Florence's lips trembled, and she burst into loud, heaving sobs.

"Please don't blame Noel, and please don't send me away. I really do love him. I'm not here to tear you apart. I'm here to be part of your lives."

She dropped to her knees in front of me again, slamming her forehead against the floor over and over.

Noel's expression shifted instantly. He rushed forward, pulling her into his arms, cradling her, his voice turning impossibly soft.

"Didn't I tell you never to hurt yourself, no matter what? Why don't you ever listen? It kills me to see this."

"Forget it. You're too kind and innocent for your own good. I'll just have to protect you more."

Then he looked at me. Something complicated flickered behind his eyes before settling into cold impatience.

"Brooklyn, you scared her. I should've known you wouldn't just leave quietly. You've had your little scene. Happy now?"

The accusation hit me without warning, and my mind went blank.

I hadn't said a single word since I walked through the door.

This villa was our marital home.

I was his wife. His legal, certificate-holding wife.

Yet for the sake of his kept woman, I wasn't even allowed to lay eyes on the person who'd destroyed everything.

When he saw the bitter smile pulling at my lips, something shifted in his gaze. He let go of Florence, walked toward me, and softened his voice.

"Enough. You're both important to me. You're both mine. From now on, the three of us will live here together."

"There's a gala this afternoon. Come with me."

I was about to refuse, but Noel cut me off before I could speak.

"Florence is coming too. It's her first time at one of these events. You'll carry her train and help her make a good impression."

I froze. The absurdity of it almost made me laugh.

Then I thought about how little time I had left, and I didn't argue.

Before the gala, Florence claimed she had nothing suitable to wear. She went through my closet and took the one-of-a-kind gown and matching accessories I'd worn when I debuted as Mrs. Stephens at Noel's company IPO.

She walked in on Noel's arm, wearing my dress, while I trailed behind holding her train. Every eye in the room was on them.

The whispers followed me like shadows.

"You have to hand it to Stephens. Got his wife trained so well she carries his mistress's train without a peep."

"They call her Mrs. Stephens, but let's be honest, she's a glorified servant. Lower than a dog."

"That Brooklyn must be an idiot. Gave him over twenty years of her life and got nothing for it. Might as well be dead."

I fled the ballroom, desperate for the restroom, for anywhere I could breathe.

A slap cracked across my face before I even saw it coming.

I pressed my hand to my burning cheek and stared at the woman in front of me.

Florence rolled her wrist, and the gentle mask she wore peeled away like dead skin.

"Noel and I did all that right in front of you, and you're still clinging to him like a leech. Have you no shame?"

"A piece of trash nobody wanted, no mother to raise you. Divorce Noel now, or one of these days you'll lose a hand or a foot, and wouldn't that be a pity..."

A ringing filled my skull. All I could see was the woman's vicious face, her mouth opening and closing, opening and closing.

Rage boiled over into a sharp, incredulous laugh. But Florence didn't give me a chance to fight back. She let out a piercing shriek, ripped open the front of her gown, and threw herself backward.

"Brooklyn!"

Noel came charging from the center of the ballroom and caught Florence, pulling her into his arms.

She sobbed so hard she could barely stand, tears materializing on command.

"Noel, I know what I am. I'm the other woman. I ruined your marriage to Ms. Simmons. I know I was wrong. I never should have come into your life. I'm the villain here. I'm the disgusting one."

Then she did what she always did. She slapped herself across the face, hard, twice.

Noel grabbed her wrists. His jaw was locked tight.

"Who said those things to you?"

Florence bit her lip, fingers twisting the fabric of her dress until her knuckles went white. "Please. Don't ask."

But when her gaze swept over me, her body trembled slightly.

"Someone like me could never afford to cross wealthy, powerful ladies like you. Noel, I was too naive. I thought love could conquer anything. I'm not worthy of you. Please, just let me go. I don't want to end up dead for no reason one day."

Noel's brows knotted tight, his eyes fixed on me with open hostility.

"Explain."

I lowered my hand, revealing my swollen, reddened cheek.

"You should ask her what she said to me."

"Ms. Simmons!" Florence shrieked, her voice shrill enough to cut glass. "Fine, I slapped you! But only because you threatened my parents' lives! They're ordinary people! If hitting me back will make you feel better, go ahead. I'm begging you, just don't hurt them."

My eyes burned red with fury. "You're lying. You were the one who—"

"Enough." Noel's voice cut through like a blade, cold and final. He looked at me with undisguised disappointment. "Brooklyn, I've spoiled you rotten."

"You think just because you have no parents, I won't touch you?"

Maybe I'd seen it coming. Maybe my heart had gone cold a long time ago.

I laughed, a hollow, useless sound. My eye sockets burned so badly they ached. "So how exactly do you plan to stand up for your precious darling?"

He walked toward me, slow and deliberate, and tore the protective charm necklace from my throat. The one he'd made with his own hands when he earned his first real money.

Then he turned to his assistant.

"Call the police. My wife committed theft. Caught red-handed."

I forgot how to move. My mind went blank.

Noel's rise had never been gentle. He was used to being ruthless.

I had been his only soft spot.

Right or wrong never mattered. He always chose his people over the truth.

And now the person driving the knife into my chest was him.

Noel rubbed his thumb across the charm, his cold features growing more and more unrecognizable through my blurred vision.

"Brooklyn, you've been very disobedient. Go in and reflect on that for a few days."

"Don't worry, it won't be long. When you come out, I'll put the necklace back on you myself."

I twisted my lips into something that might have been a smile.

I watched the officers walk in. As the cuffs closed around my wrists, I pulled my hand free of his grip, my face perfectly blank.

The sudden emptiness in his palm made Noel frown. He stared at my retreating back, seized by the irrational feeling that he would never hold on to me again.

He was about to step forward when Florence caught his arm first.

"Noel, thank you for standing up for me. I was so scared just now."

Noel clicked his tongue and pinched her cheek, indulgent as ever. "What do you want as compensation?"

Florence plucked the charm from his hand with a grin and tossed it into the trash.

When his expression shifted, she immediately let her eyes redden with hurt. "Is it that important?"

She made a show of reaching for the trash can. "I'll fish it out for you, then. You two have known each other since you were kids. Even if she hurt me, I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

Noel pulled her in by the waist, his heart melting completely. "Nothing's more important than you. Don't dirty your hands. Here, take my black card. Buy whatever you want."

Florence puffed her cheeks and refused. "I don't want your money. I only love you."

"Yes, yes, yes. I'm the one who wants to spend it on you. If you don't let me, I won't feel right."

Only then did Florence accept the card, making a reluctant show of it.

Three days later, I was led out of the detention cell in a daze.

Taken straight to a private lounge at a members-only club.

I pushed the door open. There on the couch, dead center, sat Noel and Florence, sharing a single grape between their lips.

The grape slipped. They fell into a deep, tangled kiss.

The men and women scattered around them whooped and hollered loud enough to shake the walls.

I didn't know how long I stood there before Noel finally noticed me in the doorway.

His eyes locked onto my gaunt, colorless face, and his expression darkened instantly. "What happened? Did someone give you trouble in there?"

Before I could say a word, Florence let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"You really know how to play a man, Brooklyn. With your history with Noel, who would dare bully you? That sickly makeup is impressively realistic, though. Must've taken you ages."

Noel had been about to stand, but her words made him settle back into his seat.

He tapped out a cigarette, leaned toward the lighter Florence held up, and lit it.

Smoke curled across his face, blurring his features. Only his eyes were clear, fixed on me with barely concealed irritation.

"Since you've had time to reflect, come apologize to Florence."

Florence sat nestled against Noel's chest in a white dress, the picture of innocence, swirling a glass of something strong in her hand.

"I don't actually want to make things hard for you."

"But you insulted my parents. Anyone would be upset, right?"

She paused, then gasped with exaggerated surprise. "Oh, I forgot. Your parents dumped you when you were little. If it weren't for Noel, you'd have starved to death."

I said nothing.

Noel sat stone-faced. He didn't say a word either.

Florence set the glass on the coffee table with a smile. "Drink up."

I lowered my head. "I'm sorry."

Florence shook her head. "Words are cheap. That's not sincere enough. This is 120-proof. Drink it."

I stared at the green liquid fizzing in the glass, and instinctively looked toward Noel.

During the years I'd stood beside him while he built his empire, I'd destroyed my stomach lining at one business dinner after another.

Every time I drank, I ended up in the ICU.

After that, Noel never let me touch alcohol again.

But the man sitting in front of me now just blew out a lazy smoke ring, his expression as indifferent as if he were commenting on the weather.

"Brooklyn, it's one glass. Your tolerance isn't that bad."

I'd stopped expecting anything from him a long time ago. But my chest still clenched, tight and involuntary.

I picked up the glass and drank it down.

The burn seared a path from my throat to my stomach. A heavy weight dropped through my lower abdomen, and the pain sent me stumbling two steps sideways.

"Ms. Simmons holds her liquor so well. Why not finish the rest while you're at it?"

Florence pointed to the row of colorful drinks lined up on the table.

My expression went cold.

Florence turned to Noel, eyes brimming with hurt. "Noel, she called me a homewrecker. She threatened to kill my parents. After all that emotional damage, is it really too much to ask for this tiny bit of compensation?"

"Of course not." Noel pulled her closer and ground his cigarette into the ashtray, matter-of-fact. "Brooklyn, I'd like to help you, but you went too far. Do what Florence says. Once she's satisfied, you can make amends."

I nodded calmly.

Pressing one hand against my abdomen where the pain twisted like a knife, I reached for the decanter on the table. "A few glasses aren't enough to make amends. I'll finish the bottle."

When the bottle hit the floor, I couldn't hold it back anymore. Blood sprayed from my mouth, spattering the tiles. My legs gave out and I crumpled to the ground.

Florence recoiled several steps, wrinkling her nose. "Ms. Simmons, it was just one bottle. Did you really have to bring a blood pack?"

That was all it took to convince Noel. He pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. "Enough. How long are you going to keep up this act? Florence has been more than generous. Stop embarrassing yourself and get up."

I didn't speak. I just lifted my head and looked at him.

The woman closest to me suddenly screamed.

"Blood. Her pants are soaked in blood. That's... she's having a miscarriage..."

I met Noel's eyes as every drop of color drained from his face. And for the first time all day, I smiled. A real one.

"Your child is hers now too. Is that enough?"