‘Lawrence, that’s simply not true. As I’ve told you more than once, my lawyer has copies of the correspondence and details I sent to you, which you never answered. I copied Jenny in as well to make sure you received them. If you don’t like me doing it this way, give me some other contact for you. I don’t want to send off personal emails to just anyone without you knowing. But you left us with no alternative contact details, no itinerary, no response to any of my messages, and NO money!’

‘You have a good job. I’m the one dealing with all our debts. And trying to get a deal set up in India so I can get on my feet again. I paid for that house, so I’ve lost money. You just walked in the door of a beautiful home.’

‘In which I had no say at all! There was absolutely no need to give me a whole furnished house in an area where I didn’t know anyone, and we both had a long commute from there to work. It was absurdly, ridiculously extravagant.’

He leaned towards her, shaking a finger. ‘See, that’s the trouble with you, Grace. You’re ungrateful. How many women would have killed to have that house? And I’ve given you plenty of other lovely things too. Nice handbags. And perfume. Not to mention jewellery.’

Grace was about to snap, her temper was at boiling point, but she forced herself to respond rationally. ‘Yes, you gave me a lot of nice presents. And some not-so-nice presents. You never noticed or cared that I didn’t really need or want any of them. If you want to stock up while you’re here, they’re plenty of good fakes around! And speaking of the house, what happened to the insurance money?’

‘I paid for that house and everything of any value in it. Why should I give you any compensation?’

‘Feeding and clothing your daughter doesn’t count?’

‘You have a job.’

Grace took a deep breath. Here we go again, she thought. If it’s not this, then it’s something else. It was the story of her marriage. She just wanted out of it.

‘Yes, I have a job. A challenging job, with a lot of responsibility. But I’m paid in instalments, so money is tight.’

‘So who pays for this place? Your boyfriend?’

‘Don’t be pathetic,’ she snapped, then bit her tongue. It wasn’t worth the energy to argue. ‘Will I call you a taxi?’

‘Sure. But I’d like to say goodbye to Daisy first.’

She showed him to Daisy’s room and walked away to call a taxi, adding an extra request to the driver as she did so.