Chapter 2

I crouched down and quietly picked up the contract he'd crushed, my fingertips ice-cold.

Three years ago, Cheryl Henson asked me to look after Luke, who was struggling with depression. Yes, we did sign a contract.

But back then Luke and I were complete strangers. I signed a contract, took the money, and got him treatment. What was wrong with that?

Later the two of us grew close, and we decided to marry.

I'd kept that old contract on purpose, and drawn up a new one to spend the rest of my life with him.

I'd imagined that today, at the wedding, Cheryl would give it to us as a special gift, a keepsake of how our story started with a contract.

But now, all of it had become a joke.

I didn't want to explain a single word more. I lifted my eyes to Luke, my voice calm.

"Mr. Henson, you're right. We were a contract relationship from the start. The contract's over now, so I should go."

With that, I turned and walked toward the door.

"Nanette, you wouldn't dare."

Luke was suddenly beside himself.

"If you set one foot out that door today, don't ever think about coming back!"

My steps faltered, and a fine, spreading ache pushed through my heart.

Luke, the one who pushed me away, step by step, was always you.

Maureen Henson leaned against the door frame, and when she saw me stop, she rolled her eyes hard.

"Tsk. Can't bear to leave after all?"

"I said it a long time ago. Marriage has to be between equals."

"An orphan with no father, no mother, clawing her way into the Henson family. What are you after if not the money? Quit acting so high and mighty."

Since coming back, Maureen had never once thought much of me.

She doted on Eva instead, with her sweet mouth and her flattery, always waiting for the day she could swap me out and make Eva her daughter-in-law.

I lowered my eyes, a sneer tugging at my lips.

Where did she find the nerve to say I was after money?

Back when the Henson family was on the brink of bankruptcy, Maureen had made off with every cent in the house and run.

Mr. Henson had held things together alone, worn himself down until illness took him.

And that was why Luke fell into severe depression.

Cheryl, afraid of setting him off, had never told him the truth about how his mother walked out.

Now the Hensons had risen again. Maureen had blown through the money out there, then come crawling back to live off them.

The one who truly hungered for money was her.

But none of that was any of my concern anymore.

I stepped around her and walked straight out of the Henson house.

After a night's rest, I went to the hospital first thing the next morning and found the attending physician.

"Dr. Lambert, the two hundred thousand for the treatment has come through. Please, could you schedule my grandmother's last surgery."

Grandmother had been diagnosed with a heart condition three years ago. She needed one surgery a year, six hundred thousand in all.

My grandmother and Cheryl were close friends. When they were young, my grandmother had once saved Cheryl's life.

When Cheryl heard about the illness, she wanted to simply hand over the money.

But my grandmother was stubborn and flatly refused.

I happened to be studying psychology at university, so I gave up my funded graduate placement abroad.

For two hundred thousand a year, I stayed to care for Luke and earn my grandmother's surgery money.

I'd meant to take her in for the surgery once the wedding was over. I never imagined it would end up like this.

Dr. Lambert looked troubled. He gazed at me and let out a sigh.

"Miss Pruitt, I'm truly sorry. There's no money left in your grandmother's account."

I went blank.

"That's not possible. The Hensons wired the money over first thing yesterday. How can it be gone?"

Dr. Lambert lowered his voice.

"This morning, Mr. Henson had someone withdraw the two hundred thousand straight out of the account."