Chapter 2

Before Daniella could finish, Alexander charged over and smacked the urn right out of my hands.

The ashes were scattered all over the floor.

But Alexander just acted like nothing had happened. He brushed past me and started checking every room behind me, like he wouldn't stop until he found Ryan.

I stared at the ashes scattered across the floor and completely lost it. I was crying my heart out, totally falling apart.

I knelt, scooping ashes that kept slipping away.

Daniella strode right up to me, looking down with a mocking smile. "Kylie, were you a drama major or something?

"If I hadn't just seen Ryan slip into the house, I might've actually fallen for your performance."

I looked up at her, and her smirk pushed me over the edge. I jumped up and slapped Daniella hard.

Daniella stared at me in utter disbelief. Then her lips quivered, and she started bawling.

Alexander rushed over and pulled Daniella into his arms.

"Kylie, are you out of your mind?" Alexander shouted.

"Yeah, I am out of my mind. Alexander, get out of my house with Daniella!" I yelled.

"Get out? Kylie, did you forget? This is my house," Alexander snapped back.

He was right. I almost forgot.

This was Alexander's place. I lowered my head, staring at the ashes still scattered everywhere. I crouched down, ready to keep picking them up and then get Ryan out of here.

Just then, Daniella slipped and kicked the urn, scattering the ashes I'd just managed to collect all over the place again. At the same time, her stiletto heel stomped right down on the back of my hand.

She really put some force into it. A nasty bruise was blooming on my hand.

But Alexander didn't even look at me. All his attention was on Daniella.

"Daniella, are you okay?" Alexander asked, worried.

Daniella gazed up at Alexander with big, teary eyes. "Alex, don't blame Kylie. She didn't mean it."

I looked up at Daniella, nestled in Alexander's arms, eyes wet, playing the perfect little victim.

Yet, there was a triumphant smirk at the corner of her mouth.

Alexander's expression turned even colder at her words.

"Kylie, that's enough. If you ever touch Daniella again, I'll divorce you," he said coldly.

I ignored Alexander and frantically tried to scoop Ryan's ashes back into the urn, moving as fast as I could.

But I'd only managed to get about halfway when Alexander's voice cut in again.

He sneered, "Kylie, enough. Are you really that hooked on putting on a show?

"How much are these props worth? Just tell me, and I'll pay whatever you want. But right now, get Ryan out here."

Just hearing Ryan's name made my heart clench. I squeezed my eyes shut and said, my voice thick with grief, "Alexander, I told you. Ryan is dead."

Alexander gave a sarcastic laugh. "Kylie, how did he die?"

"He was killed by stray dogs..." I said.

Alexander crouched down, gripping my chin with a cold, merciless hand.

He snorted, "Killed by stray dogs? If you're going to lie, at least make it sound convincing. Fine, let's just pretend Ryan's dead. If he ever rises from the grave, he'd better show up at the office and apologize to Daniella.

"Tell him he's got three days, or someone else is taking his spot."

I stared at the man whom I married five years ago and loved for over a decade.

And for the first time, it really hit me that I'd given my heart to the wrong guy.

I'd known Alexander for more than ten years, but I was never his childhood sweetheart.

I never measured up to him.

Alexander was the golden boy of the Valdez family.

The only reason I ever got to know him was because my mom worked as a maid for the Valdez family.

Ever since we were kids, Alexander was always the brightest one in any crowd. He was handsome, well-bred, and everyone was drawn to him. I was just another face in the crowd who liked him.

I knew I could never measure up to him, and I never once thought about letting him know how I felt.

But then, when Alexander was fourteen, he was kidnapped; my mom was taken hostage right along with him. She risked her life to draw the kidnappers' attention away from him, giving him a chance to escape.

But because of that, my mom didn't make it out alive.

After my mom passed away, my deadbeat dad came knocking, took every last cent she left us, and even sold our house.

After that, Ryan and I had to hustle just to survive, picking up any job we could find.

Ryan quit college so I could stay, giving up his own future.