“Yes, email the divorce papers.”
I spoke quietly into the phone, my back to the door, watching the city skyline from our bedroom window. My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs.
I hung up and turned around.
Brandon was standing right there.
I nearly dropped the phone. He was leaning against the doorframe, still in his suit from work, his face pale, eyes wide with a panic I had never seen before. He had heard me.
“Divorce?” he choked out. The word hung in the air, heavy and dangerous. He took a step toward me, his hands shaking. “Maureen, what… what do you mean, divorce?”
My blood ran cold. If he knew, if he realized I was leaving, the game was over. He would lock me down. He would drug me again.
I forced a laugh. It bubbled up, light and airy, masking the terror gripping my throat.
“Oh, Brandon! You scared me.” I walked over to him, sliding my phone into my pocket with a casual grace. “No, silly. It’s Jessica. You remember her? My friend from college?”
He blinked, the panic not quite leaving his eyes. “Jessica?”
“Yes. She called me in tears. She caught her husband cheating on her.” I shook my head, feigning disgust. “Can you believe it? After everything she did for him. So I told her to get a divorce immediately. I told her I’d help her since I know Mark, right? He’s the best lawyer in the city.”
The tension drained out of him instantly. His shoulders slumped, and he let out a long, shaky breath, running a hand through his hair.
“Oh, God,” he whispered. He pulled me into a crushing hug, burying his face in my neck. “I thought… I thought you were talking about us. I thought you were going to divorce me.”
His grip was tight. Possessive.
“You scared me to death, Maureen,” he mumbled against my skin. “Don’t ever say that word in this house again.”
I stood stiffly in his arms for a second before forcing myself to relax, to pat his back.
“Why would I divorce you, Brandon?” I pulled back slightly, looking him dead in the eye. “Did you cheat on me?”
He froze. Just for a microsecond. A flicker of something dark passed behind his eyes before the mask slammed back into place.
“Of course not!” He looked offended, hurt even. He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “I would never do that to you. You’re my life, Maureen. I worship the ground you walk on. How could you even ask that?”
“Good,” I said softly, my voice laced with a hidden warning. “Because I would never forgive you if you cheated on me. That’s the one thing I can’t survive.”
“You’ll never have to worry about that,” he promised, kissing my forehead. The lie tasted bitter on my skin. “I’d never hurt you.”
He pulled back, smiling that dazzling, boyish smile that used to make my knees weak.
“How about we forget this gloom? It’s our anniversary tomorrow. Let’s go out tonight. There’s a charity auction at the gallery. I’ll get you something beautiful. Anything you want.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay. Let’s go.”
The auction was a sea of black ties and designer gowns. Champagne flowed, diamonds sparkled under the chandeliers, and everyone was watching us. The Golden Couple.
Brandon held my hand the entire time, parading me around like a trophy.
“Look at that,” I said, pointing to the catalog. Item 45. A rare, vintage sapphire necklace. It was breathtaking, deep blue like the ocean. “It’s beautiful.”
“You want it?” Brandon asked, squeezing my hand. “It’s yours.”
But when the bidding started, it went wild. The price climbed higher and higher. Brandon bid a few times, but then an anonymous phone bidder jumped in, driving the price to an astronomical figure.
“Going once, going twice… sold to the bidder on the phone!”
I felt a pang of disappointment, though I tried to hide it. “It’s okay,” I murmured. “It was too much anyway.”
Brandon suddenly stood up. He walked to the stage, grabbing the microphone. The room went silent.
“I may have lost the necklace,” he announced, his voice booming with charisma, “but I won’t let my wife go home empty-handed. I’m buying every remaining piece in this lot for her. Because nothing is too good for Maureen.”
The crowd gasped. Applause erupted. Women looked at me with envy, men with respect.
“You are so lucky,” a woman next to me whispered. “He adores you.”
I smiled, waving at the crowd.
That night, the house was quiet again. Or so I thought.
I was heading to the kitchen for water from a sealed bottle I kept hidden—when I heard voices from the study.
“You didn’t bring me,” Denise’s voice hissed, sharp and petulant. “I had to watch the livestream like a peasant. I want jewelry too, Brandon! And what was that show? ‘Nothing is too good for Maureen’? Please.”
I crept closer, pressing my ear to the wood.
“Come on, you’ve become quite the doting husband,” she sneered. “I’m jealous. Everyone is speaking of it online. ‘Husband of the year.’”
“Calm down, baby,” Brandon’s voice was soothing, low. “It’s all part of the act. You know that. I have to keep her happy. I have to keep her unsuspecting.”
“Well, I’m not happy,” she snapped.
“I have something for you,” he said.
There was a rustle of fabric, the snap of a velvet box opening.
“Oh my God,” Denise gasped. “The sapphire necklace! You… you were the anonymous bidder?”
“Of course,” Brandon chuckled. “She wanted it, but I bought it for you. It looks better on you anyway. Blue brings out your eyes.”
My stomach churned. He had outbid himself, humiliated me in secret, just to give my desire to his mistress.
“Oh, Brandon!” The sound of kissing followed. “Do you love me?”
“Yes. You know I do.”
“Then why not divorce her?” Denise whined. “Please. Let’s get married. I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of being the other woman.”
“I can’t. Not yet,” Brandon said, his voice dropping to a serious whisper. “I’ll divorce her soon. Once I get my inheritance from my grandpa. The clause says I have to be married, never divorced my wife, to receive the trust fund. It will be released next month.”
“Next month?”
“Yes. Just hang on. Besides,” he added, a nervous edge entering his tone, “you know how your brother would react if he learned about us, right? Kyle would kill me. He never like me dating you, let alone cheating on my wife.”
I stepped back, the floorboards creaking under my weight. I froze.
But they were too busy.
“Just a little longer,” Denise murmured.
“Yes, just a little longer,” I also whispered to myself. “You’ll never see me again.”
