Chapter 3

3

Ten minutes later, Killian's car pulled into the driveway.

"I'm here. Come down."

His black Bentley was parked under the apartment, wipers moving at the slowest speed.

He was leaning against the car smoking. The cherry of his cigarette glowed in the rain. As soon as he saw me, he crushed it out.

"I got you your favorite latte," he said, opening the door for me.

The car smelled of bitter orange and cedarwood. The AC was set to exactly 72 degrees, just the way I liked it.

The seat heaters were already on. A half-sweet oat milk latte sat in the cup holder.

"There's a blanket in the back."

He leaned over to clip my seatbelt, his lashes casting shadows on his lenses. "You tend to get motion sick."

The car glided into the rain. He didn't need the GPS; he knew exactly where he was going.

At a red light, his right hand tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel. "The villa is by the ocean."

He spoke suddenly. "You can listen to the waves when you can't sleep."

Raindrops streaked across the window. His profile was sharp against the neon lights of the city.

"The master bedroom faces south. You'll get fourteen hours of sunlight."

I rubbed the cardboard sleeve of my cup. "How long have you been preparing this?"

The wipers sped up. His Adam's apple moved.

"Not long. I just want you to be happy."

He was always like this―doing everything for me in silence and never mentioning the effort.

As we hit the coastal highway, a villa in the distance was glowing with light.

Every window was lit up like a beacon in the dark.

"Welcome home, Hayley."

After dinner, my phone vibrated.

It was Sierra. She sent a photo of herself wearing my silk robe.

The belt was loosely tied, showing the rose tattoo on her inner thigh.

"Hey girl, your husband says I look way sexier in this than you do."

"He's in such great shape."

"He says this shirt is the most comfortable, so I'm keeping it on."

"Look at how much he's enjoying himself..."

In the photo, Gavin's hand was on her waist. His wedding ring reflected the light mockingly.

An audio clip followed. I heard his lazy, muffled voice.

"Stop... move your hand..."

There was the sound of rustling fabric in the background.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood. A new message popped up.

"He told me the two of you have never even been intimate."

"Are you frigid or something?"

"Your husband's tie looks so hot wrapped around my thigh."

"He says it's much more fun this way than wearing it around his neck."

"Want to see what happens next?"

Then came a video.

The camera shook as it panned over a messy bed. Gavin's hand came into view.

That wedding ring glittered coldly in the dim light.

He held his palm up, and Sierra laughed as she dropped a lipstick into his hand.

"Help me fix my makeup~" His low, raspy chuckle filled the room.

I gripped my phone so hard my knuckles turned white.

"He says you never let him touch your lipsticks."

"Is it because you think he's dirty?"

Killian suddenly snatched the phone from my hand. He turned it off and tossed it deep into the sofa cushions.

He knelt in front of me, his palms cupping my cold face.

"Do you want to go get your things now?"

I nodded blankly.

Thirty minutes later, we were at the Sterling estate.

The code hadn't changed―it was still my birthday. But the smart home system showed the door hadn't been opened in two weeks.

The whole house felt like a fancy tomb.

My skincare products were lined up in the bathroom. My clothes were hung by color in the closet.

There was a layer of dust on my design sketches in the study. Gavin hadn't been back in a long time.

But there were no traces of other women here either.

"Gavin is a complete scumbag... how could he do this to you..."

"He takes them to hotels," I whispered, touching my vanity. "At least he didn't ruin my bed."

Killian pulled me into a hard hug. He was breathing heavily, his voice trembling.

"Hayley... he doesn't deserve you. He's an animal!"

I realized then that he was crying.

This man, usually so composed and refined, was sobbing into my neck. His tears were scalding.

As we packed the last box, I found a velvet case in the back of the nightstand.

It was a pair of cufflinks I'd bought Gavin for our anniversary last year. The plastic wrap was still on them.

The date on the tag stung my eyes. It was the week he'd taken Sierra to Paris.

"Let's go."

Killian took the box and tossed it into the suitcase. He gripped my hand tight. "The ice cream shop should still be open."

As the elevator went down, another text came from Sierra.

It was an ultrasound photo.

"Do you think Gavin wants a boy or a girl?~"

Killian took my phone and shoved it into his inner suit pocket.

"I'm getting you a new number tomorrow."

He paused and added, "Chocolate or mint chip? I remember you like extra nuts."

I saw his red eyes in the elevator mirror and suddenly smiled.

"I want both. And this time, you're eating with me."