Chapter 2

Just last month, we were still planning it together. A bigger place. A baby.

She'd even ranted, full of righteous fury, about that cheating VP at her firm.

"A man who can't even keep it in his pants is no different from a stray dog in heat."

"People with zero sense of responsibility never get far in their careers, either."

Yet here she was, perfectly at ease, driving my wedding car with her boy toy in the passenger seat, planning to strand me out of town.

William finished his beef jerky and leaned in close to whisper in her ear.

"Arlene, I get to spend your whole birthday with you today. And next month it's my turn!"

"You have to come surfing with me in Miami then. Deal?"

He paused, as if a thought had just struck him.

"Wait, no. Isn't your husband's birthday next month too?"

"If you go to Miami with me, what if he gets mad?"

Arlene laughed softly. "It's fine. I'll do the same thing as last time. Tell him my mom's not feeling well and he needs to go take care of her, quick."

Last time.

She meant six months ago, on our wedding anniversary.

I'd already booked the restaurant and had her gift ready.

Then she'd called, panicked, saying her mother had collapsed, that she was out of town and couldn't get back, and I had to go take care of her right away.

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

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

But when I moved to call 911, she'd flat-out refuse to go to the hospital, insisting she just needed to lie down at home.

Turns out there was never anything wrong with her.

No wonder the second Arlene got back, she made a full recovery.

That night Arlene held me and said marrying me was the luck of a lifetime, that I was her family's good-luck charm, the one who turned every disaster around.

I was so moved I could barely speak, actually believing I'd been some help to her.

Turns out her whole family had been playing me for a fool.

William collapsed against her shoulder, laughing.

"Arlene, you're so bad."

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

Arlene let out a careless little scoff.

"Roland's the type who's always so considerate."

"I tell him first that I'm having a small procedure, then make a point of saying he doesn't need to come. He's probably breaking his heart over me right now."

"And here's the best part. I didn't let him have any part in this surgery. So next time he's sick, will he really have the nerve to come bother me?"

William listened, then looked at her with total admiration.

"Oh my god, that whole retreat-to-advance move of yours is genius!"

"Obviously." Arlene freed one hand and pinched his cheek. "It's a perfectly good birthday. I'm not about to let him ruin it."

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

"Otherwise, when his birthday rolls around next month, I'd have to buy him a gift and waste money for nothing."

William watched her with a sly grin.

"No way. You're really that stingy? Then what about my gift next month?"

Arlene's face broke into a smile at once.

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

"There's a pair of those sneakers you've been eyeing in the trunk. I'll give them to you when we get out."

"The money I earn, I only want to spend on my William."

William, thoroughly won over, glowed for a moment, then sighed.

"But Arlene, I can't keep spending your money. I'm a man too. I want to work hard and make my own, to be as impressive as you two."

His eyes darted around. "Oh, right. That NovaTech Solutions project at the company lately, they say once it's done, there'll be a promotion and raise by year-end, no questions asked."

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