Chapter 1

Right before I could pay for my retinal detachment surgery, my husband transferred every last dollar out of my account.

All because his childhood sweetheart's flower shop would be repossessed by the landlord that very day if she didn't renew the lease.

"Your vision's a little blurry and now you need surgery? Since when did you get so delicate?"

"You're my wife, I know, but I can't just stand by and watch her lose years of hard work."

His sweetheart was frantic on the other end of the line.

"The shop can reopen later. Give her the money for surgery first."

"I really don't need you making this decision for me."

The doctor warned him too.

"She has a detached retina. She needs surgery as soon as possible."

"If she misses the window, it could cause permanent vision damage."

He sneered.

"It's not that serious. A few more days won't make her go blind."

"If the shop's gone today, it's gone for good. The surgery can just as easily be done next week."

"Don't try to scare me. We've been married five years. Whether she's using her health to force me to cave, no one knows better than I do."

Later, I missed the window for surgery.

My right eye went permanently blind.

And I set the signed divorce agreement in front of him.

The man who said a few more days wouldn't make me go blind ended up on his knees, begging to be the eyes I'd have for the rest of my life.

1

The clerk handed the card back to me.

"Insufficient funds. Please use another card."

The three hundred and twenty thousand dollars in my account had been transferred to Boyd Donaldson's.

That was every cent I had access to.

I braced myself against the counter. The dark shadow in my right eye spread another ring wider.

"That was my surgery money."

"Your money?"

He gave a short laugh.

"Five years of marriage, eating off the Donaldsons, living off the Donaldsons, and you're really going to split hairs about whose money it is?"

The doctor took my phone.

"Mr. Donaldson, your wife's retina has already detached. She has to be admitted today."

Boyd didn't budge.

"Your hospital will say anything to make a buck."

"She's still on her feet. How serious can it be?"

The doctor held back his temper.

"She could go blind at any moment."

I could hear Violet Gilbert crying over the phone.

"Boyd, give the money back to Davina James."

"If my shop closes, it closes. I can't be the reason her eyes don't get treated."

Boyd's voice softened.

"Don't cry. This isn't yours to give up."

Violet sniffled twice.

"But that's Davina's money."

"She married me. Her money is the Donaldsons' to manage now."

I gripped the phone tighter.

"Transfer the money back."

Boyd paused for two seconds.

"First you agree to drop the complaint against Violet's flower shop."

That complaint had nothing to do with me.

The landlord had found out Violet had illegally altered the fire escape and ordered her to fix it within a deadline.

She'd pinned the blame on me.

"I didn't report her."

"Still pretending?"

Boyd dropped his voice.

"Besides you, who else can't stand to see her doing well?"

The pain in my right eye bored into my temple.

I crouched down, my knees pressed against the front of the payment counter.

A nurse came over to steady me.

By the time Boyd got there, Violet was still on the phone, pleading with him.

"Hurry and get Davina into surgery. I don't want the shop anymore."

"Shut up."

Boyd hung up and switched off his phone.

He grabbed my arm and hauled me up off the floor.

"Violet's already backed down. How long do you plan to keep making a scene?"

"Pay for it, and I'll be admitted."

"You've got the nerve to threaten me with your surgery?"

He dragged me toward the door.

I grabbed the doorframe.

"The doctor said it has to be done today."

"The doctor farts and you treat it like gospel?"

He pried my fingers loose.

The right side of my face slammed into the glass doorframe.

A tearing pain shot through my eyeball.

I bent over, my body shaking beyond my control.

The nurse threw herself in front of him.

"She just hit her eye. She needs emergency care right now."

Boyd shoved the nurse aside.

"What kind of woman my wife is, I know better than you."

"She's an expert at faking illness to force people to give in."

The doctor chased after us.

"If you take her away today, the damage may be beyond repair."

Boyd stuffed me into the car.

"Next week I'll bring in a specialist from overseas."

"You just want me revolving around you, don't you? Fine, I'll give you that."

I cupped my hand over my right eye.

He glanced at me and tossed me a pack of tissues.

"Wipe it up."

"Don't get blood on my car."