What do men want?

Andrew blinked, caught off guard by the sharpness in my voice. He looked at me for a long second, his eyes searching my face before he finally nodded and pulled his phone from his trousers pocket.

“Alright. If it’s that bad, we’re pulling it right now.”

He dialed his account manager immediately, the call connecting after two rings.

I turned back to the cutting board, pretending to be completely focused on slicing the tomatoes, but every muscle in my back was tense. I listened to his voice as he calmly instructed the man on the other end to halt all scheduled financial transfers to the academy, effective immediately.

He didn't question my reaction or ask for details. To him, I was just a fiercely protective mother who was angry because her daughter had been mistreated.

It reminded me of just how much he still trusted me to do exactly what he expected.

He had no idea I was already starting to look behind the lies.

He hung up, slipped the phone back into his pocket, and stepped closer to the counter. The smell of his expensive cologne immediately made my stomach turn.

“It's done, Sallie. They won't see another dime from us.”

He reached out and gently pressed his hand against my shoulder, rubbing the tight muscle there.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You look completely drained, babe. Let me take over the dinner.”

I forced my expression to soften, putting on a tired, normal smile as I looked up at him.

I didn't mention Victoria. I didn't ask about the woman who wore my name. I kept everything I was feeling to myself.

“No, it's okay. I'm almost finished anyway,” I murmured, leaning slightly into his touch to keep up the act even though my skin crawled. “I’m just exhausted, honestly. It was a lot of yelling and drama to deal with at the school. My head is pounding.”

Andrew's eyes filled with concern, completely believing me.

He leaned down and kissed the side of my neck.

“Go lie down after dinner. Don't worry about the dishes or anything tonight. I’ll bring Kelly her plate and go up to talk to her, okay? We'll figure out what school to move her to next week.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, watching him walk out of the kitchen.

The second his footsteps faded down the hallway, the smile disappeared from my face.

The knife slipped from my fingers and clattered against the counter.

I let out a shaky breath and gripped the edge of the sink, waiting until my legs felt steady again.

I stood there in the quiet kitchen, staring at the wall as everything I had been trying not to think about finally came together.

The livestream downtown. The condom in his shirt pocket. The “Did she find out?” text message.

Jenny seeing him at the Grand Regent Hotel. The receptionist casually asking, “Which wife?”

And then Victoria, standing in that school office and confidently claiming that her husband was the CEO of Evans Global Holdings.

I had spent days trying to treat each of those things as a separate coincidence.

I had let Andrew talk me out of my own suspicions until I started questioning myself. Maybe I was being jealous. Maybe I was overthinking things. Maybe there really was an explanation for everything.

But looking at it now, I didn't just need answers anymore. I needed proof.

I needed someone who could dig into Andrew’s life without him finding out what I was doing.

I thought about my family. My father had passed away years ago, but he had a trusted right-hand man named Marcus.

Marcus had worked beside my father for years. He was one of the few people I knew who could keep his mouth shut, even when the matter involved millions of dollars.

He had handled the difficult things for my father, including legal disputes, sensitive business matters, and problems that were better kept away from the public.

He also had connections with lawyers, security personnel, and investigators across the state.

I didn't want to tell my bestfriend yet. The shame of Andrew’s deception was already too much, and I didn't know how far this situation went.

But Marcus had always been fiercely loyal to my father's memory, and I knew he wouldn't betray a confidence I'd trusted him with.

If I asked him for help, he would keep his mouth shut.

I waited until later that night, long after dinner had been cleared and Andrew had gone upstairs to watch television.

Kelly was in her room, and the entire house was quiet.

I sat on the living room sofa with only the dim light from the lamp beside me. My hands trembled slightly as I pulled out my phone and opened a fresh message thread to Marcus’s old unlisted number.

Marcus, it’s Sallie. I need a favor, and I need it to stay completely between us. I need you to find me a reliable private investigator. Someone extremely discreet. I don't want anyone knowing I'm looking into this.

I read the message again. My thumb hovered over the screen.

Was I really about to do this?

For fifteen years, I had built my entire life around Andrew. I had trusted him, defended him, and believed in the marriage we had built together.

Hiring a private investigator meant I was finally admitting to myself that I didn't trust my husband anymore.

It meant I was done waiting for an explanation. It meant I was going to find the truth myself.

I stared at the message for a few more seconds before finally pressing Send.

Minutes passed, and I just stared at the little glowing screen until it went dark, then turned it back on again.

Finally, my phone buzzed in my hand.

I'll handle it, Sallie. Give me some time. I'll find someone I trust.

I read the message twice. Then I let out a slow breath.

I locked the phone and slid it deep under a cushion. For the first time since all of this started, I felt like I was actually doing something instead of sitting around waiting for Andrew to make me question myself again.

The next morning, the sun had barely started coming through the blinds when my personal phone vibrated on the nightstand.

Andrew was in the bathroom, the shower running loudly against the tile.

I grabbed my phone immediately and checked the preview.

It was a text from Marcus.

His name is George. He's discreet, experienced, and very good at what he does. I've already spoken to him. He'll contact you from an unlisted number later today.

I stared at the name.

George.

I stared at it for a few seconds before locking my phone. I had no idea who he was yet. All I knew was that Marcus trusted him. For now, that was enough.