lancholic husband they had grown accustomed to. I was quiet at breakfast, I nodded when

e, I was a c

moved and protected. Olivia had responded with an enthusiastic "Yes!", and a job contract was wait

it to me on a

dripping with fake concern. She placed a hand

d, not looking

the Architect's Guild tomorrow night.

d poured my heart into be

o be there. All of us. As a family. To show everyone that

ted to parade me around as their tamed

s per

, my voice fla

ment. "Really? Oh, Ethan, that's wond

ere empty, and for a second, I saw a flicker of unease o

tie. For the first time in five years, I wore one of my old sui

ned the divorce papers my lawyer had couriered ov

glittered overhead. I saw faces that used to be my friends, my colleagues. They averted their eyes

daughter. And there was Daniel, at the center of it all, shaking hands, accepting congratulations

me on the shoulder, a gesture of false camaraderie. "Etha

roprietary kiss on the cheek. They looked like the

d, my voice calm.

r, while Daniel was schmoozing wi

ing for you,"

curiosity in her eyes. "A surpr

ut the envelope. I didn't hand it to

e read the legal firm's

she whispered,

rty. "I've already signed it. Everything is to be divided equally, as per the law

er red lipstick looked like a gash. She stared at m

she hissed. "This

e?" I asked, my voice still leve

on her face, followed by pure, unadulter

r waist. "What are you two whispering about?" he asked, his tone light and mockin

r a small, cold smile and tucked the envelope back

he podium to thunderous applause. He spoke eloquently about vision, about legacy, about

ooked dire

niece, Lily. And, of course, my step-brother, Ethan." He paused for dramatic effect. "Many of you remember the difficult time w

tened. I knew w

his lips curling into a smug smile, "and to finall

the stage, which had been showing

here

n makeup. Wearing that cheap satin dress. My voice, high

n, titters of laughter. T

the entire professional world I once belonged to. T

to cover the awards, swarmed our table. Microphones

this your idea

ave to say abo

mentally unstab

r scraping against the floor. I felt hands grabbing at my suit, pulling me. T

here, pushing her way

ess. She wrapped her arms around me, shielding me from the cameras. "C

was a brilliant performance, designed to make

said, loud enough for the microphones to pick up. "I thought... I thought we coul

zing while twi

anx of fake concern, as the crowd watched,

again. They had no idea they had