I thought he might say something. Ask about the documents. Ask whether the gash on my face needed tending.
"Don't come in unannounced again. It upsets Alice."
That was all. A cold warning. A dismissal.
"Don't worry." My voice came out so calm it startled even me. "I won't be around to upset your mistress anymore. I'm grabbing a few things and leaving, Mr. Delgado."
The word mistress landed like a slap. His expression curdled.
But I was already walking toward the guest room.
Dustin had moved all my belongings in there long ago—locked everything away so the sight of my things wouldn't upset Alice.
His gifts filled half the room. Plush teddy bears. Limited-edition Chanel bags flown in from overseas. A museum of devotion from a man who no longer existed.
Back then, he'd chased me like a man possessed. He knew I loved Chanel, so he had people ship the latest collections from abroad. He knew I loved teddy bears, so he'd bring one home from every business trip. I'd kept every single piece, imagining the day I'd have a child and could tell her the story of how her mom and dad fell in love.
I shoved it all into a suitcase. Fast. Without a shred of sentimentality.