Chapter 2

I opened the door and just stood there.

Right on the wall: a giant oil painting. Chestnut hair. Green eyes. Lily.

The frame was worn—like someone kept touching it.

The shelves? Packed with framed photos. All her.

So every time he said he had "urgent work" in here... he was just "mourning" his ex.

In the center sat a small safe. I typed in Lily's birthday. Click.

No cash. No jewelry. Just piles of printed emails.

My hands shook as I flipped through them. All from her:

[Alex, got the stent design. It's perfect.]

[The valve idea is brilliant. Thank you, love.]

[Patent #73 approved! Love you!]

He stole everything—my work, my research—and I fell for the whole act.

At the bottom, an unsent draft:

[Dear Lily, once patent #100 is yours, I'll propose. Legally, I'm married, but my heart's always been yours. I'll give you that dream wedding. Love you forever, Alex.]

My hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Five years ago, Alex said a big wedding felt "off" after my parents died. So we hit the County Clerk's office. No ring. No honeymoon. No nothing.

I let out a cold smile and snapped pics of everything.

These emails didn't just prove he betrayed me—they nailed Lily for stealing my work, too.

I put everything back exactly how I found it, shut the door, and made the call.

"Ms. Ellington, have you made your decision?"

"Yes. I'll transfer all the technical data to your team. But the release timing? That's mine to call."

"Of course. We'll follow your lead."

I'd just hung up when Alex's voice cut in behind me.

"Emma? Who were you talking to?"

My heart jumped. He was standing at the top of the stairs.

"Oh, just someone from the lab." I kept it light.

He walked over, wrapped his arms around me. "That dinner ended early."

My skin crawled.

Then he said, "Emma, let's have a baby."

Every muscle in me locked up.

"It's been five years. It's time," he added, eyes soft, voice sweet and fake. "Let's start tonight."

I faked a smile. "I... I need to finish something first."

"You've got all weekend." He grabbed my hand, started leading me upstairs. "But we shouldn't wait too long."

Every time I started pulling away, he dangled the dream—family, babies, everything I used to want. Like a leash.

"I just remembered—I left the incubator on at the lab." I jerked my hand free. "Gotta check it."

"Now? It's ten o'clock."

"Cell cultures don't care what time it is." I grabbed my bag. "I won't be long."

I was out the door before he could say a word.

I drove to a hotel downtown and spent the night staring out the window.

By sunrise, the divorce papers were drafted. I booked a one-way to Switzerland. Three days.

Alex's family ran half of New York. If I lit the match now, I'd lose.

But in three days, Lily was dropping her 100th patent at the global medical summit.

And with the whole world watching, their lies didn't stand a chance.