Chapter 1

1.

The day I had my surgery, alone, a notification popped up on my phone. It was an Instagram post from my husband's "high school sweetheart."

[Thanks to Damian for bringing me to see the Northern Lights.]

The photo showed the two of them in a tight embrace under the brilliant aurora in Fairbanks, Alaska.

I liked the post. Then I commented: [You two look perfect together.]

A second later, Damian's call came through, his voice thick with accusation. "What the hell, Hailey? Sienna just got divorced, she's fragile right now. You're being petty and vindictive. She had a total breakdown because of what you wrote."

From the other end of the line, I could hear a woman's muffled sobs. "Damian, don't... don't blame Hailey because of me..."

After the procedure, I saw another new post from Sienna. This time, she tagged me directly.

[Thank you, Damian, for the sky full of fireworks.]

I knew this trick. It was his classic move to cheer her up.

When I got out of the hospital, I filed for divorce.

…

I had just walked out of my lawyer's office when Damian's call came.

His voice was ice cold, demanding, "Where are you?"

I paused for a moment before answering, "Out. What's up?"

"Get home. Now. We need to talk."

He hung up before I could reply.

I let out a soft sigh, my eyes falling on the photo of us on my phone screen. A familiar wave of exhaustion washed over me.

When I got home, I found Damian sitting on the living room sofa, his face a thundercloud.

He turned his head at the sound of my arrival.

"Where were you?"

I couldn't understand why he was so angry with me.

"I was out running some errands. Why?"

The words had barely left my mouth when he strode over to me, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look at him. "Tell me the truth, Hailey. Were you with another man?"

"I'm gone for a few days and you're already cheating on me?"

His grip was strong, my jaw aching under the pressure.

I shoved him away, my own anger flaring. "Are you insane? When have I ever been with another man?"

"Oh, so you're going to deny it!"

Damian pulled out his phone, shoving a photo in my face. "Then explain this. Who is this guy you're with?"

I frowned at the picture on his screen. It was me, after my surgery, with Alex, the Home Health Aide I'd hired. He was explaining my medication schedule.

The angle was tricky, I'll admit. At a quick glance, it looked intimate.

"Look closer. That's my Home Health Aide. And for the record, he's gay. He has a husband."

Damian froze for a second, but his eyes were still filled with suspicion.

"Really? You're not lying?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.

I stared at the man I had loved for five years, and a cold realization hit me.

His first reaction to seeing that photo wasn't to ask why I was in a hospital setting, or if I was sick.

It was to accuse me of cheating.

"Zoom in on the picture. You can see the hospital ID bracelet on my wrist. He's wearing scrubs with his name tag on it."

As I spoke, I pulled out my own phone and called Alex.

"Hey, Hailey, what's up?"

At the clear sound of a man's voice, Damian's body went rigid.

"Nothing much. Just dealing with someone who thinks you're my secret lover. Calling to clear the air."

Alex was quiet for a beat, then he laughed. "Is it your husband? Hailey, you can tell him this: 'Dude, she's recovering. Tell him to back off.' But just to put his mind at ease, you can add that I'm a happily married gay man."

"It's fine, he was just worried," I said, watching Damian's face carefully.

Sure enough, his brow furrowed.

After five years of marriage, I knew that frown meant he was annoyed or irritated.

Alex chuckled on the other end, wished us luck, and hung up.

I looked up at Damian, my expression blank. "You believe me now?"

He pressed his lips together and nodded, saying nothing.

"Anything else? If not, I'm going to take a shower."

"Wait." He took a deep breath. "About before... I shouldn't have accused you without knowing the facts. I'm sorry. I brought you a gift."

He turned and picked up two small gift boxes from the table, handing them to me.

"Why are there two?" I asked, confused.

A hint of warmth entered Damian's eyes.

"This one is from me. And this one... Sienna asked me to give it to you."

"Sienna wants to make peace. She knows you might have misunderstood her intentions and wants to extend an olive branch. That comment you left on Instagram... honestly, it was a bit harsh. If you just apologize to her, we can all move past this."

I took the box from him but pushed the other one back. "I don't want this. Give it back to her."

Damian's face darkened instantly.

His mood swings were getting exhausting.

"What's that supposed to mean? You're the one who started it, and now Sienna is trying to be the bigger person. Can't you show a little grace? You're making this awkward for everyone, you know that?"

I let out a cold laugh. "I don't need her gift. I won't accept anything from her."

Suddenly, Damian shoved me hard.

I wasn't prepared for it. My back slammed against the wall, and my head hit the corner of a decorative shelf.

In that single, violent moment, five years of marriage turned to dust.

Damian seemed surprised by his own action, glancing down at his hand as if he couldn't believe what he'd just done.

"You... you need to think long and hard about what you're doing!"

With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.