Jocelyn stood perfectly still. The fireworks lit her face, but there was nothing in her expression at all.
The last time the sky had burned like this, she had gone from Miss Henson to Mrs. Sanchez.
But Ivor had never known that she hated fireworks.
When she was a little girl, her father had offered to set off fireworks for her birthday. She'd said no. All she wanted was a lamp that would stay lit.
Fireworks were beautiful, sure. But they didn't last. The moment they bloomed, they were already gone. You couldn't hold on to them.
Her father had laughed at her. So sentimental for such a little thing.
Now she finally understood. What she'd said back then had been a prophecy.
Her love hadn't even lasted as long as a firework.
Ivor wrapped his arms around her from behind, his voice a warm murmur against her ear. "Do you like it, Jocelyn? The whole city is celebrating your birthday."
Her gaze drifted to the last wave of fireworks waiting to launch in the distance. The brilliant points of light flickered in her eyes, bright then dark, bright then dark, without a trace of warmth.
"Ivor. Let's get a divorce."
The arms around her waist clamped tight. "What did you just say?"
She peeled his hands away. "I said drop the act. Let each other go."
A nameless panic spread through him. His expression darkened in an instant.
He was about to speak when the final firework screamed skyward, then suddenly veered off course, spiraling wildly as flames sprayed in every direction.
Ivor spun around and seized Jocelyn by the throat, fingers digging in. "This was you, wasn't it? When did you become this vicious? You won't stop until Nellie is dead?"
Jocelyn couldn't breathe. Her fingers clawed weakly at his wrists as she struggled.
Firelight danced across Ivor's face. That face, once the gentlest she had ever known, was now twisted beyond recognition.
"Nellie begged me for days to let her plan your birthday, to make you happy. She even stationed herself at the launch site personally to make sure nothing went wrong. And you tried to kill her!"
Jocelyn felt her neck creak under the pressure. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes, beyond her control.
"Let... let go! Even if I wanted her dead, I wouldn't use something this stupid!"
Ivor hurled her aside through clenched teeth. "You're beyond saving, Jocelyn. I don't have time for this."
He released her and ran out without a backward glance.