Chapter 2

Ervin's hand froze mid-air.

A flash of pure shock crossed his dark eyes. It was gone in a fraction of a second, replaced by a thick, stormy rage.

He slowly released his crushing grip on her wrists. He pushed himself off her and stood up beside the bed.

He adjusted the collar of his ruined shirt. He looked down at her torn clothes and exposed skin with absolute disgust.

A cruel smirk twisted his lips.

"Your tactics are getting pathetic."

He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Is this your new leverage to get a bigger share of the family trust fund?"

Kelsey pulled the torn edges of the silk over her bare shoulder. She sat up. She looked straight into his eyes. She did not flinch.

"I am giving up all property division. I am leaving with nothing."

Her voice was flat. It held no emotion.

Ervin's pupils dilated. His heart skipped a hard beat against his ribs.

He quickly masked the sudden panic with a scoff.

"I do not believe a word of that."

He turned his back on her.

"This is just a Wall Street short-selling game. You are playing hard to get."

He walked toward the master bathroom.

"Do whatever you want."

The frosted glass door slammed shut behind him. The walls vibrated from the force.

Kelsey sucked in a shaky breath. Her throat burned. She pushed herself off the mattress.

She walked barefoot across the plush carpet and entered the massive walk-in closet.

She bypassed the rows of haute couture dresses. She ignored the velvet drawers filled with diamonds.

She went straight to the back corner. She pulled out a battered black suitcase she had brought with her three years ago.

Her movements were robotic. She threw in a few plain shirts, jeans, and her toothbrush.

She walked over to the vanity. She crouched down and unlocked the bottom drawer with a small key.

She pulled out a yellowed sketchpad and a few loose design drafts.

She carefully slid the papers into the inner zipper compartment of the suitcase.

The sound of running water from the shower suddenly stopped.

Kelsey zipped the suitcase shut.

She dragged it over to the nightstand. She looked down at her left hand.

She gripped the massive pigeon blood ruby ring on her ring finger. She pulled it off.

She placed the ring onto the glass surface of the nightstand.

The metal clinked sharply against the glass. The sound severed the invisible chain around her neck.

Kelsey turned around and walked out of the bedroom. She did not look back.

In the living room, Elena Rios stood frozen. The housekeeper stared at the old suitcase in horror. She took a step forward to stop her.

Kelsey gave Elena a small, sad smile and shook her head.

She pushed the heavy front door open.

The cold wind from the hallway hit her thin coat. She shivered violently.

The elevator doors slid shut just as the master bedroom door was ripped open.

Ervin stood in the doorway with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

He stared at the empty living room.

His eyes darted around like a predator. His gaze locked onto the nightstand.

The ruby ring sat there, completely alone.

A massive wave of raw fury exploded in his chest. The audacity of her defiance was suffocating.

He swung his arm out and backhanded the antique lamp off the table. It shattered into a hundred pieces against the wall.