He Left Me to Freeze, So I Burned His World Down Chapter 03

He Left Me to Freeze, So I Burned His World Down Chapter 03

Two days later, I was discharged from the hospital.

Nora came to pick me up, her neat red hair a slash of flame in the hospital’s sterile white corridor.

She glanced around, saw no sign of Graham, and gave a cold, unsurprised snort.

“Where is he? Couldn’t be bothered to show?”

“He didn’t used to be like this,” Nora said, helping me with my coat and gesturing toward my arm with her chin. “Remember that time in Aspen? You said you were a little cold, and he took off his coat and wrapped you up like a damn mummy. Walked half a mile back to the hotel in a single shirt when it was five below. He was always going on about your history with hypothermia, how you couldn’t risk the slightest chill.”

Nora’s imitation of Graham’s anxious tone was sharp and merciless.

I took the coat from her and put it on myself.

“That’s all in the past, Nora.”

“Fine.” She shrugged, not pushing it. “At least you see him clearly now. To celebrate your rebirth, I’m taking you to the Commonwealth Club tonight. The chef just rolled out a new menu.”

When we went to handle the discharge paperwork, we saw a familiar figure at the payment window.

It was Piper, holding her son and speaking anxiously with the staff.

Nora’s mouth flattened into a thin line. She leaned close to my ear, her voice low, but just loud enough for the people nearby to hear.

“Guess whose card she’s using? Graham’s. Ava, you two aren’t divorced yet. Technically, every penny she spends is marital property.”

A single stone, a thousand ripples.

Heads turned toward Piper.

“That’s the woman?”

“That’s her. I recognize her from the foundation luncheon. She was at the head table.”

“With the child… shameless.”

“If it were me, I’d freeze all his cards.”

The murmurs pricked Piper’s back like needles. She spun around, her face flushed, tears already welling in her eyes.

“Mrs. Lockwood,” she said, clutching the child as her body trembled, as if I were some kind of monster. “Why would you let your friend humiliate me like this? I know you hate me, but the child is innocent.”

Nora let out a contemptuous laugh. “We didn’t do anything. We stated a legal fact.”

“You’re cruel!” Piper’s tears fell.

“You cry fast. The Academy owes you an Oscar.”

“Nora, that’s enough.” I caught her arm, not even glancing at Piper again. Every one of her expressions was a repeat performance from my past life. I was tired of the show.

“Let’s go,” I said. “We’ll go home, get changed, and head to the club.”

The Commonwealth Club was softly lit, the air thick with the scent of cigars and aged hickory. We settled into a window booth with a view of Virginia’s rolling hills.

I leaned into the deep red leather, watching the amber liquid swirl in my glass, my thoughts drifting.

I remembered another time, long ago, right here.

It was our engagement party. I’d had too much to drink, and the son of a family friend was cornering me, his words cheap and suggestive. Just when I was at a loss, Graham appeared. He didn’t say a word. He just grabbed the man by the collar, shoved him against the wall, and fixed him with a look of pure ice.

“Stay away from her,” he had said, his voice low and forceful. “She’s my fiancée.”

In that moment, looking at his sharp profile, I truly believed I had found the man who would shelter me for the rest of my life.

“Ava? What are you thinking about?” Nora waved a hand in front of my face. “Don’t tell me you’re thinking about that bastard. If you’re still not over him, we can go storm his little love nest right now and drag him out by his collar.”

Another friend leaned in. “Exactly. Change into that dress, put on the lipstick he loves. No man can resist that.”

I laughed and swirled my drink.

“No need.”

I stood and looked around at the women in our circle. They had all grown up with me. They had witnessed my happiness and my humiliation.

“Since everyone is here,” I said, raising my voice slightly, “I have an announcement.”

The chatter around us died down.

“I will be divorcing Graham Lockwood.”

A collective gasp went through our group.

“At the same time,” I continued, each word clear and deliberate, “I will be restructuring the board of the Hart family foundation.”

Nora’s eyes lit up. She was the first to raise her glass. “To your new life. About damn time.”

Just as everyone lifted their glasses, an unwelcome figure appeared at our booth.

It was Piper.

She had changed into a prim white dress, her hair carefully styled, her makeup light and delicate. She looked fragile and lovely. She wasn’t a member here; someone had clearly brought her in. Standing beside her was one of Graham’s friends, his face a mask of embarrassment.

“Ava,” the friend said, forcing a smile. “Piper said she wanted to come and… explain things.”

Nora was on her feet in an instant, a lioness defending her territory.

“Explain? This is a private club. What right does she have to be here? Oh, I get it.” She looked Piper up and down. “Did Graham cut you off? Have to leech off someone else’s membership just to get a drink?”

Piper’s face went white. She clutched her handbag, her eyes reddening again.

“I’m not here for money!” Her voice trembled, but she forced her spine straight, her gaze fixed on me. “Graham and I are in love. I know that hurts you, but I can’t control my feelings.”

“Love?” Nora looked as if she’d just heard the joke of the century.

She turned, took a checkbook and a Montblanc pen from her handbag, and moved with brisk efficiency.

“Fine.” She tore out a blank check and slapped it on the table.

Everyone in our corner of the club looked over.

“Let’s talk about how much your ‘true love’ is worth.”

Nora’s eyes were filled with undisguised contempt. She picked up the pen, the tip hovering over the check.

“Right now, in front of all of us, admit you did this for money, not some bullshit love story.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but it sliced through the club’s elegant pretense like a knife.

“Admit it, and this check is yours.”

She paused, then enunciated the final condition.

“One hundred thousand dollars.”