Chapter 2

The next morning, the air in our apartment was thick with unspoken things.

Victoria was a whirlwind of forced cheerfulness.

"Happy anniversary, darling!"

She kissed me, her lips cool. She handed me a sleek, heavy box. A ridiculously expensive watch.

"It's beautiful, Vicky. Thank you." My voice sounded hollow even to me.

"I thought you' d like it. For all the times you're teaching, you need to be punctual," she said, smiling.

I nodded, strapping it on. It felt like a manacle.

Later, she asked, "My gift? You said you had something special."

"Oh, it's... it hasn't arrived yet. Shipping delay." A weak lie. The book was still in my study.

I couldn't bring myself to give it to her.

My phone buzzed. A new follow request on Instagram. Anonymous profile. Zero posts, zero followers.

I accepted, a knot in my stomach.

A minute later, a DM. A picture. Victoria, laughing, head thrown back. Liam' s arm around her waist. They were at a bar I didn't recognize. The timestamp was from a night she' d said she was working late.

My hands started to shake.

I went to the kitchen for water. The scent of her perfume, the one Liam had complimented at that firm dinner, clung to the air. It made me sick.

Victoria came in, all concern. "You look pale, Ethan. Are you feeling alright?"

She touched my forehead. "You don't have a fever."

Her touch felt like a brand. I pulled away. "Just tired."

"Maybe we should cancel our dinner reservation? We can stay in. I can make your favorite pasta."

Her favorite pasta. Not mine.

"No, dinner is fine," I said. "I just need to rest a bit."

A test. A small one. "Vicky, could you... could you maybe skip that firm retreat this weekend? We could go away, just us."

She frowned. "Oh, Ethan, I can't. It's mandatory. Big clients will be there. It's important for my partnership track."

Of course. Partnership. Always more important.

The Legacy hummed. Departure window: 72 hours.

I nodded. "Right. Stupid of me to ask."

She smiled, relieved. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

I knew she wouldn't. I knew the "retreat" was for Liam.