Chapter 2: The Question Nobody Was Supposed to Ask
Everything crashed.
Crystal shattered.
Wine spread across the floor.
The expensive food Grant had eaten for free slid off the table in one long wave.
Nobody moved.
Grant's face went from red to white.
"What is wrong with you?" Diane shrieked, jumping back from the mess.
"I'm leaving," I said.
"Like you asked."
Ryan grabbed my arm.
"You're going to clean this up right now."
I looked down at his hand on my arm.
Then I looked up at him.
"Let go.
Or the next photo I take is of your hand on a pregnant woman."
He let go.
I walked to the front door and opened it.
Then I turned back.
"This is my penthouse.
My deed.
My name.
You have seventy-two hours to remove your family's belongings."
Grant stepped forward.
"You can't do that.
Ryan is your husband—"
"Ryan held me down while you burned me." My voice didn't shake.
"Whatever he was, he isn't that anymore."
Brooke made a small sound.
I glanced at her.
She had gone completely still.
Her phone was no longer raised.
She was staring at Ryan.
Like she was seeing him clearly for the first time.
And then she said something so quiet I almost missed it.
"Ryan…
this isn't the first time, is it."
It wasn't a question.
---
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What Brooke revealed next — and what Claire found on Ryan's phone that night — changes everything.
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