Chapter 2

Chloe stood in the entryway,wearing the matching slippers I had made by hand.

With her blonde hair and that innocent,harmless face,she looked like someone who just screamed"protect me."

Leon had his arm wrapped around her waist.

"This is my house.Who's gonna complain?"

He glanced up at me at the top of the stairs,his eyes turning ice-cold.

"Chloe just moved to New York and hasn't found the right apartment yet."

"With her stomach ulcer,I don't feel comfortable putting her in a hotel.

She'll be staying in the guest room."

I stood on the steps,watching them cling to each other.

A sharp pain pierced my chest,so deep that even drawing a breath hurt.

For five years,I had never allowed a single outsider into this house.

Leon used to promise me that this place was our private sanctuary.

Now,not only had he backed out of our wedding,but he had brought another woman home.

"If she's staying here,where does that leave me?"

Leon frowned,annoyed by the question.

He let go of Chloe,walked to the bottom of the stairs,and looked up at me.

"Jane,can you stop being so damn sensitive?"

"I already told you,Chloe is just an old friend from college.

Her ulcer ruptured because of me.

Is it a crime to take care of her for a few days?"

"You are still the lady of the house.That hasn't changed!"

"As long as you play nice and stop acting so paranoid,you’ll still get everything I promised you."

The lady of the house?

A woman who wasn't even worthy of a marriage certificate?

A woman forced to watch her man play house with someone else?

It was almost funny.

I wasn't the lady of the house.

I was just a kept woman.A dirty little secret.

Chloe flinched,acting as if it took all her courage just to speak to me.

"Jane,please don't be mad at Leon.This is all my fault..."

"If me being here makes you uncomfortable,I can just go.

I've slept in my car before.I'll be fine."

Leon spun around and grabbed her hand,pressing her onto the leather sofa.

His face softened with pity for her.

"You're still recovering!Don't be ridiculous."

Then,he whipped his head back to glare at me,his eyes full of accusation.

"Jane,do you really have to make everyone miserable?"

"A year ago,you drove me to the edge of a roof,and now you want to drive away the woman who saved my life?"

Looking at his self-righteous face,I almost laughed.

Who pushed who a year ago?

He always did this.

Gaslighting me into taking the blame just to ease his own guilty conscience.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to stay calm.

"Do whatever you want."

I turned around.

Sick of looking at them,I just wanted to finish packing.

Leon thought I had caved again.The tension left his face.

He jogged up the stairs,pulled an exquisite red velvet box from his suit pocket,and shoved it into my hand.

"There you go.I love it when you're reasonable."

"This is that Cartier diamond necklace you were eyeing last week.

I had someone pick it up for you."

"So we didn't sign the papers today.

As long as you behave,there's plenty of time for that later."

I stared at the expensive necklace in my hand.

It felt like it was burning my skin.

Whenever I showed the slightest hint of unhappiness,he would just throw a gift at me.

He believed money could buy anything—even my dignity and my boundaries.

I accepted the box without even opening it.

God knows I wanted to throw the necklace right in his face.

But I knew better.

Doing that would only earn me another round of his humiliation.

"Thank you."

Leon looked satisfied.

He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"Good girl.Now go make dinner.

Chloe has been craving that creamy potato soup you make."

He turned and walked back down the stairs toward Chloe.

I watched them exchange a smile.

I stepped into my bedroom and shut the door,cutting off the sounds of their happy little reunion.

I pulled out my phone and returned the call that had been buzzing in my pocket earlier.

It was from the private clinic.

"Miss Evans?

This is regarding your termination procedure scheduled for 10:00 AM tomorrow.

We just need to confirm you'll be arriving on time."

"Confirmed.I'll be there."