Chapter 2

"A screen that big, sure, we see those all the time. But a couple that in love? That's a first for us. You don't find that every day."

I didn't answer.

I only gave a bitter smile and nodded.

He was right.

By the time I reached our old spot, my friend had already been waiting a while.

Before Colin could even say a word, I picked up the glass in front of me and drained it in one go.

Then another, and another.

Colin snatched the glass out of my hand, his voice edged with exasperation.

"What's gotten into you?"

"It's not like this is your first divorce. Do you really have to fall apart over it? When you and Selena Locke split, I called you. I even poked around a little to feel you out. But you seemed fine back then."

I clenched my fist hard and forced myself to stay calm.

"Divorced Selena Locke?"

"How is it that I'm the one it happened to, and I never knew a thing about it?"

He saw how serious I was, and his own face turned grave.

"What's going on?"

That said.

As if something had just come to him, Colin pulled out his phone and held it up in front of me.

"Look at this. Seven years ago Selena already made it public on her feed. She said the two of you had parted ways amicably, and that from then on there was nothing left between you."

I looked at the unfamiliar profile picture on the screen.

For a moment I couldn't place any of it.

I took my own phone out of my pocket and tapped into Selena's profile.

Two completely different avatars.

My friend leaned in beside me. As if it had just dawned on him, he said, startled,

"This is... two accounts?"

I took Colin's phone and opened Selena's feed.

The banner photo was a family portrait, all five of them.

And in it, my mother was holding the baby, smiling brighter than anyone else.

My fingers shook as I scrolled, post after post.

Every single one.

Selena, sharing her sweet everyday life with Jayden Henson.

The two of them at the beach, sitting shoulder to shoulder on the sand, kissing deeply in the last light of the sunset.

The two of them hiking, climbing hand in hand, then holding each other close at the summit.

The two of them out on the grasslands, running free through an endless stretch of green, gazing at each other under a sky full of stars.

And through all of it.

I had been overseas, quietly working for this family, working to give them a better life.

My friend looked at me, pain in his eyes, and after a long moment he asked softly,

"So... what are you going to do now?"

I lifted the glass in front of me and drained it, then laughed quietly, though there was nothing but cold in my eyes.

"Make them pay, of course."

I had just stepped out of the bar when Selena's call came through.

"Where are you?"

"We've wrapped up here. You can come home now."

If this had been before.

The moment I got a message from Selena, no matter how busy I was, I would have answered her first thing.

But now, I simply closed the chat without a thought, stood, and said goodbye to my friend.

"I've got something to take care of back home. I'll leave the divorce papers to you."

When I pushed open the door and walked in again.

Selena was sitting on the couch, head down over her phone, a smile playing at her lips.

At the sound, her head snapped up toward me, and then she rose and came toward me quickly, smiling as if nothing at all had happened.

"You must be worn out after a flight that long. The water's already hot. Go take a shower first."