Chase saw she wasn't taking the box. He pushed the button on the front. The lid popped open. The massive pink diamond caught the light from the crystal chandelier and sparkled brightly.
He stepped closer. He reached out to force the necklace around Harper's neck. "Put this on, and we will forget this whole mess happened."
Harper jerked backward. Her eyes were sharp and dangerous. "Do not touch me."
Her phone chimed loudly from inside her purse. It was a special notification from Instagram.
Harper ignored Chase's frozen hands. She pulled out her phone. Her best friend Pippa had sent her a screenshot.
Harper opened the image. It was a post Lila Moreau had uploaded five minutes ago. The location tag was Mount Sinai Hospital.
In the photo, Lila's pale wrist rested on the white bedsheets. Wrapped around her wrist was a limited-edition pink diamond bracelet. It was the exact same collection as the necklace Chase was holding.
Lila's caption read: Even in the darkest times, he always knows how to heal my pain. TrueLove.
Harper looked at the screen. Then she looked at the necklace in Chase's hand. She let out a short, quiet laugh.
There was no anger in the sound. It was the sound of a woman who had finally seen the absolute bottom of a man's soul. The laugh made the hair on Chase's arms stand up.
Harper flipped her phone around and shoved the screen directly into Chase's face. The pink diamond on the screen glowed brightly.
Chase's face went completely white. His eyes darted back and forth. He started to stutter. "My assistant... he must have bought two by mistake."
Harper did not want to hear his voice anymore. She walked around him and marched up the curved staircase.
Chase stood at the bottom of the stairs. His face turned red with rage. "If you walk out of this house today, I will cancel every credit card you have!" he screamed.
Harper did not stop walking. She went into the study and locked the heavy oak door behind her.
She walked to the bookshelf, moved a row of books, and exposed the wall safe. She typed in the code. The metal door clicked open.
She pulled out her passport, her birth certificate, and the papers for the trust fund her mother had left her.
She opened the desk drawer. She found a brown envelope. She took every Young family credit card, access badge, and car key out of her wallet and threw them into the envelope.
Harper shoved her documents into her bag. She unlocked the door. Chase was standing right outside, breathing heavily. His eyes were bloodshot.
He stared at her bag. His voice dropped into a pathetic whine. "We can go to marriage counseling. Please do not do this."
Harper lifted the brown envelope and slammed it hard into Chase's chest. The paper ripped. Dozens of plastic credit cards spilled out and clattered onto the hardwood floor.
"I think you are disgusting," Harper said. Her voice was completely flat. "And your money is disgusting."
Chase snapped. He raised his hand, aiming a violent slap at her face, just like his mother had done. His hand shook in the air.
Harper did not flinch. She lifted her chin and stared directly into his eyes. She looked at him like he was a pathetic insect.
Chase's hand dropped. He punched the wall next to her head. The skin on his knuckles split open and bled.
Harper walked past him. Her high heels crushed the credit cards scattered on the floor. She walked down the stairs without looking back.
Rosa, the housekeeper, stood by the front door holding an umbrella. She looked at Harper with sad eyes.
Harper pushed the umbrella away. She walked out into the gray afternoon. She opened the door of the Uber she had called.
The car engine started. The tires crunched over the dead leaves in the driveway.
Harper sat in the back seat. She watched the massive Young estate disappear in the rearview mirror. She let out a long, deep breath. The heavy chains around her neck were finally broken.
