Chapter 23

Mark cleared his throat when I didn't look up. "Sydney?" I looked up with a smile. "I'm sorry. I got distracted. What were you saying?" His eyes strayed to the phone in my grip and lingered there and I thought I saw his jaw harden but his voice was calm and soft when he spoke again. "I got you a gift." "Oh yes, of course," I spluttered, then I quickly took the box from his outstretched hands. As he stood there, smiling at me as if he was waiting for something. I contemplated transferring the break up fee to him now so I could just leave with some of my things tonight. That way, I'll get to spend the first hours of the day with Grace but then I looked down at the gift he got me and my gaze slid back to his. He had never gotten me a gift before. Perhaps, it was to dissuade me from insisting on the divorce. I couldn't bring myself to bring up the divorce issue now. "Thank you," I said instead, observing my handiwork. "It's a beautiful bracelet." "I made sure of that," he muttered, his voi