Chapter 2

June clapped a hand over her mouth the instant the words were out.

"Millie, oh no, did I just say something I shouldn't have?"

Then she pulled out her phone, opened the photo album, and held up for everyone to see a picture of me sitting inside a Maybach.

"Millie, I really only saw it by accident that day. I swear I didn't mean to bring it up! You won't hold it against me, will you?"

June's little performance turned every gaze in the room on me at once, appraising and full of contempt.

"What? Millicent actually cheated? No wonder she was screaming for a divorce over one glass of juice. The nerve of her!"

"I kept wondering how she could bear to leave a man as good as Leo. Turns out she already had someone else lined up on the side!"

Leo's face darkened at once. He jabbed a finger at the man in the photo and demanded, "Who is that pretty boy? Is he the reason you want to divorce me?"

I had no interest in wasting more words on any of them. I forwarded the appointment confirmation for the divorce straight to Leo's phone.

"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll see you at the county clerk's office!"

With that, I turned to go.

Leo lunged forward to block my way, his eyes brimming with earnest pleading.

"Baby, I know I've been buried in work and neglected you. I don't blame you!"

"Just cut things off with that man, and I promise you, I'll act like none of it ever happened. All you have to do is come back to me!"

His words melted the whole room in an instant.

"Millicent, if you've got even a shred of conscience, you should know you're in the wrong! Don't wreck a marriage over some stray man!"

I shook Leo's hand off with icy indifference.

"This divorce is happening. That's final!"

His eyes flickered with a jolt. He hadn't expected me to actually mean it.

"Baby, tell me. What exactly will it take for you not to divorce me?"

Watching that hypocrite's face, I forced down the nausea churning in my stomach, turned, and poured ten cups of peach juice.

"You love peach juice, don't you? Well, drink your fill right now!"

Leo stared at the row of peach juice in front of him, and his face went dark.

"Millicent, you know perfectly well I'm allergic to peaches. One sip could kill me. You're trying to drive me to my death!"

I raised an eyebrow and let out a cold snort.

"Then why did you drink the peach juice June poured you a moment ago and come away perfectly fine?"

"Or was the cup you drank never peach juice at all?"

Hearing that, the guests turned toward Leo, one after another, puzzled.

"That's right! I remember Mr. Harding's peach allergy is severe. Once when we all went out to eat, the kitchen squeezed a bit of peach juice into a dish for flavor, and Mr. Harding took one bite and swelled up all over. He nearly died!"

"So why was Mr. Harding fine after drinking June's peach juice? I saw him finish the whole glass just now!"

Hearing the murmurs spread, Leo flew into a humiliated rage and swept the whole row of peach juice off the table.

"Millicent, when did you become so utterly impossible?"

"You want a divorce, fine! Let's see how you manage to survive once you've left me!"

Gabriel Glass shattered across the floor.

I looked at the sticky peach juice pooling on the ground, and a sting rose behind my eyes.

Leo was certain that I, a caged bird he'd kept for five years, would never actually dare to leave him.

The others chimed in to talk me down.

"You're a housewife. If you really leave Mr. Harding, how are you going to live?"

"Exactly! You've been out of the workforce so long. What company would ever take on an older woman with no job experience?"

I stayed unmoved all the same, and looked at Leo.