He had gotten a streak of gray primer across the right cuff and laughed when I tried to scrub it clean with soapy water in the kitchen sink.

Now the entire house belonged to me alone, legally separated from his name before he ever handed me that thick envelope.

He had stripped away his own financial safety net, taking the full weight of Arthur Vance’s corporate default while leaving me with a clear title and a front door without a single debt attached to it.

I lifted the blue silk dress and smelled the fresh lavender sachet Lynn had tucked inside the lining.

“He thinks he handled everything by himself, Biscuit,” I whispered into the cool rain.