Constance dabbed at her eyes. "Corey, don't fight on my account. I'll go."
"Corey, my mom's right. We never should have come to stay here. She deserves her asthma flare-up. We'll leave right now."
"You're not going anywhere." Corey Mason's face had gone ashen. "They're the ones who should leave."
"Susan Simmons, I never imagined you could be this petty. You've really let me down." Corey glared at me. "You're going to take your mother back to the old place in the country right now and reflect on what you've done. Don't come back until you've come to your senses."
I answered coldly, "I let you read the contract. Are you blind, or just illiterate?"
"You—" Corey's eyes bulged, but he could see I wasn't the least bit afraid.
"Susan Simmons, how did I never see this side of you before. No compassion, no sense of the bigger picture."
He turned to face Zoe Fox. "Don't worry, I'll get your aunt settled somewhere. Let's go."
Corey left again, but in less than two hours he was back.
"We need to talk. Just the two of us."
My mother glanced at me, then called Lena Lambert out for a walk.
"I'm giving you three days, that's all. In three days you're going to make Aunt Constance and Zoe forgive you."
Corey hadn't come to talk. He'd come to deliver an ultimatum.
I didn't know when it had started, but my feelings had stopped being something he bothered to consider.
As it happened, I needed a little time to prepare for the divorce.
Three days. That was plenty.
"Fine. Three days. I'll give you my answer then."
【Thank you, sir, for your concern and care. The new house is lovely. Mother adores it.】
Not long after Corey left, his driver sent me a screenshot.
Zoe and her mother, posing for photos in front of the seaside villa.
I gave it one glance and stopped caring.
I had more important things to do.
The moment I felt Corey's heart turn away from me, I'd started preparing for one thing.
I made several calls in a row, and once I'd confirmed everything was in order, I found myself looking forward to all that would happen three days from now.
For those three days, Corey didn't come home. I was long used to it.
These past three years, the times he'd been home could be counted on one hand.
But I knew exactly where he was. His driver reported his movements to me in real time.
For all three of those days, he stayed with Zoe Fox.
It was time to settle the account in full.
On the afternoon of the third day, I was invited to an exhibition hosted by Patek Philippe.
By the time I arrived, Corey was already there. So were Zoe and her mother.
He was walking Zoe through the display of the newly released watch.
Patek Philippe's latest model, sold in a limited run worldwide.
Buying one took more than just money.
Corey knew I collected fine watches, and he'd promised long ago to buy this very piece for me, as a gift for my thirtieth birthday.
Today was my birthday.
But the woman he'd brought was Zoe.
As I walked in, the atmosphere in the room shifted, turning faintly uneasy.
Lately, no matter what event he attended, it was Zoe at his side.
In private, the rumors had spread like wildfire.
Today Zoe and I had appeared in the same room at once, and more than a few gazes flicked back and forth between us, searching.
When Zoe noticed me, she dropped the careful, tiptoeing act she'd worn before. Her chin lifted a fraction, her eyes brimming with smugness.
No words passed between us, yet war had been declared.
I wouldn't apologize, so Corey meant to make it up to her.
To make it up to Zoe with the very watch he'd meant to give me.
Corey saw me come in too, but he didn't spare me a single glance.
Corey spoke. "Wrap up this watch for Miss Fox."
The whole floor had gone quiet the moment I walked in, so even though he kept his voice low, every word carried.
The watch had been designed with love woven into its very concept.
It was meant to be given to the one you cherished.
Everyone in the circle knew the theme of today's exhibition was the expression of love.
In a setting like this, the moment I arrived, Corey chose to give that watch to Zoe.
The meaning was unmistakable.
Plenty of the eyes turned my way were full of pity. And, of course, no shortage of them were enjoying the show.
Zoe couldn't hide the smug delight in her eyes.
Constance went a step further, hounding the staff to hurry up and wrap the watch.
That was when Corey looked over at me too, giving his phone a little shake.
My phone buzzed. A message from him.
【This is what happens when you don't listen.】
I just stood there, calm, smiling as I watched it all unfold.
I looked at the watch consultant, whose expression had shifted. He turned to Corey with a trace of apology.
"Mr. Mason, your card won't go through."
Corey's gaze, when it swung back to me, had turned a great deal colder.
I smiled. "Mr. Mason, are you satisfied with that answer?"
