Chapter 3

3.

During my hospital stay, I hired a private nurse to take care of me.

Sabrina was busy. Every day, Jace would send me photos of their "recovery" trips.

They went to the beach, they went scuba diving, they watched the stars from a private yacht.

Every photo featured them locked in a kiss.

I felt nothing. No jealousy, no anger. Just a sense of peace.

I spent my time on my laptop, coordinating with a friend to launch a biotech research lab.

For the past eight years, I had been doing R&D work in my spare time.

My friend had been begging me to go into business with him, but I had always felt tied to my contract.

Everyone told me I was wasting my life on a sham marriage.

But I never regretted it. At the time, my mother's life was worth more than my pride.

Now, she was gone, the contract was over, and I was finally free.

On the day of my discharge, Sabrina actually called me.

"When are you coming home? The house is a disaster."

"Are you still in the hospital? It's been ages."

I chuckled, the irony of her words hitting me. "Does the cleaning staff not work anymore?"

She huffed. "You know I don't like strangers touching my personal files. I need you to organize the office."

I looked at the clock, ready to tell her to go to hell, when the nurse came in with my final paperwork.

Sabrina heard the commotion and barked, "Just get back here now."

I didn't answer. I settled the bill and hobbled out to the car my friend had sent.

Xavier Hayes, my business partner, looked at me as I got in. "So? Are you finally a free man?"

I smiled, a genuine, light feeling spreading through my chest.

"It's over, Xavier. Everything is finished."

"I'm just waiting to sign the divorce papers, and then I'm leaving this city."

Xavier was more excited than I was.

"Hell yes! Let's go sign the lease for the lab, and then we're getting the spiciest wings in town!"

I nodded eagerly.

As we were discussing the legal details of our new venture, Sabrina's name popped up on my screen again.

I didn't even look at it. I flipped the phone face down.

Xavier whistled. "Really done with her, huh?"

Xavier was the only one who knew I had once actually loved that woman.

But that love had been eroded into dust by a thousand tiny cuts.

"Some people," I said softly, "just aren't meant to be in your world."

After signing the contracts, we went to a hole-in-the-wall wing place.

The first bite of spicy, messy food brought tears to my eyes.

Xavier laughed. "Is it really that good, or are you just emotional?"

I didn't answer.

Since I married Sabrina, I hadn't touched food with a strong scent.

She claimed it was "low class" and that the smell of garlic or spice embarrassed the Sterling name.

There were so many rules. No laughing too loud in public. No speaking out of turn.

For eight years, I had been a ghost in my own life.

Now, the smell of freedom―and buffalo sauce―was the best thing I'd ever experienced.

I didn't get back to the house until ten that night.

Sabrina was sitting in the dark living room, her face like stone.

She had called me fifteen times. I hadn't picked up once.

"Where were you?"

I took off my shoes and washed my hands before replying coldly, "Out with a friend."

She stepped toward me, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

"You smell like grease and spice. I told you never to eat that garbage."

I smiled at her, a look of genuine curiosity on my face.

"Does it bother you when Jace eats it?"

Her face contorted. "Don't compare yourself to him. He isn't a Sterling."

I nodded slowly.

Not yet, anyway. But I knew how much he meant to her.