t lasted forever. The driver kept looking at me in his mirror. I probably

seemed fancy before now felt cold as death under my feet. The quiet was too loud after the sounds

was nothing to throw up. When did I last eat? Marcus told me to skip lunch before Sophia's party.

earing for three years, piece by piece, meal by meal, c

to steady my blood sugar and clear my head. I needed to think smart now. The inheritance papers wer

o became a powerful lawyer. We stayed friends even though Mar

You sounded weird

was too polite to say so. I typed back fast: "Actually, I need a favor

answer: "On my way. And Ava? Wha

shrine to male success: dark wood, leather chairs, walls covered with awards and photos of Marcus with politicians and

. His passwords were always about his achievements-dates he won awards

stments made in my name that I never said yes to, and worst of all-letters about the inheritance I just learned abo

nds that had stopped shaking. Anger,

crisis mode. She brought a bottle of wine and her emergency legal kit-a briefcase wit

he couch with the focused intensity that mad

policies that would make Marcus rich when I died. And fina

. By the time I finished, she was paci

t you're describing is money fraud, maybe attempted murd

a divorce, and I want to disa

ing to secure your inheritance before Marcus can get his hands on it. Second, we're going to document everything-every mon

y irreconcilable differences at first-keep it simple until we have all our evidence organiz

ntinuing to smile and cook and play the loving wife

nly way to stay safe l

ils of divorce with complex money and possible criminal acti

horough. If Marcus is planning something,

elt something I hadn't experienced in years: hope.

ade countless times, each dish prepared with careful attention. Every flavor perfectly balanced

favorite flowers, though he'd never bothered to learn that I actually liked wildflower

calmly setting the table. "I brought you flower

ut a word. Marcus froze, clearly expecting tears, accusations, or scr

aid quietly, not looking up from arranging

it was mixed with confusion. Th

ou can see that. The whole

studying him with new eyes. Every gesture, every expression, every casual dism

een bites. "Sophia was quite upset by the... incident. The poor thing

me to apologize to the woman he was sl

ouldn't want Sophia to think poorly o

d understand. Perhaps you could take her to lunc

of apologizing to his mistress with his own money

eady imagining how I'd use that lunch to gathe

o pat my hand like I was a child. "I'm proud of you f

acter flaw to be fixed rather th

you sure you wil