Chapter b2/b.

    Rosalind shook her head “I’m not angry.”

    “You’ve seemed off these past few days. Did I do something wrong”

    “I’m fine.”

    “You’re not,” Christopher insisted. “We’ve known each other for fifteen years, Rosa. I can tell when something’s bothering you. I’ve been trying to figure out what I did, but I’m drawing a nk. Just tell me, and I’ll fix it. Okay?”

    Rosalind looked up at the man she’d loved for fifteen years and suddenly found him almost unrecognizable.

    His features were the same. The sharp, rebellious boy had matured into a sessful, dependable man, yet, inexplicably, he felt like a stranger.

    “You’re overthinking it. It’s just PMS.”

    Christopher still looked skeptical. “Just PMS? Really?”

    “Yes.” Rosalind nodded.

    He pulled out his phone and made a call.“Cancel everything at the office this week. Have Joshua bring any urgent files to my house.”

    “What are you doing?” Rosalind asked.

    “I’m staying home with you,” he stated. “If you’re feeling down, I want to be here to talk.”

    A ifaint/i, humorlessugh escaped Rosalind.

    “What’s so funny?b” /bChristopher asked.

    “Wouldn’t any womanugh, having such a perfect husband?”

    Christopher’s expression finally rxed into a genuine smile. “Rosa, if something’s wrong, you have to tell me. We’re partners. Don’t bottle things up.”

    “And what about you? Is there anything you’re keeping from me?b” /b

    Christopher leaned in yfully, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “We’ve been married three years now. Maybe it’s time we started trying for a baby.”

    Rosalind didn’t answer. Instead, she reached into bher /bbag and pulled out a thin stack of papers. “Look this over,

    then sign it.”

    Christopher didn’t even nce at the documents. He flipped straight to thest page and scrawled his signature.

    Handing it back to her, he said, “Done. Here you go.”

    “You didn’t even look at what it is?” Rosalind pointed out.

    “I’d give you anything you asked for, Rosa. I know the idea of having a child scares you. If signing papers gives you more security, why wouldn’t Ib?/bb” /b

    “Christopher, I think you should read it first…”

    19:51

    1.8%

    * Charters

    A soft vibration interrupted her:

    A notification lit up Christopher’s phone screen.

    He nced at it, and a tender smile instantly softened his features, his eyes warm.

    His fingers danced over the screen as he typed a reply.

    A momentter, he stood up abruptly.

    “Rosa, I need to take this call outside.”

    “Fine,” she replied.

    As soon as Christopher stepped out, Rosalind got up and headed for the garage.

    She slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The car’s infotainment screen flickered to life.

    Christopher’s WhatsApp was still synced.

    The conversation he’d just had was disyed clearly.

    Toya texted, “Yay! That richdy came again btoday /bbfor /bjewelry! Mymission this month is gonna be awesome! Dinner’s on me!”

    Christopher texted back, “So happy, darlingb?/bb” /b

    “Haha, of course! Praying the richdyes every bday/b! I love her!”

    “I used to buy every day too. Didn’t see you loving me that much.”

    “Pfft, totally different! She’s my tinum VIP!”

    “And what am I?b” /b

    “bYou/b? Oh, you’ve been dumped! Nothing gets in the way of my hustle!”

    “Use bme /band toss me aside, hmm?b” /b

    “Call me? My hands are tired from typing. That richdy tried on like a million nes today. Cleaning up iwas /ia

    workout!”

    “Okay.”

    Rosalind stared at the contact name Toya for a long moment, then closed her eyes.

    Images of the sales associate, Latoya, and those striking, beautiful hands flooded her mind, invasive and

    unwee.

    She cut the engine and went back inside.

    The

    papers Christopher had signed stilly bexactly /bwhere he’d left them.

    Rosalind picked them up and ced them back in her bag.

    The bold, ck header at the top of the first page stood out starkly: Divorce Agreement.

    Next to the divorce agreementy another file.