Chapter 2

Declan steps in front of Bianca and frowns at me.

"Bianca just likes kids. What's the big deal if she holds her? Do you have to freak out over everything?"

I keep my eyes on Bianca.

"She hasn't washed her hands. Newborns catch everything. She could make the baby sick."

Bianca rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "My cat just had kittens. I hold them all the time, and they're fine."

I stare her down. "My baby is not one of your kittens. You're not touching her. Got it?"

Tears well up in Bianca's eyes.

"Mr. Pryce, I was only trying to help. I didn't know she hated me this much. I guess I'm just a lowly secretary to her."

She turns toward the door like she's leaving. Declan grabs her arm.

Declan sneers at me.

"Oh, so now she's the dirty one? You're the one who peed her pants on video."

"If anyone's dirty around here, it's you. This isn't about her hands. You just hate her."

His words hit me like a slap. And suddenly, I'm remembering everything.

It all started back in high school. A gang of thugs cornered me against a wall after class, and he stepped in and fought them off.

One of them slashed his back with a knife. He still has the scar.

I fell for him that day — for how brave he was. We've been together ever since.

After graduation, I gave up my spot at my dad's company to be with him. I helped him build his business from nothing.

To help Declan make it, I chased down clients everywhere and swallowed every insult people threw at me.

But now that the company is finally taking off, Declan can't keep it in his pants.

That homewrecker Bianca has him completely wrapped around her finger.

I guess Dad was right. Money changes men.

Declan turned what childbirth did to my body into a joke for Bianca. He never once thought about how I'd feel.

This isn't the man I married. I don't even recognize him anymore.

One of his friends grabs his arm.

"Come on, man. She might have postpartum depression. Her hormones are all over the place. Cut her some slack."

Declan shakes him off and glares at me.

"She's just gotten used to playing the rich wife. She thinks she's better than everyone."

"I'm sick of her high-and-mighty act. Who is she to look down on Bianca? She used to live in a dump and count every penny too."

Every word cuts like ice. There's no blood, but inside, I'm torn to pieces.

I swallow the pain and lay my baby back in the bassinet.

I say each word slowly. "Have you forgotten who stood by you when you had nothing?"

"I nearly died giving you a child, and you put the most humiliating moment of my life on display for everyone to laugh at."

"And now you're rubbing salt in the wound. What kind of man does that?"

Declan sees how hard I'm shaking. For a second, something like guilt flickers in his eyes.

He takes a step toward me, like he's about to apologize.

"Cam, I shouldn't have…"

Before he can finish, Bianca starts sniffling.

"I'm just a secretary anyway. I'll quit tomorrow. Then Cam won't have to see my face anymore."

Declan grabs her hand. She looks up at him through wet lashes, and he practically melts.

Then he turns back to me, annoyed.

"Apologize to Bianca. Now. As long as I'm around, nobody looks down on her!"