Chapter 2

After Michelle and Teddy left, I looked back at the scavengers and decided to shoo them off. I loaded the bodies into the car and drove straight to the crematorium. Consider it my final act as the Reids' son-in-law.

Out of some lingering pity, I figured I'd buy them a decent urn.

That's when I ran into Michelle and Teddy—cozying up like a pair of lovesick teenagers.

"Well, well. Look who's adjusted fast," Teddy said, all fake sympathy, pulling Michelle's arm a little higher against his. "Parents just died, and you're already out shopping?"

I almost laughed.

Shopping? Did he see a mall anywhere nearby?

We were surrounded by funeral homes and the police station.

But then a thought hit me—something I'd never considered before.

My in-laws had always treated me like garbage. We weren't close, but I knew them well enough from all the years they'd bossed me around. They hated hot weather. They'd never go to a desert unless...

I tested the waters.

"Actually, I was heading to the police station. Filing a report on a desert murder conspiracy."

The second the words left my mouth, Teddy's hand started trembling. Guilty as sin.

My internal alarm went off. There was something there.

But then a warm hand covered his. Michelle's voice dripped with honey.

"It's okay. Don't be scared. I've got you."

That same tenderness used to be mine alone. Now, it wasn't so exclusive anymore.

Ever since Teddy had joined the company and come back into her life, Michelle had been doting on him nonstop. He worked late? She let him crash in our master bedroom. He couldn't sleep? She'd lie right down beside him.

I'd told her it was crossing a line. She'd just pecked my forehead and said, "I'm just a boss looking out for her employee."

Yeah, right. That wasn't boss-to-employee care. That was lover-to-lover devotion.

Michelle whipped around, glaring at me with pure venom.

"Grant! What the hell is that supposed to mean? You're actually accusing Teddy of murder? What possible grudge could he have against your parents? Get over yourself.

"If you keep slandering him like this, I swear—I'll divorce you."

In the past, right or wrong, I would've caved. Apologized. Begged.

Not this time.

I pulled a divorce agreement out of my bag and slapped it onto the counter between us.

"Fine. Let's do it."

The papers caught her off guard. Michelle's pupils shrank.

"Over something this small? You're throwing us away over this?"

Teddy's eyes went red and watery in an instant.

"Grant, please—don't do this. I know you're grieving. I don't care if you blame me. But you can't divorce Michelle out of spite. She's already getting torn apart online by trolls. If this affects the company... you wouldn't be kicking her while she's down unless you had some other agenda."

He practically bit the words out, pointing the finger straight at me.

Michelle snatched my phone out of my hand. The screen was still open to a video I'd been half-watching earlier—a clip I'd liked without thinking. The comments section was full of people dragging her and Teddy through the mud.

She stared at it, then at me, teeth clenched.

"I'm your wife. I can't believe you're so vicious! The Reid family made you, Grant. You've gotten bold, haven't you?

"You're destroying Teddy's career with this. His entire professional future—gone. You will go online right now and issue a statement. Say it was petty jealousy. Say you made it all up to get back at him."

Watching them "protect" each other like that... I almost laughed at how stupid they both looked. I took a step back—needed distance so their idiocy didn't rub off.

Anyone with eyes could see that clip was straight from Teddy's own livestream.

I rubbed my temples and gave them some genuine advice.

"You have eye problems? See an ophthalmologist. Brain problems? See a neurologist."

Teddy acted like he hadn't heard me. He put on his most pitiful voice.

"Honestly, I don't care what people say about me. If it helps Grant feel better, so be it. But Michelle can't take that hit. Grant—how about you hand over the ashes and the cremation certificate? We can put out a statement, clear her name."

He feigned hesitation. Michelle jumped in immediately.

"Yes. Give them to us. All Teddy has to do is say he was the one who found them, got scared, and made sure they were cremated properly. The narrative flips, the heat dies down."

She paused, as if sweetening the deal so I couldn't refuse.

"Hand them over, and I'll sign your divorce papers on the spot."

"Done," I answered without a second's hesitation.