I came out of the restroom and headed down to the lobby on the first floor, and then I heard Kirsten's voice.
"Let go of me."
I turned to look and saw her being dragged by the arm by some scruffy man.
I studied him for a moment before I placed him. It was Jude. I turned to leave. Whatever was going on between them was none of my business.
But Kirsten spotted me and called out.
"Mick!"
Then she wrenched herself free of Jude, rushed to my side, and grabbed my arm, pleading.
"Mick, help me."
Before I could say anything, Jude came sauntering toward me, a cigarette between his fingers.
"Well, if it isn't my wife's little childhood sweetheart, Mick Lyons. When did you get back? Already cozying up to my wife, are you?"
I frowned.
Twenty years gone, a man in his thirties now, and Jude hadn't matured an inch. If anything, he was worse than before.
"Mick, help me." Kirsten clung to my arm and begged again.
I looked at her and shook my head. "This is between the two of you. It's not my place."
The color drained from her face, tears welling in her eyes. "Mick..."
"Get over here. Now." Jude roared. "You think just because Mick Lyons is back you can get away from me? You're my wife."
Kirsten flinched, and her grip on my arm tightened hard.
"No. I'm not going. I want a divorce."
I stared at her, startled.
I didn't know what had happened between her and Jude over these twenty years, but the thought lasted barely a second before something bitter turned over inside me.
They were husband and wife. I was the outsider. How they'd spent those twenty years had nothing to do with me.
"What did you just say?"
Jude flung his cigarette to the floor.
"You worthless little bitch. Hook up with your old flame and think you can divorce me? I'll beat the life out of you."
He reached out to grab a fistful of Kirsten's hair.
"Ah!"
She shrieked in terror and scrambled to hide behind me.
Inside, I let out a breath. However little I felt for her now, I couldn't just stand there and watch her be beaten in front of me.
I blocked Jude and said coldly, "Hitting a woman isn't something a man does."
He looked at me, then at Kirsten cowering behind me, and suddenly laughed.
"Mick Lyons, you really are hopeless, aren't you. Twenty years, and you still haven't forgotten her."
"Fine. I'll do you both a favor. Hand over five hundred grand and I'll divorce her. I'm sick of her anyway."
My face darkened. "If you can't talk straight, keep your mouth shut."
Jude gave a short scoff, pulled out another cigarette, and lit it.
"You've got three minutes to think it over. Otherwise I call the police and tell them you abducted my wife. I'll make it front-page news."
"Tsk, tsk. World-class bridge designer barely back in the country and already stealing another man's wife. Mm, that's a nice headline."
"Mick Lyons, what do you think?"
At that, my eyes went colder still.
Thud!
Kirsten suddenly dropped to her knees in front of me, sobbing.
"Mick, I'm begging you, just agree to him. Otherwise he'll beat me to death."
