Chapter 2: The Locks Changed
When Derek unlocked the apartment door two hours later, he was laughing.
Suzanne walked in beside him carrying three shopping bags and chewing gum, already talking about which designer purse she wanted first.
"I told you she'd come around," Derek said smugly. "She always does."
Then he stopped.
The living room looked different.
The family photos were gone.
The bookshelf was half empty.
The television remained—but the expensive sound system, laptop, artwork, and everything Skylar had personally purchased had disappeared.
"What the..."
Suzanne frowned.
"Where are my bags?"
"They were never yours," a calm voice answered.
Skylar stepped out of the hallway.
Her left cheek was covered with fresh medical dressings. The burn cream gave her skin a pale shine beneath the apartment lights.
She wasn't crying anymore.
She wasn't shaking.
She looked like someone who had already buried a marriage.
Behind her stood two uniformed Miami police officers.
Derek's smile vanished.
"What is this?"
Officer Hernandez held up a clipboard.
"Sir, we've documented an alleged domestic assault that occurred earlier today."
Derek immediately pointed at Skylar.
"She's lying. She spilled coffee on herself."
Skylar quietly handed the officer a sealed envelope.
Inside were photographs taken at the emergency room.
Time-stamped.
Medical evaluations.
Burn measurements.
The doctor's statement.
And security footage downloaded from the apartment hallway camera, showing Skylar running outside seconds after Derek threw the mug.
Officer Hernandez looked directly at Derek.
"Sir... we'd like to ask you a few questions."
May you like
For the first time all day...
Derek stopped talking.
