"Zoe, get yourself ready. Time for work." His voice had already gone gentle when he spoke to her, the gloom wiped from his face.

"Mm." Zoe gave a soft nod and rose to follow Corey out.

One of them young and lovely, the other rich and generous.

Watching their backs as they left, a decision settled in me all at once.

The truth was, I'd known the answer for a long time. It was only that six years of marriage still left a thread of reluctance.

Now, even that was gone.

After the two of them left, Constance leaned back in her chair, picking at her teeth. "You there. Go get my medicine ready."

The "you there" she meant was Lena.

"Lena, don't bother with her."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Constance glared at me. "Corey said it himself, told you all to take good care of me. What are you trying to pull?"

"Lena, go pack up her things and Zoe's. Throw them all out. Get someone in to replace everything in the bedroom."

"I asked you what you think you're doing." Constance stood and jabbed a finger at me.

"This is my home, and you're not welcome here. That's what I mean."

"You think I won't call Corey right now?"

"Suit yourself."

I got up and headed upstairs.

My mother hurried after me. "Susan, did you and Corey have a fight?"

"No. I've just worked some things out. I'm getting a divorce."

"You're sure about this?"

"Mm."

"Then I'm behind you."

She pulled me into a hug, then turned to Lena. "Go pack up Zoe and her mother's things. Don't leave a single piece behind."

"Mom, I'm sorry you've had to put up with all this."

My mother was never the weak sort, but for my sake she'd swallowed it all quietly these past days.

To keep this family of mine intact, she'd willingly given up her room and willingly endured Constance's cold, cutting remarks.

Now she didn't have to anymore.

"You... you just wait."

Constance kept up her shouting and got Corey on the phone right away.

I went up to the third-floor terrace and stood in the morning light, looking out at the road.

I waited, patient, to see whether Corey would come running back.

To see what choice he'd make next.

Soon his car came into view. He had come back, just as I expected.

For the sake of Zoe's mother, the engine roared as it sped toward the house.

I took out my phone and placed a call. "I want to divorce Corey. Can you handle that?"

Corey came back, and he brought Zoe with him.

Her eyes were rimmed red. "Susan, if you have a problem with me, you can say it to my face. But bullying my mother the second I'm gone, that's going too far."

"You worm your way into someone else's nest and then play the victim? If you had any shame left, you'd take your mother and get out right now."

"Susan Simmons, you've gone too far."

Corey's face was cold. "Apologize to Constance. Now."

"If the two of you don't leave, you haven't seen 'too far' yet."

"You're really asking for it." Corey strode toward me.

"Corey Mason, you lay one finger on my daughter and see what happens."

My mother stepped in front of me.

"What has my daughter ever done to wrong you, that you'd pull a stunt like this? Are you even human?"

"What did I do?" Corey roared. "Zoe is my assistant. She's having a hard time in her life, and I helped her. Is that a crime?"

"You think this is a normal way to help someone?" My mother's eyes were red. "I'm not blind. The two of you have been making eyes at each other right under my nose and my daughter's. There's no bullying quite like yours."

"Watch your mouth. There's nothing between me and Zoe. It's a normal boss-and-assistant relationship. People with filth in their hearts see filth in everything."

Constance dabbed at her eyes. "Corey, don't fight on my account. I'll go."

"Corey, my mom's right. We never should have come to stay here. She deserves her asthma flare-up. We'll leave right now."

"You're not going anywhere." Corey Mason's face had gone ashen. "They're the ones who should leave."

"Susan Simmons, I never imagined you could be this petty. You've really let me down." Corey glared at me. "You're going to take your mother back to the old place in the country right now and reflect on what you've done. Don't come back until you've come to your senses."

I answered coldly, "I let you read the contract. Are you blind, or just illiterate?"

"You—" Corey's eyes bulged, but he could see I wasn't the least bit afraid.

"Susan Simmons, how did I never see this side of you before. No compassion, no sense of the bigger picture."

He turned to face Zoe Fox. "Don't worry, I'll get your aunt settled somewhere. Let's go."

Corey left again, but in less than two hours he was back.

"We need to talk. Just the two of us."

My mother glanced at me, then called Lena Lambert out for a walk.

"I'm giving you three days, that's all. In three days you're going to make Aunt Constance and Zoe forgive you."

Corey hadn't come to talk. He'd come to deliver an ultimatum.

I didn't know when it had started, but my feelings had stopped being something he bothered to consider.

As it happened, I needed a little time to prepare for the divorce.

Three days. That was plenty.

"Fine. Three days. I'll give you my answer then."

【Thank you, sir, for your concern and care. The new house is lovely. Mother adores it.】

Not long after Corey left, his driver sent me a screenshot.

Zoe and her mother, posing for photos in front of the seaside villa.

I gave it one glance and stopped caring.

I had more important things to do.

The moment I felt Corey's heart turn away from me, I'd started preparing for one thing.

I made several calls in a row, and once I'd confirmed everything was in order, I found myself looking forward to all that would happen three days from now.

For those three days, Corey didn't come home. I was long used to it.

These past three years, the times he'd been home could be counted on one hand.

But I knew exactly where he was. His driver reported his movements to me in real time.

For all three of those days, he stayed with Zoe Fox.

It was time to settle the account in full.

On the afternoon of the third day, I was invited to an exhibition hosted by Patek Philippe.

By the time I arrived, Corey was already there. So were Zoe and her mother.

He was walking Zoe through the display of the newly released watch.

Patek Philippe's latest model, sold in a limited run worldwide.

Buying one took more than just money.

Corey knew I collected fine watches, and he'd promised long ago to buy this very piece for me, as a gift for my thirtieth birthday.

Today was my birthday.

But the woman he'd brought was Zoe.

As I walked in, the atmosphere in the room shifted, turning faintly uneasy.

Lately, no matter what event he attended, it was Zoe at his side.

In private, the rumors had spread like wildfire.

Today Zoe and I had appeared in the same room at once, and more than a few gazes flicked back and forth between us, searching.

When Zoe noticed me, she dropped the careful, tiptoeing act she'd worn before. Her chin lifted a fraction, her eyes brimming with smugness.

No words passed between us, yet war had been declared.

I wouldn't apologize, so Corey meant to make it up to her.

To make it up to Zoe with the very watch he'd meant to give me.

Corey saw me come in too, but he didn't spare me a single glance.

Corey spoke. "Wrap up this watch for Miss Fox."

The whole floor had gone quiet the moment I walked in, so even though he kept his voice low, every word carried.

The watch had been designed with love woven into its very concept.

It was meant to be given to the one you cherished.

Everyone in the circle knew the theme of today's exhibition was the expression of love.

In a setting like this, the moment I arrived, Corey chose to give that watch to Zoe.

The meaning was unmistakable.

Plenty of the eyes turned my way were full of pity. And, of course, no shortage of them were enjoying the show.

Zoe couldn't hide the smug delight in her eyes.

Constance went a step further, hounding the staff to hurry up and wrap the watch.

That was when Corey looked over at me too, giving his phone a little shake.

My phone buzzed. A message from him.

【This is what happens when you don't listen.】

I just stood there, calm, smiling as I watched it all unfold.

I looked at the watch consultant, whose expression had shifted. He turned to Corey with a trace of apology.

"Mr. Mason, your card won't go through."

Corey's gaze, when it swung back to me, had turned a great deal colder.

I smiled. "Mr. Mason, are you satisfied with that answer?"