Attorney Walker looked at me with a face full of sympathy and gave my shoulder a light pat. “Miss Henson, I hope you leave the pain and grief behind soon. As for the division of assets after the divorce, I'll draw everything up exactly as the agreement states. You won't lose a single cent.”
The terms on that divorce agreement were the ones he'd written himself, back when he loved me most: thirty percent of Sanchez Group's shares, and every piece of property in his name worth over ten million, all to me.
Duncan Sanchez, half of everything you have, I helped you win. It was mine to begin with.
The next morning I left the hospital and returned to Shallow Bay. The moment I stepped through the gate, I saw the servants tearing out the sunflowers that had lined both sides of the path, ripping them up in messy clumps, and bending their heads to plant red roses in their place.
No one dared look up at me. Hearing I was back, Kay Henson came out in sky-high heels, smiling. “Sister, you're home. Duncan had the sunflowers pulled out. He said sunflowers are tacky, that only red roses suit me, that they're a joy to look at. You don't mind, do you?”
I clenched my fist, nails biting hard into my palm. That sting was nothing next to even the smallest ache in my chest.
Duncan had planted those sunflowers with his own hands. Back then he'd watered them every single morning, doing it himself. I always felt for him. “Sunflowers aren't that delicate. Just leave it to the servants.”
And he'd always kiss me softly, his eyes bright with a smile. “It's different. These are your favorite sunflowers. I have to look after them myself.”
He used to say he was the sunflower and I was the sun, that he'd grow toward the light and stay by my side forever. And now he didn't even want the symbol of our love anymore.
I forced down the bitterness rising in me and said calmly, “They're pretty. I don't mind.”
I stepped around her and went inside the villa, only to see that our wedding photos, which had hung on the wall, had vanished, replaced by her clumsy paintings. The sight stuck in my throat like a thorn.
Kay hurried in after me and threw out another taunt. “Oh, right, Sister, I had your wedding photos moved to the storage room. Duncan said this painting of mine was good, so I just hung it here.”
I lifted my eyes and met Duncan's. His face was calm, untroubled.
“Look, this will be our home from now on. We'll hang the wedding photos right here, and when our child is born, they can see how much Mom and Dad love each other.”
“All right, then you're never allowed to take them down, not for the rest of your life!”
I wondered which of us had actually believed those young vows.
“It's fine. If Mr. Sanchez agreed to it, then change it.”
With that I started for the stairs, ready to escape the scene, when Duncan suddenly stopped me.
“The doctor said the master bedroom gets good sunlight, better for someone recovering. You take the guest room for now.”
I didn't hesitate, and I didn't get angry. “Fine. I'll go pack my things.”
Kay grabbed my arm, smiling as she answered. “Sister, you don't need to. I already had someone pull all your things out. They're right there!”
I followed her gaze. Expensive gowns, everyday belongings, all of it heaped in the corner by the stairs like a pile of trash. Numbly I walked over and started picking it up, but the housekeeper, Loretta Lambert, saw and rushed forward to stop me.
“Madam, you lost the baby not long ago. Let me.”
Duncan froze and turned to look at me.
“Duncan, I painted a new one. Come see whether it's any good.”
Before he could ask, she was tugging him away. Kay glanced back at me, her face full of triumph.
Loretta looked at me and sighed softly. “Madam, does the master not know you lost the baby?”
I gave a small smile of release.
“No. And he never will.”
The car crash, the miscarriage, all of it. After so long, I came so close to saying it every time. How badly I'd once wanted to tell him we finally had the child we'd been hoping for. But right up until the crash came, I never said it. I'd wanted to tell him too, how much it hurt that the baby was gone. I never managed that either.
He'd handed his whole heart to her, with no thought for me at all. So I no longer wanted to wait for this pity I didn't need.
Late that night, I sat by the window, and Duncan came up behind me.
“Annie, you've changed. You've finally learned to be sensible. But don't worry, once she's recovered she'll move out, and this will still be your home.”
I didn't turn around. My voice was very low. “She doesn't need to leave. I'm the one leaving.”
At that he came around to my side. “You're being difficult again. Where would you even go? Alone, with no one and not a cent to your name. Annie, I told you, as long as you behave yourself, you'll always be my wife, never wanting for anything. Besides, you love me so much, how could you leave me? There's no need to talk like this anymore.”
I stood up so we were eye to eye, and as if something moved through me, I went on. “Duncan Sanchez, I really am leaving.”
He seized my hand. Before he could speak, a servant's voice cut in. “Sir, Miss Henson says the thunder is scaring her and she can't sleep. Please go check on her.”
Duncan let go of my hand without a moment's hesitation. The door slammed shut behind him. He didn't look back.
Lightning and thunder split the sky outside, yet my heart was strangely calm.
“Duncan, this thunder is so frightening. I'm scared.”
“Don't be afraid. I'll always be right beside you, rain or shine.”
Once, a single small roll of thunder was enough to make him drop his work and come home from the office to hold me and soothe me to sleep. But now he didn't remember that either. The line between loving someone and not loving them couldn't have been clearer.
My phone screen lit up with a message.
“Miss Henson, at your father's request, the divorce decree has been finalized ahead of schedule. I'll bring it to you tomorrow.”
