Chapter 3

three days, Kate's phone barely stopped ringing.

At lunch one day, her business partner, Noah Bennett, called in a panic. His voice was so loud I could hear every word from across the table.

"Kate, we've got a problem! Our lead investor just emailed. They're pulling out."

Kate jumped to her feet.

"Why? We passed due diligence just last month!"

"They wouldn't tell me much. They only said we suddenly failed their risk review. My contact told me General Ashford called them himself. Anyone who invests in us now will be making an enemy of his entire network."

Noah's voice cracked.

"Kate, the gap is too big. Without this round of funding, we'll be bankrupt by next week."

The call ended. Kate stood by the window, her shoulders trembling.

She had built that company through countless sleepless nights and more cups of coffee than either of us could count.

Now, one phone call from Arthur threatened to wipe it all away.

I poured her a glass of water and carried it over.

Kate turned to me, her eyes red.

She swallowed her tears and forced a smile that broke my heart.

"It's okay, Mom. If the worst happens, I'll close the company and start over."

The more understanding she was, the more guilt and anger churned inside me.

My phone lit up with a new voice message from Arthur.

I pressed play.

His smug voice filled the living room.

"Allison, that was just the appetizer.

"Tomorrow night, I want all three of you on your knees. If you refuse, Kate will drown in debt, and Luke can forget about college. That's how the rest of your lives will be."

Luke walked out of his room carrying a thick stack of textbooks.

He dropped them onto the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"Mom, I'm not going to that school."

He opened a workbook without looking up.

"My grades are good enough to get into another college on my own. I don't need his recommendation."

I looked at the backup college ?applications spread across Luke's desk. Then I went into my bedroom and closed the door.

Using a secure number, I called my lawyer, Daniel Mercer.

The phone rang twice before he answered.

"Ms. Pierce."

"Daniel, have everything ready for tomorrow night."

"Are you sure? Once we reveal those documents, your ex-husband's career and finances will come under intense scrutiny."

"Positive."

The call lasted less than thirty seconds.

After hanging up, I opened my messages.

In the socialites' group, Vanessa had just posted a new update.

The photo showed a designer gown, and the caption read, "Tomorrow's family dinner. He would finally be getting rid of the ex-wife who's been dragging us down all these years. Peace at last."

Below it was a long list of likes and empty compliments.

I locked my phone and walked out of the bedroom.

"Kate. Luke."

I called out to both of them.

"Get your best clothes ready."

Kate blinked. "Mom... are we really going?"

"Yes."

I opened the closet and took out a sharply tailored black suit.

"We're going, and we'll walk in with our heads held high."

That night, I sat alone at my desk.

A fresh set of documents sat on the desk. My lawyer had just sent them over by courier.

I opened the battered silver lockbox and took out a yellowed photograph.

The photo showed a white shirt soaked in blood. The background was an emergency room.

I slipped the photograph between the pages of the new documents.

"Eight years."

My fingers brushed the edge of the photo.

"It's time to settle this."

The following evening, a black sedan pulled up outside our apartment building.

The three of us, dressed for the occasion, climbed in.

Half an hour later, we stepped out beneath the entrance of the Grand Briar Hotel.

I walked in front, with Kate and Luke beside me.

At the end of the hallway, the doors to the private room were closed.

I didn't hesitate. I pushed open the heavy doors and walked straight into the storm.