Neil yanked Shirley into his arms, shielding her, and glared at me with open contempt.

"Kathryn, enough! You won't do this, you won't do that, all you're good for is bullying a young woman. There's a limit to how unreasonable you can be!"

"You're a part-time calligraphy instructor. With that pathetic salary of yours, I'd be embarrassed to let you pay for gas."

"You live the life you live because of me. Where do you get the nerve to stick your nose in my business?"

A sneer curled across his lips.

"Shirley actually helps me at the company. Forget just swapping her into a party game. If she wanted the moon out of the sky, I'd pluck it down for her."

"And what can you do for me? You wormed your way into a wedding ceremony without putting up a single cent of dowry. You're nothing but a gold digger trying to get something for nothing!"

"So, Kathryn, take the money and sit quietly. If it's not enough, I'll give you more. But if you cause one more scene, I won't sign the marriage certificate at all!"

My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.

So refusing to accept my husband kissing another woman was causing a scene.

And five years of devotion, of standing beside him while he built everything from nothing, amounted to getting something for nothing.

But Neil didn't know.

My dowry had been ready for months. The assets were so extensive that the paperwork had simply taken time to finalize. I'd planned to present it all the day we signed the certificate, as a surprise.

Now it was clear he didn't deserve it.

"Well, that works out perfectly. I was thinking the same thing."

I said it coldly, turned, grabbed my coat, and walked toward the door.

The moment I pulled open the front door of the villa, his voice came from behind me.

"Hold on!"

Neil descended the staircase, chin lifted, wearing a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Kathryn. That down jacket you're wearing. Canada Goose. A hundred thousand dollars. I paid for it."

"If you've got the guts to walk out, then don't take my things with you. Can't you afford your own clothes?"

"Oh, and don't forget to leave every card I ever gave you."

The villa doors gaped wide open. Wind laced with snow bit into the back of my neck.

It still wasn't as cold as what I felt inside.