It took bleeding out on an operating table to hear what he really thought of my child.

To finally understand that the man in my bed on our wedding night had been a stranger off the street.

Nausea surged through me. I shoved away the photo Leona was holding out.

"Not interested."

Leona froze.

"Jade, you usually go along with everything I say. Stan's really great, I promise."

I looked her dead in the eye.

"You love matching things so much, go to a pet store and pair up some dogs."

"I refuse to be a prop in your little love story."

Leona's face turned crimson. Beside her, Clyde Henson frowned.

"Jade, Leona meant well."

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

"Her good intentions are more than I can afford."

I pushed open the private room door and walked straight into a man.

That scent. Stan's scent.

In my last life, those were the very eyes that had deceived me for three long years.

"Miss Kaufman, leaving so soon?"

His voice was low, almost intimate. My body moved before my mind could catch up, stepping back to put distance between us.

"Move."

Stan Delgado raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting that kind of reception.

He stepped closer, dropping his voice.

"Miss Kaufman seems to have quite the grudge against me."

"Have we met before?"

I lifted my chin.

"No. But I don't like the look of you."

Stan let out a quiet laugh.

"Speaks her mind. I like that."

"Still, Mr. Henson and Miss Fox arranged this out of kindness. Turning them down so bluntly seems a bit... ungracious, don't you think?"

The corner of my mouth curled.

"My dignity isn't theirs to trample."

I stepped around him and walked out without looking back.

Behind me, Stan Delgado's gaze followed my every step.

Back at my apartment, I packed my bags immediately. The farther I got from Stan Delgado, the better.

The doorbell rang. Stan stood outside holding a folder of documents.

"Ms. Kaufman, I think we need to talk."

I moved to shut the door, but his hand shot out and held it open.

"About the company your father left you. Aren't you curious about its current situation?"

I stopped.

My father's company was the only thing I cared about in this world.

In my last life, after we married, Stan had taken full control of it. In the end, every last asset had been handed over to Annette Simmons as part of her dowry.

I kept my expression flat and let him inside.

Stan tossed the folder onto the coffee table.