Chapter 1

1.

The same day I bought a two-million-dollar jewelry necklace at auction under my own name, my brother-in-law Eustace Gilbert, facing prison over tax evasion, jumped to his death.

The day his widow lost her husband, my husband Albert Gilbert gave her my necklace without asking me.

"She just lost Eustace. She still has a whole life ahead of her, and right now she needs money more than anyone."

I stood there frozen, staring at the necklace in its red velvet case, and kept my voice level. "Anything but this one. She can pick from the others, can't she?"

Margot Barnes picked at her fingers and stammered, "Layla, I know how much you love this necklace. Once I get through this, I promise I'll pay you back."

Seeing that, Albert comforted her, all consideration. "We're family. It's yours now that it's been given to you."

Something in my throat went raw. They were family, yes. But I was the person closest to Albert, wasn't I?

The necklace was worth a fortune. Albert had deliberately handed it off to an outsider and now refused to take it back. I had every right to pick up the law and use it.

...

I refused to let it go, and asked him one more time.

"Albert, are you really giving the necklace to her?"

Albert acted as if I'd embarrassed him.

"Layla Payne, it's one necklace. Can you not nickel-and-dime this? It's settled. The necklace is a gift to Margot, free and clear."

"You're both women. How can you have not one ounce of sympathy?"

"And if I ever catch you going behind my back to ask her for it, I'll file for divorce and split the assets."

Eight years of marriage, and he was ready to divorce me over her.

I stood rooted to the spot and said nothing for a long time.

Seeing me like that, Albert assumed I'd caved, and the corner of his mouth curved up.

"What's the point of struggling? The thing was always going to be Margot's anyway. Oh, and that new Mercedes sports car you bought, give it to Margot too, while you're at it. It'll make getting around easier for her."

He'd dropped even the word for his brother's widow now and gone straight to her first name.

My nails dug into my flesh and I couldn't even feel the pain. He was after my car now too.

"That's the limited edition Dad just had shipped over from abroad. It's my daily driver."

Albert let out a scornful little laugh, indifference all over his face.

"That car is a limited edition. It suits a refined heiress far better. As for you, a country hick who grew up in the sticks, you probably can't even tell a luxury item when you see one."

"Besides, do you understand this car's performance, the engine, the horsepower, any of it? You know nothing. Leaving it in your hands is a waste of a good thing."

So that was what he thought of me deep down.

Albert saw my reddened eyes, and his tone softened despite himself.

"What I said is true, but don't take it to heart."

"Margot's been comfortable her whole life. It can't be that she loses everything just because Eustace is gone."

"Once I make money down the road, I'll make it up to you."

I listened to Albert paint me his empty, impossible promises.

Since the comfort I'd once known was gone, I should just accept reality.

Says who?

My necklace was bought with the trust fund my mother left me. The car was a birthday gift from my father.

My things. Why should they build her comfortable life for her.

"Since she wasn't born to a life of comfort, she should accept reality and stop dreaming. And another thing, if you're all talk, why don't you buy it for her yourself?"

Albert had no comeback for that, and his voice turned cold and hard. "Layla Payne, don't push your luck."

I looked at him with flat, empty eyes. "That divorce you just brought up, I agree to it."

"Eight years we've been together..."

I cut in and repeated myself.

"The divorce. I agree to it."