Crystal was livid. If the officer hadn't been holding her back, she'd already have launched herself at him.
"Edwin Vance! Do you have a shred of conscience left? If it weren't for Mare back then, you'd have been behind bars by now—"
"Crystal!" I cut her off and walked in, turning to the officer.
"I'm taking her home."
Before the officer could say anything, Edwin spoke, voice low and even. "She hits my people and just walks out?"
I looked at the woman pressed against his side, hand over her face, eyes rimmed red. Then I looked at him.
"So what do you want?"
His face was cold.
"Your friend slapped my assistant. Now I want it back."
Crystal laughed like she'd heard something absurd.
"Then let her hit me. You think you can—"
"Who said I wanted it back from you?"
Edwin cut Crystal off, his gaze settling on my face.
"Marie. Your friend made the mess. The bill's yours to pay, isn't it?"
"You son of a—"
Crystal was shaking with rage, ready to lunge and tear the pair of them apart.
The next second, I spoke.
"Fine."
Crystal's head snapped around. "Marie, have you lost your mind? He's the one who cheated. He's the one who wronged you!"
I ignored her and walked up to Edwin and Amber.
"Go ahead."
Amber's eyes reddened, and she said softly, "Mr. Vance, don't put Mrs. Vance through this, I—"
"Smack!"
She didn't get to finish. Edwin seized her hand and slammed it across my face.
A burning sting spread instantly.
When it was done, I turned to leave.
"Did I say you could go?"
Edwin's voice was cold as ice. "She gave Amber one slap. I want it back tenfold."
He dragged Amber forward.
Before I could react, the slaps came one after another.
"Smack! Smack! Smack—"
Nine of them, each one harder, each one crueler than the last.
With every blow, the last trace of love left in me thinned out a little more.
After the final one, there was nothing left to feel.
Something warm ran down from the corner of my mouth, and my mouth filled with the taste of rust.
Not one of the officers around us dared to step in.
Because the man doing it was Edwin Vance, who held all of New York in his hand.
When he was done, Edwin rubbed Amber's hand for her.
Then came the cold warning.
"Keep your friend in line. Next time don't let her bark like a rabid dog and frighten my people."
With that, he took Amber's arm to go.
"Edwin Vance."
I called him back and held out the divorce papers. "Let's get divorced."
Edwin couldn't believe it. "You want to divorce me?"
I nodded. "Yes."
He stared at me for a good ten seconds. Then he laughed.
"Marie, I haven't even settled the score for you getting rid of the baby behind my back. And now you're bringing up divorce? Playing hard to get?"
My lips twitched. "You're reading too much into it."
His face darkened instantly. He snatched the divorce papers, scrawled his name across them, and flung them back in my face.
"Marie, a friendly piece of advice. Without me, you're nothing."
"And the day you come crawling back in tears begging me to forgive you, I won't spare you a single glance."
