Chapter 2

2

I pulled out my phone and tossed the bag at Dustin.

"Check it thoroughly," I spat.

Dustin handed the bag straight to Susannah.

She opened it and smirked. "Everything in here was bought with Dustin's money, wasn't it?"

"Including this designer bag. You aren't taking it."

"Also, your phone."

"And those clothes you're wearing."

Susannah looked at me with pure provocation. "If you have any pride left, you'll leave everything behind."

I looked at Dustin. He was gazing at Susannah with a sickening amount of adoration. "Do whatever Susannah wants."

He used to look at me like that. But the second she returned, everything changed.

I silently put down my phone and walked back to the bedroom.

Moments later, I walked out wearing the custom-made, traditional silk heirloom gown my family had tailored for my wedding day.

I hadn't expected that I'd leave this house in the same clothes I wore when I first entered it.

When I stepped out, a flash of something crossed Dustin's eyes.

On our wedding day, he told me I was the most beautiful woman in the world, like an angel descended to earth.

I didn't know what he was thinking now. Maybe he thought he was powerful enough to have his cake and eat it too.

I snapped myself out of it and glared at him. "This dress has nothing to do with you, right?"

"I didn't buy that," he explained to Susannah quickly.

Susannah looked displeased. She clearly wanted to humiliate me by making me leave half-naked.

She pointed at my necklace. "I like that necklace. You aren't letting her take that, are you?"

Dustin refused to meet my eyes. "Leave the necklace."

Confirming my pregnancy was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Even when he brought up the divorce, I hadn't planned on making a scene today.

But he was pushing me too far.

That necklace was a gift from my father for my eighteenth birthday. It was made by a world-class jeweler using the finest materials.

I wore it every day. It was my pre-marital property, and Dustin knew that perfectly well.

"Dustin York, don't push your luck. Does this necklace have anything to do with you?"

"Of course it does! Viviette, you're being ridiculous." My mother-in-law walked through the front door. "Every single thing in this house was earned by Dustin's hard work."

"How can you say it has nothing to do with him?"

"You've lived off him for years, and he's not even asking you to pay him back for all the food and wine you've consumed."

"It's just a necklace, and you have the nerve to insult him? I think you're the one who needs a reality check."

"Take it off and give it to Susannah."

I ignored her and kept my eyes on Dustin. "Dustin, I'm asking you. Does this necklace belong to you?"