Chapter 4

Before the company was officially established, we'd rented a small factory on the outskirts of town and converted it into a cleanroom lab. A handful of our college classmates worked there with us and would eventually become minority shareholders.

The building was empty at that hour. I disabled the security cameras, went inside, and carefully packed up all my research. Then I sealed everything in temperature-controlled cases and sent it to Vincent by overnight courier.

I recreated every sample, including the leukemia drug they wanted most, but changed two colorless, odorless ingredients in the formula.

Once everything looked exactly as it had before, I turned the cameras back on and left.

The apartment was still a mess when I got back.

I hadn't owned much over the past few years. I'd lived frugally.

The only valuable things I owned were the wedding dress Derek had insisted on paying for and the necklace Nicole spent a month crafting by hand — engraved with the words "Forever and Always."

He'd said, "Someday I'm going to make real money, and I'll buy you the best of everything in the world!"

She'd said, "I said a blessing with every stroke of the carving tool. Sophie, no one in this world wants you to be happy more than I do!"

Now both gifts felt like cruel jokes. I threw them away.

I packed a few changes of clothes into a crossbody bag.

I left the signed divorce papers on the table.

Just as I was about to leave, Derek came home. The sun was rising.

He was carrying a carton of strawberries. When he saw the divorce papers on the table, he paused, then set the berries on top of them.

"I passed a grocery store and remembered you said you were craving these, so I picked some up."

The night before he'd been scheming against me with his lover. This morning he was playing the devoted husband.

I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"Stayed at a hotel last night?"

"You reek of perfume."

Nicole's perfume. The one I'd given her for her birthday this year.

Derek was already getting impatient.

"Sophie Archer, what are you going on about now? I was at the lab all night."

"Right."

I gave a slow, pointed nod, stepped forward, and pulled the divorce papers out from under the fruit.

"Sign it. Let's not drag this out."

Only then did he notice I was dressed to leave.

He let out a cold laugh.

"Leave me and where will you go? A few thousand dollars won't even rent you a proper lab."

I laughed right back.

"What's the alternative? Stay here and share my husband with her?"

"Sophie Archer."

Derek's voice rose. He was clearly out of patience.

"I'm trying to have a conversation with you."

"Stay with the company and you'll have the fastest path to a real career. Think about what you're throwing away."

"Derek."

I cut him off, my voice cold.

I was out of patience too.

"I took pictures of you two in bed last night."

"If I send those pictures to my attorney, do you really want to find out how generous a judge will be to you?"

"I don't have the time or energy to fight with either of you. You make me sick. Sign it."

More than anything, every second I spent near the people who'd schemed behind my back was another second looking over my shoulder.

I had to protect the life I'd fought for.

Derek's lips trembled. His eyes turned red. His fists clenched, then loosened.

Finally, he scrawled his signature across the page, pressing so hard the pen tip dented the paper.

I pulled my copy free, turned on my heel, and walked out.

Derek followed me, his voice shaking.

"Sophie Archer, every man makes mistakes. Successful men have more opportunities to make them! A smart woman knows when she has too much to lose by walking away!"

"No one will ever put up with how unforgiving you are!"

"When I make it big, don't come crying because another woman stood beside me instead of you!"

I stopped walking. A soft, humorless laugh escaped me. I didn't turn around.

"I won't hold my breath."

I stepped into the elevator without looking back.