I tapped the photo open. The background was the amusement park I'd been asking to go to for years.

When Chester and I first got together, he'd actually been decent to me.

He remembered what I liked to eat, planned every date down to the last detail.

Except for taking me to the amusement park.

No matter how many times I brought it up, he refused. Said a place like that was a waste of time.

So Chester Delgado could be silly and indulgent after all.

He just wasn't willing to be that way for me.

His message came through right then.

Use this time to think about what you did. I already apologized to Glenda on your behalf.

The doorbell rang. A courier stood outside with a dessert box Chester had sent over.

Compared to the ten-tier cake he'd ordered to welcome Glenda home,

this little cake was exactly how much space I took up in Chester Delgado's life—

Almost none.

Even the topping was mango. Glenda's favorite.

Chester knew I was allergic to mango. He'd always known. He just didn't care.

His idea of smoothing things over with me came wrapped in the same lazy indifference as everything else.

I threw the cake in the trash.

I'd just finished washing up and was about to sleep when frantic knocking erupted at the door.

Chester.

His face was caked with dust, his clothes streaked with blood.

The moment he saw me, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the elevator.

"Crash on the way taking Glenda home. The hospital's blood bank doesn't have enough—you're the same type as her."

A life was on the line. I didn't argue.

Down in the garage, the front end of his car was crumpled almost beyond recognition, smoke still curling from the hood. I couldn't help frowning.

"Maybe we should call a cab."

"A cab? Glenda's in there dying and you want to wait for a cab!"

The words came out sharp and cold. Even Chester seemed to hear it.

He didn't apologize. He just opened the car door for me.

I sat in the passenger seat without a word.

Neither of us spoke the entire way to the hospital.

It wasn't until Chester got out that I noticed what was on his seat. A pair of lace underwear.

When I didn't move, his voice turned icy. "What is it now?"

"So what if you're mad at me—Glenda was your college roommate. You're really going to sit here and watch her die?"

The urgency in his voice cracked something open. Everything I'd been holding down surged up at once.

I looked him in the eye. "You want my blood? Then tell me what caused the crash."

Chester, who had been so righteous a second ago, couldn't meet my gaze.

"I was going too fast. Lost control for a second and..."

"Or you two were having so much fun in the car you forgot you were still driving."

The words barely left my mouth before his hand cracked across my face.

My left cheek burned white-hot.

Chester looked almost startled by what he'd done.

His hand hung in the air, a flash of panic in his eyes, but it vanished just as fast, swallowed by irritation.

"This isn't the time for this. Glenda is lying in the emergency room!"

"And how is that my problem? Chester, what makes you think I'd willingly bleed for the homewrecker who ruined my marriage?"

My eyes dropped, cold and mocking, to the seat he'd just been sitting in.

The lace underwear sitting there, stained with something I didn't want to name, proving Chester Delgado's betrayal plain as day.

I got out and started to walk away. He seized my arm and dragged me into the hospital by force.

I fought him every step.

"Chester, I am not giving blood!"

I dug my nails into his arm. "Let go of me!"

But the difference in strength between us was too vast. Even as my nails bent back from the force of my grip, I couldn't break free.

Inside the hospital room, Chester grabbed IV tubing and bound my wrists so I couldn't run.

He pulled it tight. The sharp pain traveled along every nerve and settled somewhere deep in my chest.

A nurse wheeled in the blood-draw equipment, shock and hesitation plain on her face.

"Sir, this is..."

He cut her off instantly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Leave it. She's emotional—I restrained her so she wouldn't hurt herself. Draw the blood. The type's a match."

The nurse looked at the scene in front of her and couldn't stop herself from speaking up.

"But she only just had a miscarriage. Drawing blood now could do real damage to her body..."

Chester interrupted impatiently. "Enough. Glenda's situation is more urgent."

"My wife can be looked after properly later."

Those careless words—an ice-tipped blade, slipped between my ribs and driven straight into the softest place in my chest.

I stopped struggling. I let them push the needle into the back of my hand.

Warm blood flowed through the clear tubing into the collection bag.

Even that wasn't fast enough for him. He snapped at the nurse to switch to a thicker needle.

He stared at the filling bag, not bothering to hide how badly he needed every last drop.

When the draw was finished, the nurse pressed a cotton swab over the puncture and spoke gently.

"Ma'am, please get plenty of rest. Avoid any strenuous activity for the time being..."

Before she could finish, Chester had already snatched the blood bag and was running toward the emergency room.

He didn't look back at me once.

I don't know how long passed before the light above the emergency room went off.

*The patient is out of danger.* Chester's rigid face finally cracked—a slow exhale, a smile of sheer relief.

He thanked the doctor again and again, almost absurdly humble.

Only then did he remember I existed.

He reached out to touch me. I turned my head away.

This time he didn't get angry. If anything, he looked pleased with himself.

"Good thing you were here. Name it—whatever you want, it's yours."

I held out the printed divorce agreement. "I only want one thing. Your signature."

Right then, nurses wheeled Glenda out.

She called Chester's name, her voice thin and weak.

He didn't even look at what I'd handed him. He signed without a second's pause.

The moment he finished, he strode to Glenda's side and murmured something gentle.

"Don't be scared, Glenda. I'm here. I'll stay with you."

I clutched the signed agreement and disappeared down the corridor.

A month later, Glenda was discharged.

Only then did Chester realize I hadn't contacted him in a very long time.

He'd barely finished sending me a message when his secretary hurried in.

"President Delgado—the partners are pulling out. All of them. They're saying—"