Chapter 1

Matt came home from school today with a new phone. One glance at the logo told me it wasn't cheap.

I kept my voice casual. "Did Aunt Sofia give you that?"

Matt didn't look up from the screen. "Yeah. She said I've been good lately. She's even taking me to Disneyland next week."

"Disneyland? Don't you have school next week?"

"Aunt Sofia said I can skip. It's just kindergarten, it's not like we learn anything." He rolled his eyes. "Besides, her kitchen is bigger than our whole living room. Last time I went there for dinner, she made a whole table of seafood. Way better than the canned meat we eat here."

My chopping hand paused. I didn't respond.

Sofia was my best friend, but she ran a small flower shop that barely broke even. Where was she getting the money for new phones and seafood feasts?

But I let it go and returned to the kitchen.

Halfway through making dinner, William texted me a selfie, black engine grease smeared across his face. He said he had a big job tonight and wouldn't be home.

Just after nine, I went to Matt's room to pull up his blanket and heard a voice inside.

Matt was whispering, "Dad, Mom's asleep. I'm ready. When are you coming to get me? Dinner was the same watery garbage again. I nearly threw up..."

I stood in the shadow outside his door, my knuckles white around the doorknob.

I changed into dark clothes and followed Matt out. A black SUV was idling at the end of the alley. William lifted Matt into the back seat.

I hailed a cab and followed them to a dock, where a three-story luxury yacht was moored.

I slipped aboard with a crowd of guests and spotted William on the second deck.

He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. Matt was perched on his shoulders, waving a glow stick. Sofia stood across from them, laughing as she played with Matt.

Small clusters of people chatted around them. I caught fragments of unfamiliar words: "East Coast," "arms," "territory."

Across the deck, I stood at the stairway, watching. My husband. My son. My best friend. The three of them together, like a painting.

William turned and spotted me frozen in place.

His smile stiffened for a fraction of a second before snapping back. He strode over. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought you were fixing cars. What is all this..."

"It's a business event. I got called in last minute. You don't know anyone here. Go wait for me off the ship."

"A business event?" I looked at his tailored clothes. "A mechanic in a designer suit at a business event?"

"I'll explain later."

Sofia walked over and hooked her arm through William's. "Alicia? What are you doing here? This is a private party. If you weren't invited—" Her voice carried, and every eye on deck turned to me.

I stood there in cheap clothes, no makeup, hair a mess, sticking out among the jewels and designer gowns.

"William, what the hell is going on!" My eyes burned red, my body shaking uncontrollably.

"Sweetheart, looks like the secret's out. Why don't you just tell her?"

William's face darkened. Before he could speak, someone cut in. "Miss Tracy, how dare you crash my sister-in-law's birthday party! Haven't you given up on marrying into money?"

William's sister glared at me. Every other time we'd met, she'd brought me gifts and spoken sweetly. Nothing like the venom dripping from her voice now.

"You didn't know? William is the heir to the Thomas Family. He's way out of your league. He and I are the perfect match." Sofia's face was pure triumph.

William lowered his head, silent. A wordless admission.

There were other faces I recognized. William's friends, his colleagues. They all looked at me with contempt, as if I were some gold digger clawing her way up.

I stumbled backward, my face blank with disbelief. Five years of marriage, of love. All of it a lie.

William frowned. "Alicia, let's not make a scene. I'll explain everything when I get home, okay?"

"That's right, Alicia. Don't think that popping out a kid for William gives you any right to be here. Someone get rid of her!"

Sofia waved her hand. Several bodyguards in black moved toward me. I lunged for Matt. "They're all liars. Come with Mommy."

Sofia stepped between us. "Matt, who do you want to go with?"

Matt looked up at Sofia, then at me.

Five years old. Bright eyes. But the words that came out of his mouth were ice-cold. "Mama Sofia treats me way better. She buys me toys and takes me to fun places. You're horrible to me all the time. I'm not going with you, you homewrecker mom!"

Homewrecker. The word drove into my chest like a nail. I carried him for nine months. I nearly bled to death on the operating table bringing him into this world. And he could say that to me.

"Mama Sofia told me you only married Daddy for his money!"

He ducked behind Sofia and refused to come out.

I stood there, numb, as the bodyguards pulled me away.

I looked at William, but he turned his head and wouldn't meet my eyes.

The bodyguards shoved me down the gangway. Night air cut through my collar, and I was cold to the bone.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message.

"Are you still looking for a designer?"