Chapter 2

"Sure, I'll handle the client," I replied, my voice steady but distant. "Anything else?"

Even though he was asking for my help, Holden didn’t seem fazed by my tone. His voice softened as he added, "It’s no big deal. After you smooth things over with the client, could you swing by downtown and grab a watch for me? It’s a custom order for Nori."

My stomach dropped at his request. He knew damn well the client’s office was uptown, and downtown was a good 300 miles in the opposite direction. Yet he had the audacity to call it *on the way*.

I’d seen him sketching that watch design myself. Back then, I’d let myself believe it was for me—my birthday was coming up, and I’d been dropping hints about wanting a new watch. But no, it was for Nori Spencer. He never really listened to me. Everything I hoped for was just wishful thinking.

Just as I was about to tell him off, Nori’s bright voice cut through the phone. "Holden, can you come help me with the laundry?"

Holden sucked in a sharp breath, scrambling to mute the phone, but it was too late. I’d already heard her. A bitter laugh escaped me.

He stumbled over his words, trying to explain. "Maren, it’s not what you think. Nori and I were just—"

Part of me should’ve felt a flicker of satisfaction at his panic, a sign that maybe he cared even a little. But instead, I just felt hollow, like I’d reached my limit with his lies.

I stood up, heading toward the taxi stand, cutting him off. "Holden, save it. It’s fine."

Silence stretched on the other end. All I could hear was the wind whipping through the receiver, mixing with the crunch of snow under my boots.

Maybe it was my cold, detached attitude today that finally set him off. His voice turned sharp, accusatory. "Maren, enough! I just asked for a simple favor. Do you have to be so passive-aggressive? And let’s not forget, *you’re* the one who bailed on the client. I haven’t even called you out on that yet!"

I opened my mouth to argue, but the sounds on the other end shifted again. Holden let out a low hum, followed by Nori’s teasing laugh.

"Holden, you’re being naughty. I asked you to help with the laundry, and here you are chatting on the phone. How should I punish you for that?"

I couldn’t take it anymore. I hung up without another word. Holden called back immediately, but I declined. He’d never been on the receiving end of this kind of dismissal before, and it clearly threw him off.

Texts started flooding in, each one criticizing me. Finally, I snapped and fired back: [If you’re so unhappy with me, why don’t you take my video call right now?]

After I sent it, the phone went quiet. Half an hour later, his response popped up.

[Maren, let’s stop fighting. When you get back, I’ll throw you a birthday party, and we’ll take that island vacation you’ve always wanted. Sound good?]

I shoved my phone into my pocket, ignoring him. Staring out the car window, my mind drifted far away.

Five years of marriage to Holden, and we’d never taken a real vacation together. He’d always used work as an excuse to shut down my suggestions. Yet, just a month ago, he’d secretly taken Nori to the very island I’d dreamed of visiting, disguising it as a business trip.

He thought he was slick, but Nori had turned it into her personal highlight reel, posting every detail on Instagram—down to what they did every hour of the day.

It wasn’t that I was blind or indifferent. I loved him, and that’s why I couldn’t confront him or speak the truth. I clung to the hope that as long as he didn’t ask for a divorce and stayed by my side, nothing else mattered. I told myself that one day, he’d see my worth again.

But now, I realized, I didn’t need him anymore.