Chapter 2

2.

Ivy had done it. She must have mixed the agreement in with a stack of business papers he had to sign last night.

Good.

Now they could enjoy their "family." And as of today, Charlotte Vance lives for herself and herself alone.

"What gift did you prepare?" Julian walked closer, his brow furrowed. "Why didn't I know about this?"

He reached for the folder, but I quickly pulled it behind my back.

"Keeping secrets from me now?" he asked, one eyebrow raised with his usual air of control.

I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Like how you kept it a secret that you got someone else pregnant, and I only found out by walking in on you at the hospital twelve weeks later?"

His face darkened. He lowered his voice. "I told you why I had to keep the baby… I hid it from you because I was afraid you would leave."

Afraid I would leave? Julian, the things you fear the most are the things you're most likely to lose.

Ivy chose that moment to let her eyes well up with tears. "It's all my fault… I never should have helped you that night, and I definitely shouldn't have let Grandmother Eleanor find out about the pregnancy…"

Julian immediately turned to comfort her. "Don't say that. You're the victim here."

I couldn't watch this disgusting performance any longer. I turned and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked, following me.

"To run an errand."

He glanced outside. "The hurricane warning is still in effect. I'll drive you."

Then he turned back to the butler and started rattling off instructions. "Make sure Ivy doesn't touch cold water, keep the room at exactly 72 degrees, and no saffron in the lobster bisque…"

For eight solid minutes, he went over every single detail of her prenatal care.

I stood on the porch watching him, and a bitter smile touched my lips. "Julian, you're going to be a great father."

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. He grabbed my wrist. "Only a child you give me will be a legitimate heir to the Sterling family. You know my hands are tied. Don't talk like that."

His palm was still warm, but I couldn't feel any of its heat.

As we drove down Fifth Avenue, he tried to break the silence. "What business do you have at City Hall in a storm like this?"

Suddenly, my phone rang.

Ivy's tearful voice came through the car's Bluetooth speaker. "Julian… my stomach hurts… something feels wrong…"

The color drained from his face. "Breathe deeply. I'm on my way back right now!"

He hung up and looked at me, his eyes full of apology. "Charlie, we're only five blocks from City Hall. Can you grab a cab?"

"Of course," I said calmly, pushing the door open and stepping out.

The torrential rain soaked me instantly. I stood on the sidewalk, watching his Maybach make a frantic U-turn and speed away, splashing mud all over the hem of my dress.

I had to laugh.

You were so close, Julian. So close to finding out what I was about to do.

The wind and rain were so intense that I couldn't get a cab. I ended up walking for twenty minutes to City Hall, looking like a drowned rat by the time I arrived.

"Filing for a divorce settlement," I said, sliding the carefully protected folder through the window.

The clerk glanced at the names on the agreement, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Julian Sterling? Are you sure? Under New York's no-fault divorce laws, once this is filed and the waiting period is over, a judge will sign the final decree in 30 days."

"I'm sure."

The rain had stopped by the time I walked out of City Hall. I looked up at the patch of clear sky above the Manhattan skyscrapers, and the ache in my chest seemed to ease, just a little.

When I got back to the Hamptons, the villa was empty. From upstairs, I could hear Julian's gentle voice. He was reading The Little Prince to Ivy.

I went straight to the guest room and fell into a deep, heavy sleep. I don't know how much time passed, but I woke up with my throat feeling like it was on fire.

"Water…" I called out a few times, but the only response was the sound of a fairytale being read in the next room.

"I hope the baby is as smart as you, Julian," Ivy's voice was syrupy sweet.

"Don't sell yourself short," he chuckled. "Being like you would be great, too. Kind and resilient…"

Kind? Resilient? I almost choked on a bitter laugh.

I struggled to sit up and reach for the glass of water, but a wave of dizziness sent it crashing to the floor. Shards of glass dug into my palm. I gritted my teeth, pulled them out, wrapped my hand in a towel, and swallowed some fever reducers.

Through it all, the cozy conversation next door never stopped.

As I lay back down, I remembered my sophomore year of college. I had a high fever, and Julian drove all the way from Harvard to Yale, ignoring the dorm matron's protests to rush into my room. He stayed by my side for three days and three nights.

He had red-rimmed eyes back then as he told me, "Charlie, when you're in pain, it hurts me more than it hurts you."

And now?

A tear slid silently down my cheek. I closed my eyes and let the darkness swallow me.