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The two of them exchanged a glance. I realized on the spot that they'd hoped to corner me on their terms, like they did at the charity event. Perhaps that was why they signed up for it—not because they planned to donate any money or get any business contacts, but to reach me.
"So, let me get this straight," I started, sounding braver than I felt. "You thought you could move back to Chicago and what? Intimidate me into giving you money?"
They remained silent. I looked from one to the other.
Finally, Malcolm spoke up. "Killing the spa business wasn't fair, and you know that."
"I hope this is not your way of appealing to my conscience," I told Malcolm. "The deal fell apart because I found you fucking her."
Francesca turned red. She glanced to one side, avoiding my gaze.
"You two have spent far too much time thinking you can push me around. You destroyed me after using me as an ATM for years."
"No, we didn't," Malcolm denied.
"Really? All those trips and stuff I bought. I never minded because I always liked sharing my wealth with the people I cared about. But you two are on another level altogether. I just have one question: How long had this been going on before I discovered it?"
I looked straight at Francesca. She'd been my best friend for years before I met Malcolm. We’d been like sisters since college; we’d met on orientation day and had been joined at the hip ever since.
"Almost since you started dating him," she said.
My heart started to crack again. I felt light-headed knowing now this had been going on for years. I'd made up so many scenarios in my mind, wondering when he might have turned to her. But they'd been cheating on me for years. My vision faded at the corners, but the knowledge only gave me strength.
"I can't believe you two are so callous. Especially after you had a baby."
I wondered where the baby was. Maybe with Francesca’s mother. She’d always hinted she wanted to be a grandmother.
She turned to Malcolm. "Well, he can’t make enough money otherwise. His job barely covers the cost, and I want a certain lifestyle," she said, sounding more vicious than I'd ever heard her.
“So he turned to the only source of money he knew: me." The room faded away before slowly taking shape again.
How could I have been so utterly manipulated?
"You don't get to come here and belittle me in front of my wife," Malcolm snapped.
Strangely, I didn't feel anything at his mention of the word wife. It didn't hurt that they were together anymore. The betrayal was the only thing that had left deep marks, but I was starting to accept them as part of me. It didn't mean I wasn't whole or that I wasn’t worthy of love. It simply meant I had a past, just as Dom said.
"You two aren't going to get a thing from me."
Malcolm turned white. Francesca looked at him in disgust.
"So if that's why you came to Chicago," I continued, "you can move back to wherever you came from. I'm not giving you any money."
Malcolm set his jaw.
Yep, Declan was right.
"I'm not that scared and hurt woman you left behind years ago. I’m strong. I know my worth, and nothing you can do is going to diminish it, so get the fuck out of my city," I sneered.
Francesca threw her hands up in the air. "God! You're an idiot, Malcolm. I told you this would never work. I'm moving back to my parents' with our daughter."
"Babe, you can't do this. I promise I'll get money one way or another," he pleaded.
But she just turned around, disappearing into one of the rooms.
I couldn’t even pity him. This was exactly what he deserved. "It feels horrible, doesn't it? To be left like this?"
I walked to the front door with determined steps. He made no move to stop me. The second I was outside, I drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
