Chapter 2

Lucas went silent.

Then his voice came through bright and clear. “You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that. Claire, you belong at the forefront of biomedical research, not trapped in a small hospital.”

“Tell me what you need,” he continued. “I'll have the institute start the paperwork tonight.”

“I need three days to settle things here,” I said. “I'll see you after that.”

The moment we hung up, a message arrived from an unknown number.

It contained a video and more than a dozen screenshots.

In the video, Adrian smiled while Nina fed him a forkful of the cheap cake. Everyone around them cheered.

The screenshots came from Nina's Instagram. Adrian stood at a stove wearing an apron, surrounded by the rich food he had banned from our home. In another photo, they played video games late at night. In another, they climbed a snowy mountain to see the northern lights.

In seven years, Adrian had never cooked anything for me except unseasoned vegetables. He had never introduced me to his friends. He had never stayed up late with me, traveled with me, or done anything simply because I wanted to.

We had shared an address, not a life.

I deleted the message and blocked the number.

Then I went home.

I didn't scream or confront him. I opened the drawer that held my important documents and went straight to the county clerk's office.

By the time I returned, it was nearly midnight.

I called a realtor and began packing the few things that were actually mine.

Adrian called himself a minimalist. What he really disliked was anything he couldn't control. Over the years, I had thrown out everything he considered useless and given up every habit and hobby that annoyed him.

I stood in the dark, empty living room and gave a bitter smile.

Did I regret loving him?

No. But I was done paying for that choice.

The locks on my suitcase clicked shut just as the front door opened. The lights came on, and Adrian walked in smelling faintly of alcohol.

He hated alcohol.

Yet his face was as calm and blank as ever.

“You went too far tonight,” he said. “Nina just came back. She wasn't prepared to meet you.”

Prepared to meet me?

“She's not like you,” he added. “You have everything. I'm all she has.”

I pushed my suitcase into the corner before he noticed it.

“I didn't cause her problems,” I said.

Surprise flickered across his face. He wasn't used to hearing me disagree.

He was used to my agreement, not my opinion.

“I'm not feeling well,” I said, picking up a pillow. “I'll sleep in the guest room.”

I had barely lain down when Lucas called.

“Everything has been taken care of,” he told me in French. “All you have to do is come. With you on the project, we may finally get the breakthrough we've been chasing.”

“Thank you. I'll see you the day after tomorrow.”

The door opened behind me.

Adrian stood there, his face darker than I had ever seen it.

“What happens the day after tomorrow?” he asked. “And who are you meeting?”

***