Chapter 3

Lucas later told me that after I left that day, he stood in the living room for a long time.

He stood there so long that Lily had to call out to him several times before he finally snapped out of it.

Lily asked, "Lucas, is Nina angry?"

Lucas shot her a glance and suddenly noticed her features no longer bore much resemblance to Jean.

He couldn't put his finger on why.

He couldn't stop replaying what I said in his head: "I've been thinking about it for a long time."

How long is a long time, really?

*****

When Lucas transferred 167million dollars to me, I figured that was the end of it.

On the day we signed the papers, he looked pissed off the whole time, like he was the one getting screwed.

I didn't bother with him. As soon as the papers were signed, I headed straight to the airport and caught a flight to Bekeland for the show.

But as soon as I landed, my phone blew up.

Over thirty missed calls, from Lucas's mother, my dad, my mom, his sister, and even Lucas himself.

The last one was a voice message from Lucas's mother, over sixty seconds long. I couldn't be bothered to listen, so I hit the transcribe button.

It reads: [Nina, where are you? Is what that bastard Lucas said true? Did you two really get divorced?

[Has he lost his mind, or have you? Nina, listen to me. Don't sign anything. I'm going to beat him to death right now.]

I stared at the screen, stunned for a couple of seconds.

Did Lucas's mom really call me Nina?

Did hell freeze over or something?

I've been dealing with his mother for five years, and she's always called me "Hey" or "Whoever." It is only natural for a wealthy matriarch to disdain her son's wife from a humble background.

So what was with that sixty-second voice message?

While I was still lost in thought, my phone rang again.

This time, it was Lucas.

I picked up.

"Hello?" I said.

"Where are you?" His voice was terribly hoarse.

"Bekeland."

He went quiet for a while.

"Why'd you run off so far?"

"To catch the show," I said. "You need something?"

He went quiet again.

Then, he suddenly said, "My mom wants to talk to you."

There was some shuffling on the other end, and then Lucas's mom's voice came through. "Nina? Is that you, Nina? Honey, where are you?"

"Bekeland, "I answered.

"Bekeland? What are you doing in Bekeland? Did that bastard Lucas bully you and kick you out? Nina, don't be scared. I've got your back. I'm flying over to get you right now," she said.

I was completely confused.

"Mrs. Grant," I said, "Lucas and I are already divorced. 167 million dollars is already in my account. We're finished."

"Don't call me Mrs. Grant," she cut me off, her voice practically breaking. "Call me Mom. Nina, I'm telling you, I don't accept this divorce.

"That heartless bastard Lucas, I could beat him to death and still not feel better. Wait, I'm making him fly to Bekeland and bring you back right now."

"No, Mrs. Grant, you..."

"Say Mrs. Grant again, I dare you."

I shut up.

There was a burst of chaos on the other end. It sounded like she threw her phone, then Lucas's voice came through, then the sound of things being smashed, and finally Lucas's mom's voice tore through the phone, cursingfuriously.

She shouted, "You've got the nerve to hide? Apologize to her right now. I'm asking you. Do you have no conscience at all? How has Nina treated you all these years? Are you blind, or stupid?

"It's five years, five whole years. Who took care of me when I was in the hospital? Who carried your grandpa downstairs and rushed him to the hospital when he had his attack?

"Do you even know how she lost her baby? She lost it that day, from carrying your grandpa downstairs. And you still dare to keep a woman on the side? I swear, I'll beat you to death."

My hand, still clutching the phone, suddenly went stiff.

The baby.

Yeah, I really did have a baby, once.

We'd been married for just over a year. I was still in school when I found out I was pregnant.