Chapter 1

Every time Ethan Hale gave me the silent treatment, he'd wire me what he called "emotional compensation."

"You need someone to coddle you," he said. "I need peace and quiet. Take the money. Go keep yourself a nice young boy toy if you want."

The last time, he wired me a very large sum.

"Claire, Ivy's depression is flaring up again. She says if she doesn't get a real commitment, some kind of security, she'll kill herself. We file for divorce first, and once she's stable, we remarry."

"In the meantime, spend whatever you want. I won't check the statements."

One of his friends laughed from across the room. "Ethan, Claire's the woman you gave up your family trust to marry. And you're just going to divorce her, just like that?"

"Seriously. Claire's way too proud for this. What if she actually takes your money and spends it on another man?"

Ethan didn't even look up from his financial reports.

"She won't."

"You all know she grew up on scholarships and charity. She hates owing anyone anything. She'd rather starve than touch a single cent of mine."

Someone let out a low whistle.

"Damn, Ethan. Cold-blooded. You send the money, she refuses to use it, and that's her pride talking — nothing on you."

Everyone assumed I'd do what I always did. Wire the money straight back.

But this time, I hit accept.

The living room went quiet for one full second.

Ethan turned his head toward me. That lazy half-smile on his lips froze in place.

"Claire!"

I didn't look back. I walked straight for the door.

His buddy stepped into my path, looking awkward. "Claire, you're joking, right?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Ethan slowly sat up on the sofa and ground out his cigarette with the sole of his shoe. The whole room had gone silent. Eyes bounced between him and me like a tennis match.

He looked at me and smiled. A mocking, cutting smile.

"Seeing someone else?"

I glanced back at him.

"Why — curious?"

His gaze dropped to my bodycon dress and four-inch heels. His expression darkened by degrees.

Then he let out a sharp, derisive laugh and spoke into the phone on the table.

"Ivy, you called it. A bet's a bet."

Ivy's soft, honeyed voice floated through the speaker.

"Claire, I'm sorry."

"Ethan insisted on making this bet. He swore you'd never take the money. But I said — who turns down ten million?"

Ethan flicked a glance at me.

"I lost. What do you want?"

"I want you to come to me. Right now."

"On my way."

The call ended. He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

I swallowed the pain and followed him out.

In the hallway, their stares clung to my skin like cobwebs I couldn't shake off.

"I give it three days before she's crying and wiring the money back. Like she could ever actually leave Ethan."

"Well, she clawed her way up from nothing. Stubbornness is in her blood. She'll never be like Ivy — Ivy actually knows how to take care of a man."

"You think Ethan might actually go through with the divorce?"

That last line pinned me where I stood.

A chill crawled up my spine.

Every time Ethan froze me out, every time he wired me money, I sent back every last cent.

I thought I was protecting my dignity.

I thought that one day he'd understand me. That he'd learn to cherish me.

But what was the reality?

Time after time I waited. Time after time I gave ground. And all I got in return was his back, getting smaller and smaller in the distance.

I didn't want to live like this anymore.

I'd barely taken a step when Ethan doubled back.

His fists were clenched, knuckles white. He let out a cold laugh.

"You want to pick a man? Let me help."

I pushed the ache in my chest down deep and forced a careless smile.

"Much appreciated."

The flat indifference in my voice hit the room like a bucket of ice water.

Dead silence.

He shoved me into the car. The back seat was wide enough to keep a no-man's-land of distance between us.

The AC was cranked all the way up.

Just like Ethan himself. Cold without a trace of warmth.

The black luxury car tore through the streets and finally pulled up outside a neon-drenched nightclub.

A line of young men filed out and stood in a row before me.

Ethan's mouth twisted into a sardonic smile.

"Have fun. Call for more if you need them."

Then he cut through the crowd and stopped at a booth in the back.

Ivy sat there, cheeks flushed, a half-empty glass of amber liquor in her hand.

Ethan crouched down and murmured to her.

"Why'd you drink so much?"

She tilted her face up to him, eyes glistening.

"Got bored waiting for you."

He brushed his thumb across the corner of her eye, then gripped the back of her neck and kissed her.

The catcalls around them surged louder and louder.

But Ethan's eyes stayed locked on me over her shoulder.

Like he was waiting for my reaction.

The bass pounded through my ribcage.

I lowered my head and took a sip of my drink. Ice-cold tears slid down my cheeks.

The tears I'd held back for so long finally broke through.

Ivy leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

Ethan froze for a heartbeat. Then something ignited in his eyes — pure, unrestrained joy.

He scooped Ivy up in his arms and spun her around in front of everyone.

"I'm going to be a father!"