After they left, Suri drove straight to the law firm.

Mr. Specter, her lawyer, greeted her with his usual calm. "Ms. Somerset, I'll file it today. In about a month, you and Mr. Jerkinson can swing by for the divorce decree."

For the first time in forever, something in her chest eased.

On the way back, she swung by the farmer's market.

It was his final ask—she'd give him that.

She picked out the best chicken, headed home, and started prepping dinner.

She'd cooked more meals than she could count.

Bruce was always picky. The only food he actually liked? The stuff she made.

When they first got married, she'd loved cooking for him every day.

Then one day, he told her to stop—said he didn't want her getting worn out.

She never thought the next time he'd ask her to cook, it'd be for someone else.

The soup simmered for almost two hours. Suri brought it to the table just as Bruce walked in with Julie.

"Smells amazing, Suri. You've worked hard."

Julie floated over, and right away, Suri clocked the diamond necklace. Brand new. Limited edition.

"Nice necklace," she said, her tone light.

Julie pretended to take it off, all theatrical. "Saw it while we were shopping. Bruce bought it for me. You like it, Suri? I'll totally give it to you."

Bruce stepped in. "Don't. I bought it for you—it's yours."

He turned to Suri. "I got you something too."

He handed her a wrapped box—fancy ribbon, clean fold, but at the bottom, small print: 'Free Gift.'

Suri felt her heart crack wide open.

"Thanks. Let's eat." She forced a smile, took the box, and ladled soup into Julie's bowl.

Julie took a sip, then gagged hard.

"Ugh, it smells awful!" She covered her mouth. "This is disgusting. If you didn't want to cook, you could've just said so! I'm gonna throw up—ugh—"

"Get it out of here, now!" Bruce barked, waving the maid over to take the soup away.

As the maid reached for the pot, Bruce waved her off—too fast. The scalding pot tipped, splashing Suri's bare arm.

"Ah!" she gasped, flinching from the burn.

The maid jumped. "Mrs. Jerkinson, are you okay?"

"Suri, what happened?" Bruce turned, looking shaken.

But then—Julie grabbed her stomach. "Ah! Bruce, it hurts—my stomach! Am I going into labor?"

Bruce snapped. "Suri, look what you've done! If something happens to the baby, I'll never forgive you!"

He didn't wait. He scooped Julie up and bolted. "Driver! Start the car—we're going to the hospital!"

Suri stood frozen, staring at the burn on her arm.

It throbbed like a warning flare, torching whatever hope she had left.

"What's wrong with Mr. Jerkinson? You're hurt and he just bailed without even checking on you," the maid muttered, grabbing the first aid kit. "He wasn't always like this. People say men change... guess it's true.

"You've done everything for him. Just 'cause you can't have kids—"

She cut herself off.

Suri stared at the mess on the floor and let out a low, bitter laugh.

"This was the last meal I'll ever cook for you, Bruce Jerkinson."

Suri finally crashed at dawn after hours of tossing and turning.

Didn't last.

Bruce yanked her up, his face tight.

"You actually slept?"

He dragged her out of bed. Pain flared down her burned arm.

She lay on the floor, pale light spilling over her as she looked up at him. "What are you even doing?"

"What am I doing? Why'd you put cinnamon in the cream soup? You know it's got cinnamaldehyde—causes uterine contractions! Julie could've miscarried!"

"What?"

Suri blinked, stunned.

"You're saying I did that on purpose? Just to make her lose the baby? Seriously, Bruce? Why would I do that?"

"Because you hate how well I treat her! Suri, you were the only woman I ever cared about." He was shaking, furious. "I brought Julie here 'cause she's pregnant and alone.

"If you had a problem, you should've just said it! Why go this low?

"I'm done with the excuses. Is Julie right? You're bitter 'cause you can't have kids, so you wanted her to lose hers?"

Suri stayed on the floor. "You don't believe me."

"You messed up and won't even own it," he said, towering over her. "We're going to the hospital. You're apologizing to Julie."

"And if I don't?" Her eyes flamed.

"You're going. I've spoiled you long enough—look what that's done. Time you owned up to what you did."

Bruce hauled her to the hospital.

The second they walked in, he dropped her arm and went straight to Julie's side. His tone flipped. "You still hurting?"

"It's better now. Bruce, when you left... I was so scared. I thought I might lose the baby—and you weren't here."

"Come on, silly girl. I'd never leave. Suri's here to apologize."

Suri stepped up, locking eyes with her. "Julie, did you tell Bruce I added cinnamon to the soup?"

Julie played innocent, but Suri wasn't buying it. She knew exactly who Julie was.

She hadn't added a thing to that soup. Only one way this made sense—Julie did it herself and pinned it on her.

Of course. Anyone who snagged Bruce like that was never gonna play clean.

"It's okay, Suri," Julie said, all sweet and fake. "I know you didn't mean it. Just... be more careful next time.

"Bruce worries about me, that's all. Don't be mad. But maybe you shouldn't cook anymore. We don't want any more... accidents.

"I just want the baby to be safe."

Bruce's chest tightened.

He looked at Suri. Long pause. Then, "Tomorrow, you're moving to the complex next door. I've got a place there. You'll stay until Julie has the baby."

Her burn throbbed, sweat clinging to her skin. Suri's lips had gone pale—Bruce didn't even notice.

She pressed them together, steady. "Fine. I'll move out. You two could use the space."

The flat look in her eyes made him hesitate. "That's not what I meant. It's just two months, Suri. You get that, right?"

"I get it." She smiled. She was leaving anyway.

"Good. To show Julie you're sorry, get her a gift for tomorrow when she's discharged."

Her face went bone white. "Sure. Got it."

She already knew what she'd give.

Suri had barely stepped inside when the staff started hauling her stuff to the complex next to theirs.

Watching all the things she and Bruce once picked out get boxed up, she expected heartbreak. Didn't happen.

She was gonna move out eventually. At least she didn't have to pack. Perks.

"Mrs. Jerkinson," one of the staff said, "the new place needs a few more days. Mr. Jerkinson said you can stay here two more nights."

"Cool," she said.

After that, Suri headed to the rose garden.

It was May. Full bloom.

She told the gardener to cut every single rose and send them to Julie.

"But Mrs. Jerkinson, aren't these your favorites? You usually just take a few. You sure you want them all gone?"

"Yeah."

She parked herself on a bench and watched them work all day—snipping, clearing, loading up the truck.

By sunset, the sky was streaked in pink and purple.

Suri grabbed a torch and lit the leftovers on fire.

The flames twisted up with the dusk light—gorgeous, in a totally wrecked kind of way.

"Oh my God, what are you doing? Mr. Jerkinson planted these himself! Burning them... what a shame!"

"He's never planting anything here again. Might as well torch the past while I'm at it."

Still watching the fire, Suri pulled out her phone and called her elder brother, Connor, who was doing business overseas.

"Connor, where are you right now? I'm thinking of visiting in a few days."

"Everything okay? You and Bruce taking a trip or something?"

"Just me. Send the address—I'll come soon."

There was a pause on the line. "You're going alone? What happened? Fights happen, Suri. Let it go. Didn't Bruce make that woman end the pregnancy?"

"She's about to give birth. I already signed the divorce papers. Once the decree comes in, I'm heading your way."

Connor didn't hesitate. "That loser. Don't worry, Suri, I've got you. Our company's way bigger than his. Did he really think we can't find someone a million times better?"

He paused. "Since he screwed you over, I'm pulling every business deal we had with him. And this time, you're not stopping me."

"Go for it," Suri said. "Handle everything."

Their parents had been gone a long time, but Connor had built his life up strong overseas.

The Somerset network had carried the Jerkinsons more than Bruce ever realized.

Now that she was done with him, she didn't want a single thread tying them together—not even in business.

After hanging up, Suri headed home.

The roses were already at the villa. Julie was in the middle of them, glowing.

"Bruce! I love them! Did you send these? I've never gotten this many before!"

Bruce stared at the flowers, something about them tugging at him.

He asked a servant, who said they were from Suri—a so-called apology gift for Julie.

His face tightened. Chest, too.

Then he spotted Suri standing outside the yard. Alone. Thin. Empty-eyed.

"You're back?"

"Yeah. The other place isn't ready yet. I've got two more days."

She brushed past him into the house.

Bruce grabbed her arm. "Don't be like this. I'm not kicking you out. This is still your home. Once Julie has the baby—"

"I know. If that's all, I'm going to my room."

He looked like he wanted to follow, but Julie tugged his sleeve. "Bruce, you said you'd stay with me!"

Yeah, he didn't come back. Not right away, anyway.

After her shower, Suri stepped out to find the door cracked open. Bruce wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"I'm sorry. I know I've been distant. But once Julie has the baby, things will change, okay?"

Too late. She'd run out of disappointment to feel. She gently pushed him off.

"Pretty sure Julie's calling for you. Aren't you gonna check?"

"Really? I'll go see. Be right back."