Chapter 2

At ten that night, I heard the keypad lock click open at the front door.

Edward was back.

He carried an elegant cake box, calling out to the living room as he changed his shoes. "Grace, are you asleep?

"I brought you that mille-feuille you love. Come try it."

I sat on the couch in the dark.

He walked over, flipped on the light, and frowned when he saw how pale I was.

"What's wrong? Your stomach again? I told you to eat on time before I left." He reached out to feel my forehead.

I turned my head away.

Edward's hand paused awkwardly in midair, his eyes darkening.

"Throwing another tantrum, are we?" He set the cake down, a note of resignation in his voice.

I looked up at him. "Did you get this mille-feuille on a business trip, or from the shop right outside Maple Care Hospital?"

Edward's gaze fell on the receipt. He paused for a second.

He didn't look the least bit embarrassed at being caught.

He walked slowly to the armchair, sat down, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and lit one.

He blew out a smoke ring, his voice completely flat. "Since you've already run into her, I won't keep it from you."

"Edward, don't you owe me an explanation?" I looked at the man I'd loved for five years, and felt like a total stranger.

He tapped off the ash, perfectly calm. "Charlie is pregnant. It's normal for a man to mess around outside. I never planned to keep it from you forever."

I stared at him in disbelief. "Edward, I thought we'd get married and spend the rest of our lives together."

"Married?" Edward scoffed, as he'd just heard the funniest joke.

He leaned in across the coffee table, his cold eyes fixed on me. "Grace, when did I ever promise to marry you?"

I was stunned.

He continued, "Charlie is the only daughter of the Hayes family. Our families are close. I married her three years ago."

"Married?" I echoed, my voice trembling. "So what was I to you these past five years?"

Edward pointed with his cigarette at this big, open-plan apartment.

"You live in a ten-million-dollar place downtown, drive a Porsche, and get hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending money every month.

"Your sister Lily is in the best private hospital, taking those expensive imported meds. Who do you think foots the bill for all that?

"Do you really think your little design gigs could ever cover Lily's medical bills?"

I stared at the sketches I'd pulled an all-nighter for, my hands clenching into fists.

Edward straightened up and fixed his tie. "Grace, don't get too greedy.

"I've spoiled you for five years and done everything a man should do for you.

"If you insist on crossing the line and meddling in my wife's affairs, then you're just asking for trouble."

My mind went completely blank. Something inside me shattered.

So I was nothing but the hidden mistress all along.

I shot to my feet, snatched the pregnancy test off the table, and hurled it right at his face. "You're shameless!"

Edward's expression turned stormy.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he might crush my bones. "Grace, I've spoiled you so much you've gotten way too comfortable, haven't you?"

Edward closed in on me, his voice low and threatening. "Charlie's fragile and easily scared. You'd better keep your mouth shut tight. If anything happens to her baby, you'll be sorry you ever crossed me."

I struggled with all my strength, but I couldn't break free.

"Let go!" I yelled, "Edward, we're done. I'm moving out tomorrow."

Edward froze for a second when he heard I was leaving, then let out a mocking laugh.

He jerked my hand away from him. "Fine, leave. Get out right now."

He pulled out a couple of tissues, wiped the spot where he'd touched me, and tossed them in the trash.

He said coldly, "But Grace Parker, before you walk out that door, you might want to think about Lily at the hospital.

"Unless I give the word, Lily will be kicked out of the sterile ward tomorrow morning. Her wrecked body could fail any day now. How long do you think she'll survive?"

I froze in place.

Edward looked at my rigid back, a satisfied smile on his face.

He walked over and, like he always did, reached out to tidy up my messy hair. "Be a good girl, Grace.

"As long as you know your place, you'll still be the one I care about most. And I'll keep looking for a bone marrow match for Lily.

"Go take a shower. I'll be waiting for you in bed."

He tapped my cheek, then turned and walked into the bathroom.

Hearing the water running, I slumped onto the floor, completely spent.

Finally, the tears started to fall.