When I was eighteen, I pulled a stray dog out of the gutter.
Everyone laughed at Mortimer Henson back then, mocked him for being beneath them. After all, he'd knelt at my feet, forehead to the ground.
Ten years.
He went from that meek, desperate boy to the ruthless Mr. Henson of Harbor City, a man whose word could make or break empires. He climbed to the top on the back of my family's power and threw me the most extravagant engagement party the city had ever seen.
I thought the hard times were finally behind us.
Then I checked the security feed from our new home and saw a scene that turned my stomach.
His assistant had her arms wrapped around him, her voice a playful purr. "Mr. Henson, your precious heiress is waiting to consummate your engagement, and yet here you are with me. Why is that?"
Mortimer's hand settled on the woman's waist, fingers digging into the curve of it. "Don't mention that woman. Every time I think of her, I feel like I'm still that pathetic dog begging for scraps."
"Once I get my hands on the last of her family's shares, I'll send her to join her dead father."
My grip tightened around the phone until my nails bit into my palm.
I turned and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.
"I'll accept your proposal. But I need Mortimer Henson dragged back into the gutter where I found him."
...
I hung up and let out a long, shaky breath.
I was the only daughter of a legendary business tycoon, yet I'd inherited none of my father's instincts for the corporate world. I'd believed Mortimer was someone I could count on. Turned out he was rotten to the core.
"Judy Young, what are you thinking about?"
I forced a smile. "What do you think of the new place?"
"Anything you pick is perfect. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
Not a single crack in his expression. Not one.
Mortimer seemed eager to change the subject. He reached over and took my hand.
"Babe, let me ask you something. What kind of surprises do girls your age like?"
"The project team at the company just pulled off something big. I want to reward them."
The hasty addition was so transparent it made me want to laugh.
The reward was for that assistant of his. Obviously.
"Girls don't really care about flashy stuff," I said, keeping my voice light. "You can skip the designer bags and perfume."
"Take her to an amusement park instead. Ride the Ferris wheel to the very top and make a wish together. She'll be over the moon."
A dreamy smile spread across Mortimer's face, as if he were already picturing the scene.
Watching his reaction felt like swallowing broken glass. My chest ached.
"Thanks, babe! I haven't cooked for you in ages. Tonight, let me show off my skills."
Cooked for me? He hadn't cooked for me in ages. That much was true.
Where had the Mortimer who used to make me three meals a day gone, each one different from the last? I'd thought bringing him into Young Group would bring us closer. Instead, late night after late night, meeting after meeting, the distance between us had only grown.
"Judy, why are you crying?"
"Is my cooking that bad?" He wrapped his arms around me the way he used to.
"Come eat, sweetheart."
For a moment, everything blurred, and I could almost believe he was still that gentle boy I'd fallen for under a clear moon.
Maybe the security footage had been a hallucination.
Then I looked down at the table.
Beef tossed with cilantro.
He knew I hated cilantro. He knew I didn't eat beef.
I said nothing. I just took small bites and waited. Normally, Mortimer would have noticed something was off within seconds.
He didn't say a word. His eyes kept drifting to his phone.
Finally, it rang.
I watched the relief wash over his face as he exhaled.
"Hello? Something urgent at the office? Got it, got it. I'll be right there."
He turned to me with that practiced smile. "Sweetheart, something came up at work. I need to head in for a bit. I'll be back before you know it."
