Chapter 2

Just last month, we were still planning to trade up to a bigger house, planning to have a baby.

He'd even railed against that cheating VP at his company, full of righteous fury.

"A man who can't control what's below his waist is no better than a dog in heat."

"People with no sense of responsibility never get far in their careers either."

And here he was, calm and unbothered, driving my car with his mistress beside him, planning to strand me out of town.

Edwina finished her fruit snacks and tugged at his sleeve, all sugar and coax.

"Bertram, once I've spent your birthday with you today, next month it's my turn!"

"You have to take me to Miami to see the ocean then, okay?"

She paused, playing at innocence.

"Oh, wait, isn't your wife's birthday next month too?"

"If you go to Miami with me and she gets upset, what then..."

Bertram gave a soft laugh. "It's fine. I'll do what I did last time. I'll tell her my mother's not feeling well and send her running over to take care of her."

Last time.

He meant six months ago, our wedding anniversary.

I'd already booked the restaurant, already had his gift ready.

Then he called, frantic, saying his mother had collapsed and he was out of town and couldn't get back, and I had to go take care of her.

Back then I was juggling work and looking after her at the same time.

The second I stepped away to make a call, she'd start whimpering that she felt awful.

But when I tried to call 911, she flat-out refused to go to the hospital, insisting she'd be fine if she just lay down at home.

So there had never been anything wrong with her.

No wonder she recovered the moment Bertram got back.

That night he held me and said marrying me was the luck of a lifetime, that I was his family's good-luck charm, the one who turned disaster into safety.

I was moved to pieces, even glad I'd been able to help him.

His whole family had been playing me for a fool.

Edwina collapsed against his shoulder with a coy little laugh.

"Bertram, you're so bad."

"But why did you have to lie this time and say you were getting surgery? That's such bad luck to say."

Bertram let out an indifferent little scoff.

"Winona's the type who really goes out of her way to be considerate."

"I tell her I'm having a minor operation, then make a point of saying she doesn't need to come. She's probably aching over me right now."

"And here's the key part. I didn't let her handle a thing for this surgery. So next time she's sick, will she even have the nerve to come bother me?"

Edwina gazed at him with pure admiration.

"Wow, that give-a-little-to-take-a-lot move is genius!"

"Of course." Bertram freed one hand and pinched her cheek. "It's a perfectly good birthday. I'm not about to let her ruin it."

"Honestly, I have a birthday every year. I just don't want to spend it with her."

"Otherwise next month when it's her birthday, wouldn't I have to buy her a gift and waste good money?"

Edwina shot him a pouty, teasing look.

"So you're this stingy? Then what about my gift next month?"

Bertram switched to a smile at once.

"Silly, I'm stingy with her. When have I ever been cheap with you?"

"That bag you kept eyeing is in the trunk. I'll give it to you when we get out."

"The money I make, I only want to spend on my Edwina."

Edwina giggled, thoroughly charmed, then pursed her lips again.

"But Bertram, I can't keep spending your money forever. I want to work hard and earn my own, be as impressive as you."

Her eyes darted. "Oh, right, that NovaTech project at your company, they say once it's done, there'll be a straight promotion and raise by year's end."

"But I'm too junior. There's no way it'd ever come to me..."