Chapter 3

Fergus came home late.

When the lights came on and he saw me sitting on the couch, he froze for a moment.

Then he went and found an ice pack and pressed it to my swollen cheek.

His lips pressed together.

"You shouldn't have treated my Simmons Corp employee that way."

I let out a cold laugh.

"Employee? Or the woman you share a bed with?"

His pupils shrank.

"You know."

"Yes. I also know you kiss that cheap woman, that you sleep with her. It's filthy. It makes me sick."

Fergus's eyes went slowly cold.

"We've never done anything. You can think the worst of me all you like, but you don't get to smear Maya with lies."

"You threw her out in front of all those people. Did you ever once think about how she felt?"

His chest heaved.

Everything in the way he looked at me was blame and reproach.

Something twisted hard in my chest.

"And me?"

"What?"

"You hit me in front of all those people. Did you ever once think about how I felt?"

"Do you even remember what you once promised me?"

Fergus pressed his lips together.

Clearly, he remembered too. After we made it official, he had made a vow in front of my parents:

"Sir, ma'am, for the first half of Dee's life, you never let her suffer a moment's grievance. For the rest of her life, I won't let her suffer a moment's grievance either."

I gave a bitter little laugh.

"I'm the only daughter of the chairman of the Overseas Merchants' Guild. You know how proud I am."

"But in front of all those people, you shattered my dignity and my pride."

Fergus was silent for a long while before he said, low:

"I'm sorry."

"But please, don't go after Maya again."

Fergus grabbed his coat and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To stay at the company."

I couldn't help the cold laugh.

We rarely slept in the same bed.

Fergus said he slept badly, that he wasn't used to having someone beside him, that he was more comfortable sleeping alone in his office at the company.

I had always believed that.

Until Maya's text tore it all open.

"Not going to sleep with Maya, then?"

I said it flatly.

His steps stopped, and his voice jumped high.

"No! There's nothing between us!"

I couldn't be bothered to argue and changed the subject.

"Come to the hospital with me tomorrow. To see Grandpa."

"I have a business trip tomorrow."

I looked at Fergus, long and hard.

"You have to go."

"Grandpa wants to see you."

He pinched the bridge of his nose, said nothing, and turned and walked out.

I stared at his back and slowly closed my eyes.

According to what I'd found, Maya's birthday was tomorrow.

Fergus had already booked an entire cruise ship for her.

He'd even reserved a fireworks crew for the banks of the Hudson River.

Business trip. It was all an excuse.

Grandpa was nearly spent, the flame guttering. He'd been in a care facility all this time and only now was well enough to see people.

His greatest wish was to lay eyes on his grandson-in-law, just once.

But the next day, I had the flowers and the gift ready, and Fergus never came.

I gritted my teeth and decided to go on my own.

When I stepped into the ward, Grandpa's eyes lit up.

He looked past me.

"Sweetheart, where's Fergus?"

"He'll be here soon."

I sent Fergus a message.

"Come see him, just once. That's all I ask."

"I promise I won't go after Maya again."

The reply came back: "Fine. I'll be there in half an hour."

Half an hour later, Fergus arrived.

Except behind him, Maya was there too.