Chapter 5

Henry got wind of it early that morning. He had a wide network in the industry and was always well-informed.

When he knocked and came in to tell me, I was carefully setting a three-carat sapphire into its base. My hands were steady.

"Let him come," I said.

Henry asked, "Should we hide out somewhere else?"

"Hide from what?" I didn't look up. "He can't find us here."

Henry thought for a second, then nodded. "True. This address isn't in any public records."

But I underestimated James's obsession. It wasn't about me. It was his obsession with control.

At nine that night, the studio doorbell rang. Henry went to open it.

James was standing outside. He was in a crisp suit, looking all business and ice-cold, like he'd stepped off a flight and headed straight here. He had dark circles under his eyes.

He gave Henry a quick once-over, his tone dripping with authority. "Is Emily inside?"

Henry stood his ground, not moving an inch. "Who are you? Did you make an appointment?"

James's gaze turned colder. "I'm her husband."

Henry turned to look at me.

I set down my tools, took off my goggles, and walked over to the door. I met James's gaze over Henry's shoulder.

It had been ten days since we last saw each other.

He looked a bit thinner, and there was a look in his eyes I'd never seen before. Definitely not guilt. He was confused.

He couldn't understand.

He couldn't understand why I left.

He couldn't understand why I didn't make a fuss or cause trouble.

He couldn't wrap his head around why I chose to walk away.

He spoke, his voice low. "Emily, come back with me."

I said, "James, you got the lawyer's letter, right?"

He frowned. "Are you out of your mind? You want a divorce over something that happened on our honeymoon?"

All because of the honeymoon. See what I mean? Now, he still thinks it's no big deal.

I smiled, so calm it almost felt strange to myself. "It's not about the honeymoon."

"Then what is it about?"

"Because I saw your chat logs."

His expression stilled for a moment. A flicker flashed in his eyes.

But he pulled himself together fast, lips pressed into a thin line. "Did you snoop through my tablet?" His voice held no guilt, only irritation that I'd dared to look.

"I didn't snoop. You didn't bother to lock your screen."

He paused for a couple of seconds. "Lily and I are clean. Whatever you saw, nothing happened between us."

Innocent. I nodded. "I know you didn't hook up. But James, you canceled our honeymoon for her, called me annoying to your friends, and spent my three-month wait on her birthday wish."

I looked him dead in the eye and said, word by word, "You call that innocent? To me, it means you never saw me as your wife."

The hallway was dead silent.

James's Adam's apple bobbed. He opened his mouth, as if to speak.

I didn't let him. "Sign it." I turned my back to him and walked away. "Let's not waste each other's time."

Behind me, I heard James call out, his voice choked, "Emily."

I kept walking and never looked back.

Henry closed the door.

As the door clicked shut, I heard a dull thud from outside. Sounded like a fist hitting the wall.

I walked back to my workbench, sat down, and put my goggles back on. My hands were still steady. So was my heart.

Three years of love were gone the moment he canceled that ticket.