But the pain in Ruby’s eyes as she looked at Yvonne was too much to bear.

“Yes,” Yvonne said. “We’re done.”

She rose from her chair, took one last look at the suitcases in the corner, and left the room.

* * *

“So,” Nita said. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

Yvonne blew on her tea. “Do I need an excuse to come see you?”

“No, but you usually have one.”

“I just wanted to check on you. See how you’re doing.”

“I’m doing fine,” Nita said. “That check you gave us really helped. It’s given us some room to breathe.”

“Soon, you’ll be able to breathe easy for good. I’m going to get you that money, just like I promised you.”

“Yvonne, you don’t have to do that.”

Yvonne crossed her arms. “We’re not having this argument again. The money is coming. I need a little more time, that’s all.”

Yvonne had no idea how she was going to find the money if she didn’t get her inheritance. She also needed to find the money she’d promised Ruby. She could sell off some assets, but she’d lose millions. It would take her years to rebuild.

Yvonne suppressed a sigh. Right now, money wasn’t even her biggest problem. She also had to deal with the fallout of her brother exposing her and Ruby. She’d lied to the world, and now everything had come tumbling down in a humiliating way. Yvonne didn’t care what most people thought of her, but she’d lied to her friends, and now they were angry with her, rightfully so. She felt awful about it. She’d been lying to herself when she’d said she didn’t care about deceiving her friends.

You act like you’re this awful, cold-hearted person when you’re not.

Ruby had been right. Yvonne pretended she didn’t have a heart, but she obviously did, otherwise she wouldn’t feel the way she did right now. She’d hurt Ruby badly, and not just last night. Yvonne had been heartless toward her from the start. She’d shut Ruby out, she’d pushed her away time and time again, just like she’d done to everyone else.

But Ruby wasn’t like everyone else. She didn’t walk away from Yvonne at the bar that night. She didn’t walk away every time Yvonne turned her back on her. Ruby kept trying to break down Yvonne’s walls, and all because she saw something in Yvonne that made her not want to give up on her.

But Yvonne didn’t deserve her.

“Now, what’s going on with you?” Nita asked. “How’s that wife of yours? You still need to bring her around so I can meet her.”

Yvonne’s stomach knotted. “That’s… not going to happen.”

“Why not? Did something happen between the two of you?”

“We-” Yvonne’s hands began to tremble. All of a sudden, everything she was feeling became too much. She gripped her teacup tighter. “I messed up, Nita. I messed everything up.”

“I’m sure that’s not true. Whatever you did, I’m sure Ruby will forgive you for it.”