And five years of devotion, of building her empire beside her from nothing, amounted to freeloading.
But Lauren didn't know.
The betrothal gift had been ready for months. The assets were so extensive that cataloging everything had taken time. I'd planned to present it all the day we signed the marriage license, as a surprise.
Now I saw she didn't deserve it.
"Well, that works out perfectly. I was thinking the same thing."
My voice came out cold and flat. I turned, grabbed my coat, and headed for the door.
The moment I pulled open the villa's front door, a voice rang out behind me.
"Hold on!"
Lauren descended the staircase, chin tilted up, wearing a smile that wasn't really a smile.
"Laurence, that Canada Goose parka you're wearing. A hundred thousand dollars. I paid for it."
"If you've got the nerve to talk about breaking up, then don't walk out in my things. Or can you not afford to dress yourself?"
"Oh, and don't forget to leave every card I ever gave you."
The front door gaped wide open. Frigid wind laced with snowflakes bit into my neck.
But it wasn't half as cold as what I felt inside.