I had a single backpack slung over my shoulder, light enough that I hardly looked like someone here on vacation.

"Peggy, can't you make life a little easier on people for once?"

"You didn't say a word before flying out to Bali. You haven't answered a single message since yesterday."

"And now you show up out of nowhere, not even any luggage. You didn't give me and Victoria any chance to prepare."

My eyes drifted to the white wedding dress behind Victoria, and a faint, amused smile crossed my lips.

"Prepare for what?"

"Did I interrupt the little destination wedding you two were throwing here?"

"Peggy!"

Brendan's face went cold as he cut me off. "Could you not talk in that snide tone of yours?"

"Then where did the wedding dress come from?"

"Didn't you say Victoria was just your good buddy? It's a vacation in Bali. Why bring a wedding dress?"

Brendan let out an exasperated breath. "Victoria saw other people taking bridal photos and got a little envious, that's all. It's just photos. Do you have to make a federal case out of everything?"

"Brendan, why are you being so harsh with your wife!"

Victoria stood off to the side, frowning as she fussed with the tent, then suddenly spoke up, all sweet understanding.

"Peggy, if you don't feel like pitching the tent yourself, I can have Brendan do it for you."

"Though you know how he is. Clumsy hands. Last time he tried to put together a queen bed at my place, he assembled the whole thing backwards. A tent's probably beyond him too."

She made it sound offhand, but every word carried a barb.

I didn't answer. I just slipped on my earbuds and ignored her.

Brendan gave a cold snort.

"Forget it, don't bother with her. Let's see how she manages on her own."

"Victoria, let's go take our photos."

Four-thirty in the afternoon.

The sea breeze rolled in off the water, salty and damp.

The beach was filling up—some people splashing in the surf, others laughing and roughhousing.

And there were Brendan and Victoria, dressed like a couple about to get married.

Victoria wore a white wedding gown with a long train, and Brendan stood barefoot in the shallows. The two of them smiled into each other's eyes.

The photographer called out beside them: "Good, hold it, look at me! Yes, yes, perfect!"

I watched for two seconds, then looked away.

Then I walked over to a man nearby in a black shirt.

"Hi. Could I borrow a light?" I dug a pack of cigarettes out of my bag.

He looked up, glanced at me, and pulled a lighter from his pocket, holding it out.

I lit one, took a drag, and slowly exhaled.

The smoke scattered fast in the sea wind, vanishing without a trace.

"And here I thought you were the good-girl type."

He watched the way I smoked, one corner of his mouth lifting.

"Never would've guessed it. You actually smoke?"

"You can't judge a book by its cover."

I let the smoke out, my gaze drifting lazily over to the two of them by the water, nearly wrapped in each other's arms.

The man followed my eyes, his gaze landing on Brendan, his smile turning more knowing.

"That your boyfriend?"

"Husband. Soon to be ex, though."

The man snorted out a laugh.

"Interesting."

"The way he's all over that woman, he's got scumbag written all over him. Good for you, dumping him."

He turned suddenly, holding out a hand with a soft laugh.

"I'm Spencer Delgado. Care to introduce yourself?"

I studied him without a word.

I'd noticed earlier this morning that this man had been watching me for a while.

Every word of my exchange with Brendan and the others, he'd heard plainly.

So when he'd just sidled up to make conversation, now, looking at his face, I frowned slightly.

"Why do you feel familiar to me? Have I seen you somewhere before?"

Spencer gave a mysterious smile. And then—

“Peggy Gilbert!”

Brendan came striding over just then, his expression sour.

His eyes locked on the cigarette in my hand, his brows knotting together.

“Since when do you smoke?”

I looked at his face, and for a moment everything blurred.

He actually didn't know.

Every time he stood me up for his precious buddy Victoria, I'd reached for a cigarette.

“A long time now.”

“How did I not know that?”

Brendan drew in a deep breath. He shot a wary glance at Spencer and tugged me a little closer to his side.

Then he lowered his voice, coaxing.

“Peggy, I know you're upset about the ticket thing yesterday, but can you not be like this?”

“You came all this way. Can't we just enjoy ourselves? I'll take you to Lovers' Cliff tomorrow. Haven't you always wanted to go?”

I looked him in the eye and gave a mocking smile.

“Lovers' Cliff? Isn't that the place you and Victoria planned to go?”

I pointed to the post Victoria had just put up on her social media feed.

Brendan's face darkened. He pushed through the explanation anyway.

“Victoria hardly ever gets to Bali. She just wanted to hit all the spots. She got a little carried away. Don't hold it against her.”

“Relax. She and I are rock-solid buddies. There's nothing else going on.”

“And those wedding photos just now? I was only there as a prop.”

Brendan delivered every word with a straight face, as if the two of them were truly innocent.

But it only made me want to laugh.

Who would believe that?

Moments ago the two of them had been shooting bridal photos with all the heat in the world.

Even the photographer had taken them for a couple about to walk down the aisle.

Even if it had all been a misunderstanding, posing the way they did, the staged near-kiss,

he'd shown not the slightest urge to set the record straight.

That moment would never be worth forgiving.

“Like I said, whatever you do is none of my business. I won't get in your way.”

I stubbed out the cigarette and dropped the butt into an empty soda can beside me.

“I came here for a vacation. Not to join yours.”

“You……”

“Brendan, let it go, let it go.”

Victoria quickly grabbed his arm. “Peggy's obviously still fuming. Don't fight with her. Let her cool off on her own. It's better that way.”

She pulled Brendan back the way they'd come, then took two steps and glanced back at me, smug.

“Peggy, the hotels around here are tough to book in peak season. We barely snagged ours two weeks out. If you couldn't get a room, why not squeeze in with us? The tent isn't big, but three people could probably make it work……”

“The nerve on you. Squeeze in with a married couple? I'm honestly curious how you worked up the gall to say something that shameless.”

Before I could even open my mouth, Spencer folded his arms and fired it right back.

“Who are you?” Victoria's face went white. “Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to insult me?”

“I'm insulting exactly what you are. A man-stealing little mistress.”

Spencer didn't mince words, and watching him shut her down felt downright satisfying. I couldn't help the corner of my mouth lifting.

“Let's go.”

Spencer grabbed my hand and we took off. Victoria, beside herself, came lunging after us with her claws out.

“If you've got the guts, stand right there! Don't you walk away!”

The rest of the noise faded behind us. I just stared at his hand wrapped around mine, and my heart suddenly beat a little faster.

Spencer drove me back to the hotel I'd booked, and to my surprise, he was staying right next door.

“What a coincidence. If that lousy couple gives you any trouble out there, just knock on my door. I'll help you put them in their place.”

I smiled. “No charge, I hope?”

That night, Spencer cornered me at the hotel entrance, his face dark as a storm.

"Peggy, who was that man? Why was he holding your hand?"

"What exactly is going on between you two? Tell me the truth. Did you come here together today?"

I stared at him, baffled, and almost laughed.

He was the one tangled up with another woman, yet here he stood, interrogating me.

"Brendan, let's get a divorce."

"What did you say?"

I lowered my head and smiled. "You took wedding photos with another woman. What meaning is left in this marriage of ours?"

"When you think about it, it's all rather pointless."

"So, Brendan, I'll set you free for you and your dear buddy."

Brendan looked at me in disbelief.

"Peggy, what are you talking about? You want a divorce just because Victoria and I took one trip to Bali together?"

"How can you treat this like a game?"

"Did you forget the vows you swore to me at our wedding? You promised we'd grow old together!"

I watched him crumble, watched him spiral into hysteria.

I simply spoke, my voice flat.

"Brendan, I don't want to grow old with you anymore."

"So, we're getting divorced."

Brendan's whole face went ashen, his teeth grinding.

"Is it because of that man?"

"The way he looked at you today was all wrong! Peggy, don't tell me you came to Bali and found yourself someone on the side!"

I looked at the sorry state of him and gave a faint smile.

"That's none of your concern. You'd do better to worry about yourself."

Brendan's head snapped up.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He'd just touched the hem of my dress, so I made a show of flicking off the dust.

"You'll find out soon enough, Mr. Harding. Enjoy it while it lasts."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Brendan, eyes rimmed red, started to chase after me. But just then, his phone rang.

"Speak! What is it?"

Brendan snapped, snatching up the call.

But the assistant on the other end sounded close to tears.

"Mr. Harding, we've got a problem! That mysterious investor who promised us the three hundred million suddenly pulled the funds…"