ew's

. My eyes widened as I realized that Melinda had already seen t

ss she always wore on our anniversaries like we were st

. My heart was racing and all I could think was

sa asked, her voice low but calm, like t

replaying the look on Melinda's face sho

ed. "But it doesn't matt

alm like nothing happened "You knew this woul

ht, but everything inside me felt like a sto

our ann

in my head. Melinda always showed up when she

ng her shirt when I sh

red, wiping the lipstick off her collar

s did she know a

contents of the envelope onto my desk. Fabricated pr

and gave off that smug, in control vibe she was famous for. I don't know

was part of the reason I'd fallen into bed with her. That and th

t?" Vanessa asked, rai

"She left,

e by now, clutching her pearls like a soap opera heroine. Melinda never did

the beaut

r saw it

cruel. You're something

aned back in my cha

tects, fresh out of school, building a firm from scratch. She had the talent, and I had the drive

she was working f

when I knew she had to go. A divorce would cost too much bad press, bad ti

a and I m

betrayal. The right p

l she showed up be

d suddenly, almost disappointed.

back to her pretty little spreadsheets," I mutter

ing fe

orse. It was the silence. She didn't say a word. Th

t... wa

s," I sai

inked. "Kn

her, every muscle sti

faded. "What are

anding. "I didn't hear the elevator. She must've a

the door

out her life insurance policy. About how convenient it would be

le

nd dialed her number.

ai

one back on the

Vanessa said nervously.

"If she heard what I think she did, s

on the couch. "O

s. I'll call Marcus see if he's heard from he

r the first time in years, I couldn't read Melind

sive with details. She didn't cry. She didn't scream. That w

e was, she'd already gone to the lawyers. Maybe even canceled the insurance policy. Maybe m

had become

oming back,"

olded. "So that's it? You're

a choice. No

, staged hotel receipts, doctored surveillance photos. All of it felt like a joke now. Because if

hind me like a vul

," I said.

re she could rebuild. Before

knew for certain it was that Me

e walked into my life, I didn't