Chapter 1

In the fifth year of marriage, I finally stopped asking about Craig Hayden.

I also stopped falling apart over his affairs.

When he stayed away from home for three straight months and suddenly appeared, I even felt surprised.

"Why did you come back?" I asked.

His face darkened at once.

*****

I was lounging in a thin strap nightie. Noticing Craig's expression, I grabbed the silk scarf from the couch and draped it over my shoulders, then picked up my phone to send a message.

I wrote: [Don't come over tonight. Craig is back.]

I received a reply instantly. There was a flood of crying GIFs, then a pic of a hot guy showing off his abs, and finally a sticker of a puppy begging to be noticed.

I couldn't help but laugh and sent back a sticker of me patting the puppy's head.

Just then, there was a shout. "Paula Calton!"

Craig's angry voice thundered above my head, making me jump. I instantly wiped the grin off my face.

I couldn't help blurting out, "What's wrong?"

Craig snapped, "What's wrong? You seriously want to know what's wrong?"

I stared at him, totally lost. I had no clue what he was mad about this time.

I tried to think back over everything he'd been up to lately.

But I hadn't paid any attention to his work, his life, or any of his drama. My mind was a total blank.

The only thing I could remember was the last time Craig blew up at me. It was because I'd found a pair of sexy panties in his briefcase.

I totally lost it then. I wrecked the bedroom he'd decorated for me when he proposed, went totally nuts, yelling at him for answers, demanding he explain himself.

All I got was an even colder look from Craig. He stood there, watching me lose it like I was some stranger, and said, "Paula, are you crazy or what?"

He stormed out on my birthday, slamming the door and leaving me sitting there all night, feeling completely alone.

Three months went by, and like he always wanted, I could finally face his cheating without falling apart.

But now he was mad again?

I was fed up, so I slipped on my slippers and got to my feet.

I said, "I have no idea what's gotten into you. If I did something to piss you off, then sorry, alright? Happy now?

"I'm tired. You should get some sleep too."

I tossed those words over my shoulder and headed back to my room.

But before I could take another step, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me back onto the couch with so much force I nearly lost my balance.

My head spun, and when I looked up, I saw Craig's face looking icy, like he was furious for some reason.

"Trying to get my attention by backing off?" Craig's hand tightened around my neck, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You really think that's going to work?"

Craig let out a cold laugh and leaned in close, his tone full of mockery. "Honey, you really ought to take notes from those young girls.

"They're so sweet, so soft, always coming up with new moves in bed. Isn't that way more exciting than whatever you're doing now?"

His lips brushed against my ear as he whispered, "You know I hate it when someone tries to defy me."

He gave my cheek a careless, mocking slap. "Try learning a thing or two. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll let you remain my wife a little longer."

I froze for a moment before realizing he actually thought I was pulling a new stunt to get his attention.

I couldn't help but want to laugh.

He really thought too highly of himself.

But I bit back the laugh, and brushed his hand off my face.

With one hand, I pushed him away by the chest and draped the silk scarf back over my shoulders.

I said, "Done? Then I'm heading upstairs to get some sleep."

Over the past three months, I'd gone from forcing myself not to care about anything Craig was up to, to not even remembering to check up on him anymore.

But every now and then, my friends would mention him.

During those three months, he'd taken Trisha Whittier to Asocobridge to see penguins, then off to the Frumver region to chase the Northern Lights.

He never showed up in Trisha's social media posts, but the whole world seemed to know about it anyway.

Everyone knew I could be kicked out at any moment.

Half out of it, I walked to the bedroom door, when Craig called out from behind me, sounding almost incredulous. "You're staying here?"

I snapped back, realizing he was still following me.

I glanced into the room and gave a casual nod.

On my birthday, Craig made me fetch his briefcase and dig for some file, all so I'd see Trisha's panties, lose it, and then he could walk out on me.

After that, I moved into the guest room.

It was plain, not a single sign of Craig there.

It was just what I needed to get by.

"Well, you really pulled out all the stops this time," Craig sneered. "Let's see how long you stick with this act."

He left, shutting the door behind him.

I ignored him. Since I'd already showered, I just went to bed.

But when I lay down, the door swung open again.

"You didn't even bother to get this place cleaned up?" Craig shot at me, his tone sharp.

I was honestly fed up. "What's the point?"

He stared at me, frowning for a while, then suddenly said, "Seriously, you're still pissed? It's been months. Aren't you over it yet?"

He suddenly reached into his jacket and pulled out a box.

"Look, I brought you a present," he said.