Chapter 1

My best friend was in a car crash and lost a leg above the knee. She'd barely come out of surgery when her husband sent over divorce papers.

Her own mother stood in the hospital doorway and wouldn't even look at her, calling her a cripple, dead weight, refusing to take her home.

Without a second thought, I took her in myself.

My husband, Rod Dickerson, slammed down his bowl and chopsticks right there. "Glenda Sullivan, have you lost your mind?"

"A woman with one leg, needing help to eat, bathe, use the toilet. You want to drag this whole house down?"

I couldn't bear to turn her away. I promised him, over and over.

"She has nobody now. I can't just leave her out on the street."

"Just a few months. Once I get her a prosthetic, she'll go."

After that, I was up before dawn and down after dark, emptying bedpans, wiping her clean, feeding her, doing everything I could.

I chased down dozens of manufacturers across the country and drained my savings to have a smart prosthetic custom-fit to her.

I hurried home clutching the fitting contract, only to walk in on the two of them going at it in the bathroom.

"Won't you find me repulsive? A cripple, not whole?"

"How could I? You're my Venus. No legs suits you better. Makes everything so easy—"

Jade Fox tilted her head back with a soft, coy laugh,

and caught my eyes without warning.

1

It was the dead heat of midsummer, and I felt like I'd dropped into a pit of ice.

Five whole minutes passed before the bathroom door slid open.

Rod, wrapped in a towel, lifted Jade and settled her carefully into her wheelchair, then took the hair dryer and dried her hair with real care.

Then he pulled over the cashmere blanket and tucked it around her, slow and thorough.

Rod had always been the alpha type. In eight years of marriage he'd never once lowered himself to do these little things for me.

Only when all of it was done did he look up, as if he'd just noticed me.

"Why are you back early? You didn't say a word."

Flat, like nothing had happened.

"If I'd said a word, how would I have caught this cheating little show of yours?"

Jade's eyes went red, tears trembling on the edge.

"Glennie, it isn't what you think."

"My phantom pain was so bad just now, I couldn't stand it."

"Roddy only came in to rub it for me. We didn't—"

She couldn't finish. She lifted her hand and beat hard at her own stump.

"It's all my fault. I'm useless."

"I never should have lived. I'm just a burden to you both. I'm sorry—"

She cried until she couldn't breathe, the skin of her stump going red from her own blows.

Rod rushed over and pressed her hands still, aching for her.

"I'm the one who wants you. It has nothing to do with you. Don't talk like that."

Then he turned to me, his eyes going cold.

"Glenda, do you have to be so vicious?"

I was shaking all over, my hands and feet gone icy.

"Vicious?"

"The two of you were carrying on naked in my bathroom. Am I supposed to praise what a handsome couple you make?"

Rod let out a cold laugh.

"Who was it that cried and begged to bring her home in the first place?"

"Who said she had nobody, and told me to help take care of her?"

"Now I've helped take care of her, and you're unhappy about it?"

"Glenda, be reasonable."

His words landed like a slap across my face.

For months it was me up before dawn and down after dark, emptying bedpans, wiping her down, feeding her.

Before this last trip, I'd even arranged for a caregiver. All I asked was that he lend a hand.

"I told you to help take care of her, not to take her to bed. Have you two no shame?"

I swung my arm and slapped him hard across the face.

His head snapped to the side, a thread of blood at the corner of his mouth.

"Don't hit him!"

Jade threw herself down from the wheelchair, dragging herself toward me inch by inch.

"It's all my fault. I seduced him."

"Glennie, if you want to hit someone, hit me. Don't blame Roddy!"

Rod bent down to lift her, but she pushed him away.

She was set on crawling to my feet, and there she looked up at me, her whole face wet with tears.

"Glennie, I know I've wronged you."

"My husband divorced me, my parents don't want me, and Roddy is the only one who doesn't find me disgusting."

"You're so healthy. You'd be just fine without him."

"But I can't. Without him, I can't go on living."

"Give him to me, please. I'm begging you."

Jade kowtowed frantically, and Rod rushed over and scooped her into his arms.

"Don't beg her."

"I'm the one who wants you. I'm the one who wants us together."

"What needs to be said, I'll say it."

Right in front of me, he pressed a soft kiss to Jade's forehead.

When he raised his eyes to me, they were full of cold distance.

"Glenda, it's come to this. Nothing anyone says makes a difference now."

"Let's get a divorce."

I stood where I was, my heart clenched so tight I couldn't breathe through the pain.

I looked at the two of them holding each other.

One was the husband I'd stood by for eight years.

One was the best friend I'd trusted for over twenty.

Together, they'd dealt me the deadliest blow.

Something warm and metallic rose in my throat, and I staggered back a step.

"Fine."

"Divorce."