Chapter 2

The next morning, the penthouse smelled like stale rain and cold marble. Adaline stood in front of the bathroom mirror, applying a third layer of thick concealer under her eyes. The pale, sickly hue of her skin was completely hidden beneath the expensive makeup. She slipped into a sharp Chanel suit, the structured shoulders giving her a false sense of armor.

She walked out of the bedroom holding a cup of black coffee. The front door clicked open. Gerard walked in. The crisp morning air clung to his coat. He had not come home last night.

He stopped in the entryway. He saw the coffee in her hand and his brow furrowed. It was a signature look of his, a habit he formed whenever something was out of place. "You should not drink black coffee on an empty stomach."

Adaline let out a dry laugh. She stepped back, avoiding his reaching hand as he tried to take the cup from her. "People getting a divorce do not need fake concern, Gerard."

Gerard's hand froze in midair. The air in the room instantly dropped ten degrees. He was not used to her speaking to him with such sharp edges. His eyes darkened.

He pulled off his tie and threw it onto the sofa. "Have you thought about what I said last night? My lawyers are waiting at the Wall Street office."

Adaline walked over to the console table. She opened the drawer, pulled out the divorce agreement, and dropped it onto the glass coffee table. She flipped it open to the last page right in front of him.

Gerard watched her. The corner of his mouth lifted into a cold smirk. He assumed she was finally giving in. "I will have my assistant transfer the compensation funds to your account by noon."

Adaline picked up the silver pen resting on the table. She held it for a second, then tossed it aside. The metal clattered loudly against the glass. "The compensation is too low. It is not enough to buy out two years of my youth."

The disgust in Gerard's eyes deepened. He crossed his arms over his chest. "So you finally show your true colors. You are just as greedy as I always thought."

A sharp, gnawing ache chewed at the lining of Adaline's stomach. She swallowed hard, forcing the pain down. She lifted her chin and looked him dead in the eye. "I am agreeing to this divorce because the man I truly love has returned to the country."

Gerard's pupils contracted violently. His tall frame suddenly stepped forward, closing the distance between them in a second. A massive wave of pressure rolled off him.

He stared down at her, his eyes searching her face for any sign of a lie. "Who is he?" His voice was dangerously low.

Adaline did not back down. She held her ground, looking right back at him. "He is a senior executive at a Wall Street investment bank. And he knows how to love someone much better than you ever could."

Gerard's jaw locked. A muscle ticked in his cheek. A sudden, unexplainable rage erupted in his chest. He reached out and grabbed Adaline's wrist. His grip was brutal, his fingers digging into her skin like iron clamps. "Do not play these pathetic games with me, Adaline."

Adaline winced at the pain. She twisted her arm, ripping her wrist out of his grasp. "Why? Are you the only one allowed to have a precious first love? Am I not allowed to have someone waiting for me?"

Gerard lost his temper completely. He lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders and shoving her hard against the cold wall. His chest heaved. His heavy breathing hit her cheek.

They were inches apart. Adaline could smell his cologne, but beneath it, she smelled the sharp, sterile scent of hospital disinfectant. The smell of Kena.

Her stomach tied into a violent knot. A wave of intense nausea hit her so fast she could not breathe.

She shoved both hands against his chest, pushing him away with all her strength. She ran across the room, threw open the bathroom door, and fell to her knees in front of the toilet. She violently dry-heaved, her body shaking as acid burned her throat.

Gerard stood in the doorway. The anger in his eyes froze. He watched her thin shoulders tremble with every heave. A brief flash of panic crossed his face.

He took a step forward and reached out to pat her back.

Adaline slapped his hand away without looking at him. "Get out."

Gerard stood frozen. Adaline reached up and flushed the toilet. She stood up slowly and walked over to the sink. She rinsed her mouth and looked up. In the mirror, she saw Gerard staring at her pale face. His eyes were calculating.

She knew he was suspicious. She had to hide the cancer. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and let out a cold laugh. "Do not flatter yourself. I am throwing up because looking at you makes me sick."

The words hit their mark. The brief moment of concern in Gerard's eyes vanished instantly. His face turned to stone.

"Be at the law firm at three o'clock," he said, his voice completely devoid of emotion.

He turned around and walked out. The heavy front door slammed shut behind him.

Adaline's knees gave out. She slid down the cold bathroom tiles and hit the floor. She pressed her hands against her stomach, trying to stop the agonizing cramps. She pulled a small orange pill bottle from her pocket, shook out two painkillers, and swallowed them dry.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out. It was a text message from the manager of an underground private club. "Your VIP booth is confirmed for tonight, Mrs. Crosby."

Adaline stared at the message. She was going to sign the papers today. She was going to end thirteen years of a stupid, one-sided love. She needed a drink. She needed to bury her feelings in a place where no one knew her name.