I roll my eyes and hang up the phone, then look at the price tag. Three hundred dollars. I sigh. It’s not a lot for someone like my sister. It’s not even a lot for someone like me, who makes a salary and also gets money from her ex-husband, but the money I get from Adam won’t last forever. According to our divorce papers, he’s only paying me for two years after the divorce was signed, that was according to the five-year lease we’d signed when we moved to the apartment I currently reside. The five years will be up next month, which means, no more money from Adam. It’s fine since I’m not a big spender and I only agreed to that clause because my divorce attorney was adamant about it. All of the points she made were fair: Adam Hirsch is rich. I’m not. If I hadn’t accepted, it would mean I had to move out and my job is down the block from the apartment. I’ll have to move out soon, but at least I’ve had time to look for a new place, which I found. I’ll have to take the train for thirty-five minutes, but it’s better than having to look for a new job.

I decide to get the dress. I never wanted Adam’s money. Not before we got together, not during, and not even when we got divorced. I let my divorce attorney push me to get things I otherwise wouldn’t have asked for and now I’m glad I did because I wasn’t struggling to pay anything. I set up a retirement account with some of the money and used the rest to live modestly. Adam would’ve been proud. He was the one who taught me how to budget my money and spend wisely. Even though he was rich, he wasn’t a big spender. Unless it was on me, then he’d spend whatever it was. I felt a smile come on as I thought about that, the trips, the shoes, the lingerie, and now, as I pay for the dress, I feel my heart grow heavy. It’ll be the last thing Adam ever buys me. I’ll mourn that later. I know I will, but tonight, I’ll wear it proudly.

Chapter Seven

“Oh my God. Did you see Elaine Constantine?” my sister whisper-shouts.

“She’s beautiful,” Emma says beside her.

“Gorgeous,” I agree. “I just can’t imagine being with Lucian. He scares the heck out of me.”

“And me,” Warren says with a chuckle.

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, right. Everyone loves you.”

“But if he didn’t, I’d be scared.” Warren raises an eyebrow as he sips his scotch. “The man’s got quite the reputation.”