Chapter 3

"You're mad I missed your birthday yesterday?" Miles asked. "I got you something. I'll grab it once we're inside."

He pushed the door open, then paused and turned back to look at me, confusion clear on his face.

I walked past him, my voice even.

"The nail behind the frame came loose. It fell yesterday."

He went still, his eyes moving over me from head to toe. When he saw I wasn't hurt, he let out a relieved sigh. Without warning, he pulled me into his arms.

"Thank God you're okay."

He held me like nothing had changed.

Like there wasn't another life waiting for him somewhere else.

Miles told me to rest and went to clean up the living room. After dinner, before he went to shower, he handed me a carefully wrapped box.

I looked at him.

He brushed his hand lightly over my hair, his tone soft.

"The gift I promised you." He nodded toward it. "Open it."

Inside was a teardrop-shaped necklace.

"Do you like it? I spent a long time picking it out."

There was a time when I would have loved anything he gave me.

On our third anniversary, he picked a wildflower from the side of the road and handed it to me. I still had it.

I set the necklace back into the bag. As I did, a receipt slipped into view.

It was for a ten-thousand-dollar diamond necklace.

The teardrop necklace was listed as a complimentary item.

Phoebe had touched the diamond at her neck again and again yesterday, like she couldn't help herself.

A quiet laugh slipped out.

So this was what I was worth. The free add-on.

By the time he came out of the bathroom, I was already lying in bed, turned away from him.

He reached out and shook my shoulder gently.

"Hey."

"Don't," I murmured. "I'm tired."

He leaned closer, but I turned my face away.

He didn't push it. He just said goodnight and lay down beside me, scrolling through his phone.

As my thoughts started to blur, I heard him get up, slow and careful. A moment later, the front door clicked shut.

I got out of bed and went to the window.

It didn't take long. Miles stepped outside.

Phoebe ran straight into his arms.

Within seconds, they were kissing, like there was no one else in the world, right there under the building.

Miles had always been reserved. He rarely showed affection with me in public, especially not like that.

When he came back and pushed the door open, I switched on the bedroom light.

"Where did you go in the middle of the night?"

He flinched, froze for a beat, then forced himself to relax.

"Work called. I didn't want to wake you, so I stepped out to take it."

"Really?" I looked at him, like I was trying to follow. "Then why do you smell like perfume?"

A flicker of panic crossed his face.

"It's probably the body wash."

Listening to his lame excuse, I let out a soft sound and didn't press it.

He relaxed right away.

The next morning, we went to the diner near our place, like we always did.

We had barely stepped inside when Hector Harrington came running out of nowhere and wrapped himself around Miles's leg.

"Daddy! What are you doing here?"

Miles froze, then looked at me, thrown off. "This kid's got the wrong person. I…"

The words wouldn't come out.

I pulled Hector gently closer and said it for him.

"Hey, sweetheart. He's not your dad."

Hector burst into tears. "You're mean! He is my dad!"

Miles shoved me aside and dropped down, pulling Hector into his arms, his voice low as he tried to calm the boy.

I looked down at the scrape on my hand. Something inside me went cold.

There was nothing left to hold on to.

Just then, Phoebe hurried over and took Hector from Miles.

"I'm sorry! I should've been watching him."