Prologue
My cat of ten years was gone. Just... gone.
I was a mess. Crying nonstop.
My boyfriend just shrugged. "Oh, your cat? Gave it to my cousin."
I froze.
He saw my face and rolled his eyes. "Chill, it's just a cat. I'll buy you another one."
My hands started shaking. "You had no right—"
He slammed his hands on the table. "Emily, are you insane? Yelling at me over an animal?"
That word hit me like a knife. Straight through the chest.
I didn't say another word. Just walked to the bedroom and pulled out my suitcase.
Jake grabbed my arm, eyes wide. "You're dumping me? Over a cat?"
I pulled free. Looked him dead in the eye.
"Yeah."
He knew that cat was all I had left of my mom.
And his "cousin"? Yeah, right. The girl he never got over.
So I packed.
Chapter 1
He probably thought I'd just throw a tantrum, smash something, and then wait for him to half-heartedly sweet-talk me like always, and it'd blow over.
He'd chased me for three years; we'd been together for two. He was too used to me giving in.
"Emily, come on, stop this," he softened his tone, trying to hug me.
"She's my cousin Vicky, she doesn't visit often from back home. Little girls love cute animals; I couldn't say no and embarrass her. What would people think?"
I dodged his arms and kept packing.
My eyes landed on the lipstick he'd given me on the dresser. I swept it into the trash without a second thought.
His voice turned coaxing.
"Besides, that cat's ten years old, all old and shedding everywhere, always looking sickly. Wouldn't a new breed be better? A Ragdoll, a British Shorthair—pick one, I'll buy it. Guaranteed cuter than that scruffy old thing."
I paused.
I remembered the year my mom passed. I couldn't sleep for nights, holding Whiskers and crying.
It was Jake who'd rush home from work every day, telling dumb jokes to cheer me up, then hugging both me and Whiskers.
He'd brush Whiskers' fur gently, murmuring, "Whiskers, you gotta stick with her. We'll both take care of her."
Back then, he called her Whiskers.
Now, she was "that cat," an "animal."
I zipped the suitcase shut and stood, pulling the handle.
"Jake," I said, looking him dead in the eye, "give me Vicky's number and address. Now."
His brows furrowed, annoyance plain on his face. "You're seriously going to get it back? Emily, grow up, don't make this hard on me."
I smiled and pulled out my phone.
"Or I could call your mom right now and ask which sweet little sister her precious son gave my cat to."
Jake's face drained of color.
