Chapter 4

I wanted to fire back, but the words climbed to my throat and I swallowed them down.

She was right. If I weren't so pathetic, if I hadn't clung to one last shred of hope for Walter, I wouldn't be standing here letting two people come into my home to humiliate me.

I gripped my apron tight and turned for the kitchen.

Their laughter carried in from the living room, grating.

"Wow, are all of these for me?"

"Honestly, you didn't need to spend so much. You're the best gift there is. I don't need any of this stuff."

I couldn't stop myself from glancing over. Abigail was grinning ear to ear.

Her mouth said no, but every piece of limited-edition jewelry was already on her.

Walter used to say he despised gold-diggers.

After we married, when he found out I'd once been through the finishing-school program, he gave me the silent treatment for two whole years.

Living under the same roof, and he wouldn't say a single word to me.

But he took all of my care anyway.

For a while I told myself he was a man of principle. For a while I blamed myself, sure my past had earned his disgust.

Only now did I understand what I'd really lost to. He simply didn't love me enough.

"Ruby, is the chicken soup ready? Abigail's stomach is bothering her. Ladle out a bowl and let it cool for her first."

A fine, needling pain ran through my chest.

That was when it hit me. Tonight's soup wasn't for Walter to drink. It was for Abigail.

No wonder she'd called it a test earlier.

Six months ago, when his stomach was so weak, I would get up in the middle of the night and simmer it low and slow for hours, just so Walter could have chicken soup before work.

Maybe even back then, there was already someone else beside him.

Abigail came toward the kitchen, all smiles.

"Don't leave Ruby to do it all alone. From now on, taking care of you falls to me, so I should help out. That way I can learn to make you a decent soup down the road."

She stepped up beside me, and the fake, cloying affection turned my stomach.

"We're not rivals, and we're not enemies. We just happen to love the same man. You can trust me with Walter."

"And if you've got any secret recipe for this soup, don't go keeping it to yourself."

She called it helping. The next second, Abigail scooped up a ladle of hot soup and poured it straight over the back of my hand.

The searing pain made me shove her away on instinct. The back of my hand was already red and swollen, the skin peeling, blisters swelling up across it.

I bit down hard on my lip and didn't cry out.

But she used the moment to fall, staring up at me with terror in her eyes.

"Why would you do this? I know you can't let Walter go. You're divorcing because of me, so you're angry."

"But love can't be forced. Shoving me down will only make Walter hate you more. What's the point?"

I didn't argue. The back of my hand just burned, raw and fierce.

I hurried to the tap and ran water over it.

"You know exactly how you fell."

I forced the words out through my teeth. Just then Walter heard the noise and rushed straight to Abigail's side.

I was the one hurt worst, and I was the one cursed and glared at.

"Ruby Lawson! How can you be so vicious?"

His brows drew tight, his eyes cutting toward me like knives.

"If you've got a grudge, take it out on me. Abigail's done nothing!"

He carefully helped Abigail to her feet.

When I stayed silent, his fury only rose. He strode over and grabbed my hand.

"That hurts!"

He crushed the blisters on the back of my hand, and blood snaked down my wrist.

Walter didn't feel a flicker of pity.

He forced the words out low, through gritted teeth.

"Ruby Lawson, it seems I've been too soft on you. First thing tomorrow morning, we're going to the civil records office to finalize the paperwork."

With that, Walter left the villa, shielding Abigail.

A strange lightness spread through me. This was better. When you've given everything you owe and then walk away, that's the only clean conscience there is.

Once I'd dressed the wound, I sent the doctor a message.

【I've thought it over. This kidney stays where it is.】