Chapter 3

Declan did not appear when Theo was discharged.

His assistant delivered a bouquet and a new epinephrine kit. The message on the card was printed in the same standard font the team's PR department used for everything.

I'm sorry. Dad will be more careful next time.

Theo knew it was not his father's handwriting.

He shoved the card back into the flowers and did not speak for the entire drive home.

Declan called less than half an hour after we arrived.

"Blair's address has been leaked. It isn't safe for her there right now."

I helped Theo out of his coat. "So?"

"She's going to stay at our place for a few days. Take Theo to a hotel downtown. The team will cover it."

He said it as though the bill were the only problem to solve.

"Your son nearly died in the ER last night."

The other end of the line went quiet for a moment.

"That's exactly why the two of you can't be photographed. No one knows you're connected to me, so the press won't follow you."

Even now, he considered hiding us a form of protection.

"When will you be home?" I asked.

"Half an hour."

"All right."

I ended the call and opened the closet.

I did not smash anything. I did not wait for him to come home and explain.

I packed only our identification, Theo's medication, our clothes, and the row of classic car models beside his bed.

For seven years, I had handled every crisis Declan faced.

I knew how to charter a private flight without alerting the press. I knew which accounts held premarital assets and which documents could not be left behind.

For once, those skills were not being used to protect him.

My attorney emailed the divorce petition.

I reviewed it and signed my name electronically.

Helena sent Northlane's employment agreement a few minutes later.

After signing the second document, I sent formal notice to the Wolves, Declan's business manager, and every sponsor.

Effective today, I will accept no new matters. All existing business will be transferred within thirty days in accordance with the terms of the representation agreement.

Declan's consent was not required.

I had just closed the last suitcase when a car pulled up outside.

Declan walked in with Blair behind him.

She wore the white cashmere coat I had selected for her from a sponsor's collection the month before. An emerald bracelet circled her wrist.

I had seen that bracelet in the drawer of Declan's desk.

When I asked about it, he closed the box and said he was waiting for the right day to give it to me.

"This is the safe place you mentioned?" Blair looked around the living room. "Your agent lives here, too?"

Declan's gaze dropped to the suitcases.

"Maren stays here sometimes when she's working."

He did not hesitate for even a second.

Blair looked at Theo. "And who is he?"

Declan pressed his lips together.

I waited.

All he had to do was tell the truth. Just once, in front of this woman, he could acknowledge us.

"Her son," he said.

All the color drained from Theo's face.

I pulled up the suitcase handle.

"That's right. He's only my son."

I bent down and zipped Theo's coat.

"Say goodbye to Mr. Shaw."

Theo stared at Declan for a moment.

"Goodbye, Mr. Shaw."

I did not wait any longer. I took Theo's hand and pulled our suitcase toward the door.

Footsteps followed us almost immediately.

"Maren!"

Declan chased us down the steps and planted one hand on the suitcase.

"Let go."

"I went to Blair last night because someone smashed her car window. She lives alone. I couldn't ignore it."

"Theo had only me at the hospital."

"I told you I'll make it up to him."

Declan lowered his voice. Just as he did during every media crisis, he tried to force everything back into the arrangement he had chosen.

"Stay at a hotel for now. Once this blows over, I'll bring you back. Don't make a scene when I'm only trying to keep people from finding out about you."

He still believed I was trying to force him to choose.

But I had been making that choice for him for seven years.

I peeled his hand from the suitcase.

"You won't have to worry about that anymore."

I loaded the suitcase into the trunk without looking back.

It was the last time Theo and I left that house as our home.

Two hours later, our plane lifted out of Detroit.

Theo pressed his forehead to the window. His eyes were still red.

"Mom, why wouldn't Dad say I'm his son?"

I took his hand.

In the past, I had asked myself a thousand times why Declan would not admit I was his wife.

It was for the contracts. For the team. For our safety. For the next extension.

I could always find a reason for him.

But none of those reasons ever made the waiting hurt less.

"Because he always believed we would still be there when he was finally ready."

I slipped off my wedding ring and buried it at the bottom of my carry-on.

The phone in my hand would not stop vibrating.

Declan's last message contained only one sentence.

Where did you take my son?

I turned off my phone.

At last, he remembered Theo was his son.

But we had already left.