Chapter 2

I woke up unusually early the next morning.

When I walked into the closet, I stopped short. Rows of haute couture dresses. Shelves overflowing with luxury bags.

Every single one a gift from Theo—for holidays, for anniversaries, for no reason at all.

Even the fake anniversaries I invented on a whim? He celebrated those too.

I used to complain that he was stingy, but the truth was, he was only harsh on himself. When it came to me and our son, he had never once held back.

And now, these gifts had become the only capital our family had left to turn things around.

I made up my mind—I was going to sell every last one of them.

I spent the whole day posting everything on resale sites.

I needed cash fast, so I priced everything absurdly low.

High-end limited editions that once commanded reverence from behind glass cases were now being grabbed up like cabbages at a market's closing hour.

As the numbers in my bank account climbed with each sale, I felt the smallest knot in my chest begin to loosen.

It was nowhere near enough to cover the "mountain of debt" everyone in the comments kept harping on.

But at the very least, Theo could eat fewer frozen pizzas and add an extra handful of pepperoni once in a while.

By the time my back ached from packing orders, Oliver had returned home from school.

The second he walked through the door, he nearly tripped over the mountain of delivery boxes scattered across the floor.

When he saw me stuffing the limited-edition bags I used to treasure into cardboard boxes, he immediately ran over.

"Mommy, you don't want them anymore?" he asked with a small pout, looking absolutely heartbroken.

"These bags are still really new. Are you throwing them away to buy newer ones again?"

As he spoke, he carefully stroked my Chanel bag with tiny hands.

The expression on his face looked exactly the same as when I used to throw away Theo's worn-out sweatpants after the waistband got loose.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Why's this diva suddenly having a clearance sale?"

"Isn't it obvious? She found out Theo's company is going under, so she's planning to bail with whatever cash she can grab."

"This kid should be growing up like a little prince of a powerful family, but that woman has raised him into a cheapskate."

"Don't worry. Once Evelyn shows up, Theo and Ollie will finally get the happy life they're meant to have."

Those damn comments stank worse than farts.

As I saw the worry in Oliver's clear eyes, I crouched down and gently ruffled his hair.

"I'm not throwing them away, and I'm not buying new ones," I explained. "I'm selling them so we can put the money in our little piggy bank. Daddy's been working so hard lately, and I want to save up enough to buy yummy food for you and Daddy later. Is that okay?"

Oliver's eyes lit up the moment he heard I was saving money for Theo.

Just then, the house phone rang.

I leaned over to check the caller ID. The name Evelyn Clark appeared on the screen.

The floating comments instantly exploded, flooding my vision so densely I could barely see.

"She's here! Evelyn has entered the story!"

"Evelyn was Theo's classmate in college. She's smart, capable, and incredibly good with money."

"She's definitely here to help Theo restructure his assets. He's finally preparing to dump this spendthrift wife."

"That idiot Riley is finally getting what she deserves! This is so satisfying!"

My head spun violently, as if someone had taken a club to it.

Evelyn?

Was she the woman everyone said would help Theo get back on his feet and who actually knew how to save money?

My hand trembled as I pressed the answer button.

"Hello, Mr. Hudson."

A calm, professional female voice came through the line.

"I've already completed the asset restructuring plan you mentioned previously..."

Asset restructuring?

Wasn't that just a polished way of saying bankruptcy liquidation?