One Hundred Points Off, Then I'm Gone

In the fourth year of her marriage, Lucia begins keeping a private ledger in her phone. Every time Holden Prescott neglects her or wounds her, she deducts ten points; when all one hundred are gone, she will leave him for good. He calls out Vivienne's name in his sleep, asks Lucia to grow her hair long because Vivienne likes it, forgets her mango allergy, and refuses to design clothes for her, saying Vivienne is his only muse.

When Lucia returns from a business trip, she finds Vivienne sitting on Holden's lap in a semi-transparent sample garment. He insists they are only working, then accuses Lucia of making a scene. He never noticed she had been gone half a month. On her birthday he cancels again to alter clothes for Vivienne, and Lucia eats a cheap mousse cake alone.

Her notes now hold only ten points. One more wound, and she is gone.