The words slipped out before she could stop them: "Gabriel deleted that already..."

The second they left her mouth, she realized what she'd just admitted.

But in the next breath, she doubled down.

"Lowell, you always jump to conclusions! The only reason Gabriel and I were doing that is because the client wanted to go dancing. He insisted we join him or he wouldn't sign the contract!"

"You didn't even bother to get the full picture before coming at me with accusations?!"

"I'm warning you, drop this useless nonsense. Your numbers are below target this month. If you don't start pulling your weight, don't blame me when I dock your entire paycheck!"

"And don't forget, we split everything fifty-fifty. If you can't afford to carry your own weight, I'm under no obligation to support you!"

"When that day comes, you could get on your knees and beg, and I still wouldn't forgive you!"

Three threats in a row. Impressive.

I was the one who'd taught her how to manage a company. I was the one who'd shown her how to negotiate with clients. When she first proposed splitting everything down the middle, she'd dressed it up in all sorts of pretty words about equality and mutual growth. Now here she was, wielding it like a weapon.

I let out a cold laugh. "Eve, I could beg for change on a street corner and I still wouldn't take a single cent from you."

"Besides, you've already lost the right to make me bow my head."

Eve reacted as though she'd just heard the most ridiculous joke of her life.

"Lowell, who do you think you are? You're nothing but a lousy sales rep!"

"Since you don't know what's good for you, you can kiss your paycheck goodbye!"

With that, she stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door. The lock clicked behind her.

The air in the living room turned suffocating.

Then a wave of dizziness hit me out of nowhere.

I remembered the doctor's warning: my anemia meant I couldn't afford to get worked up.

The room spun. My legs buckled, and I hit the floor.

I needed to call 911, but my phone was still in the bedroom. I dragged myself to the door and tried the handle.

Locked. I knocked.

All I got was Eve's cold, contemptuous laugh from the other side.

"Oh, so now you realize you were wrong? Too late!"

"You're not setting foot in this bedroom tonight!"

Then silence.

Half an hour passed. I was on the verge of losing consciousness when Eve finally opened the door to use the bathroom.