Chapter 1

I walked home from the vital records office in a daze. Then, my wife, Megan Mitchell, called.

Before today, I would have answered on the first ring. Now, I hesitated.

I finally picked up on her second attempt.

Through the speaker, I heard a staff member from headquarters speaking up.

"Ms. Mitchell, your husband has been working at the branch office for five years. He's put in the time and the sweat. Don't you think we should at least pay him a salary?"

After a few seconds of silence, Megan cut the idea down. "There's no need. The firm's budget is tight, and as my husband, he should know better than to be so selfish."

Even through the phone, I could feel the employee's awkwardness.

To break the tension, someone else chimed in to change the topic. "By the way, the watch Mr. Moore is wearing looks expensive. Could that be a gift from his girlfriend?"

Then, Megan cleared her throat. "I bought it for him. He helps me out a lot at the firm. He earned it."

My hands shook as I hung up, tears finally spilling over.

Five years of working myself to the bone, giving her everything I had, and it meant absolutely nothing to her.

Back when the law firm was just starting out, she had bought me an expensive gift, too. Trying to be considerate, I told her, "Money is tight right now. You should return it."

So she did, and she never bought me another one.

I thought I was being a mature partner. It turned out that I was just saving her money so she could spend it on another man.

I lost track of how long I sat on the couch before Megan walked through the door.

Like always, she pulled me into a warm embrace. "Honey, I flew all the way to Calystron just to see you. Are you happy?"

Hearing that pet name now felt like a knife to the chest.

I bit my lip, forcing down the bitterness. "I thought you were too busy to breathe. How did you suddenly find the time?"

Even now, she still hadn't replied to the text I sent her last month.

She stood on her tiptoes to kiss my forehead. "Because I missed you, of course."

Right then, her phone lit up with a text. "I told you you didn't have to fly all the way back to Calystron just to get me those pastries. Just having you here is enough."

So, that was why.

By the time I snapped out of it, she was already fastening a bracelet onto my wrist.

"It looks good on you."

But I recognized it instantly. It was the complimentary bracelet that came with a trending luxury watch.

I thought back to their earlier discussion about the watch on Edward Moore's wrist, and a wave of nausea hit me.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Megan answered it, and her face instantly tightened with worry. She immediately turned toward the door.

"I'm sorry, honey. Something came up at Helmont. I have to get back right away. Don't forget the meeting at HQ tomorrow."

Watching her rush out, I already knew Edward was the one on the other end of that line.

I ripped the bracelet off, threw it into the trash, and dialed a number. "Does that permanent job offer still stand?"