I sleep on it every night because Nathan almost never comes home before midnight.

He tosses it outside the bedroom door like it is trash.

Claire lifts the skirt of her wedding dress and steps over it.

The train of her dress drags across my pillow.

Nathan takes her hand and leads her into my bedroom.

The door closes behind them.

I sit in the back seat of the car and hold my phone so tightly that my fingers ache.

I save the security video.

Then I download the account records.

I send both files to Ethan.

[Recover every cent that belongs to me.]

His reply comes fast.

[I'll handle it.]

The boarding announcement echoes through the airport entrance.

I turn off the security feed.

For the first time in five years, I do not wonder when Nathan will come home.

I pick up my suitcase and walk into the terminal.

My flight to Southport is boarding, and I do not look back.