Chapter 76

Because of that humiliating past as someone’s kept woman, in his eyes, I’d always be that girl who depends on men — just an accessory, a pretty decoration. I let out a laugh filled with anger, my tone biting, “I’m the design director at QY. You think I couldn’t buy a place on my own? Had to rely on a man? You think I slept my way to this job too?” If it hadn’t been for the mortgage, maybe I’d have some savings by now. Even that fifty grand I gave Ruth had to be borrowed from Xander. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just didn’t expect you to buy a place in City H. I thought you were settling in City S,” Henry tried to explain. His voice carried a subtle trace of... joy? That weird bit of excitement in him seemed to make him extra patient and indulgent, even after I snapped at him. And somehow, his words shut me up completely. Why did I ask Xander to help me scout for apartments in City H three years ago? I couldn’t even answer that for myself. Even though I had a stable job and loved the