"Ms. Morgan."

Leo was knocking at the door.


I pulled myself together, quickly wiping the tears from my face, and called him in.

"Leo, I've had someone deal with those photos. The doctored images have been flagged, and you should brief everyone at the company to clear the air."

Due to the financial problems, only six people remained at the company.


These six had been in the trenches with me, and I couldn't let them believe those lies.

Besides, staying silent would throw Leo under the bus.


As for Chris...

Our relationship had been on life support for years. Even without Miss Sunshine in the video, someone else would have caught his eye eventually. Truth is, I never felt that soul-deep connection with him.

If I'm honest with myself, I've checked out of this marriage in more ways than one. Since we've hit this breaking point, it's better to cut our losses.

He can chase his bliss with whoever he wants, and I'll pour myself into the company.

At least I owe the truth to those who've had my back.

I called Chris again.

"Hello, what else do you want?" he snapped.

"Chris, I know everything,"

I said, cutting to the chase.

"Those photos—I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you weren't behind them, but let's not pretend I don't know about you and that girl."

"I'll have the divorce papers drawn up. I'm taking our daughter. We'll split the savings, house, and car down the middle."

I fired off these terms in one breath, feeling hollow inside. Seven years of marriage, gone in smoke.

I was being more than fair; surely Chris wouldn't push for more.

"What girl? Emily, have you lost your mind? You're screwing your assistant and you think you're taking our daughter? Not a chance in hell!"

What? Is this bastard really going to gaslight me till the bitter end?

"Hmph!"

I let out a cold laugh, stunned at how low our relationship had sunk.

When I realized our love might have been a mirage all along, I'd considered giving him a clean break.

Now it seems I was a fool for being so generous.

"Chris, you know damn well what you've done."

"The reason you're so convinced about me and Leo having an affair is because you've seen that fake account, right?"

"Don't worry, after this call, I'll send you the real evidence. Take a good, hard look."

"And you'd better keep your little girlfriend hidden, because I can't promise what I might do if I see her."

"Oh, and since you want to play hardball, you can walk away with nothing."

"Everything in our home was bought with my money. I offered you a lifeline, and you spat in my face. Don't cry when I turn ruthless."

"Chris, what's she saying? Does she know about us?"

A sickeningly sweet, girlish voice chirped from the background.

Of course I discovered you, you homewrecking little bitch.

I pretended not to hear and pressed on.

"Emily, what the hell are you talking about? What mistress? Don't throw around accusations without proof."

Chris's voice had that panicky edge to it.

"Don't change the subject. We're talking about you and that assistant. He's barely been at the company, got promoted suspiciously fast, and looks like he belongs on a magazine cover. Who wouldn't think something's going on!"

"If anyone's leaving empty-handed, it's you! I, Chris Johnson, have always been a stand-up guy who never betrayed his principles!"

"You cold-hearted bitch! Seven years of marriage and you couldn't even give me a son. Instead, you're keeping some pretty boy on the side. You've got some nerve confronting me! You're using our money to bankroll your boytoy! Half of everything is mine! Every. Damn. Cent."

Having only known the polished, well-mannered Chris before, I was shocked by this ugly side of him. His little girlfriend had clearly been filling his head with poison.

"Chris, I don't have the energy for this bullshit. One last offer: I take our daughter, we split the assets. Take it or leave it. If that doesn't work for you, we're done talking."

"You think I've got time for your games? Why the hell should you get our daughter? Let's be real here—whatever we had died when you started choosing work over family every damn night."

"You're not taking our daughter. If you want her so badly, give me a son first. Then you can have her."

Hearing Chris still harping on about a son, the rage I'd been bottling up all morning finally exploded.

"What the actual fuck are you talking about? Have a son? Why don't you knock up your little girlfriend instead? What century are you living in? I'm sick to death of you and your mother obsessing over a male heir like we're in some medieval dynasty!"

"And you have the balls to throw that in my face now! I don't come home? Why would I? The roof over your head, the car you drive—which one didn't I bust my ass to pay for?"

"And what have you done? Used my hard-earned cash to wine and dine your side piece. I'm already being a saint by offering to split anything with you. Don't test me."

Chris was clearly stunned for a moment before doubling down.

"Half of everything is rightfully mine. Don't think you can steamroll me just because your name's on the bigger paycheck!"

"If I hadn't kept the home running smoothly, how could you have built your precious company? And let's talk about our daughter—where have you been since she was born? Even if I let you take her, do you think she'd choose you? Remember, our daughter has been raised by me and my mother from day one."

Chris had a point. After those first few months, I'd barely been present in my daughter's life.

By the time I dragged myself home, she was already asleep, and I was gone before she opened her eyes in the morning.

Though Chris was obsessed with having a son, he treated our daughter well enough. But my mother-in-law...

On the surface, she came to "help" with the child, but I'd hired a professional nanny, so she was just there to meddle. And I'd caught her whispering toxic garbage to my daughter about girls being second-class citizens.

If I left my daughter with his family, she'd grow up believing she was worth less than the son they never got.

I had to get my daughter away from them, no matter what.

"If that's how you want to play it, then we're done here. Nothing left to discuss."

I was about to hang up when that sugary voice piped up again.

"Chris, does she really know about us? She's saying you'll get nothing. But the house is yours, right? She can't just take everything, can she?"

"Don't worry, Katie. The house is in my name, and she can't touch our money. I've got this handled."

Chris had tried to muffle the phone, but I heard every damning word.

So Chris was playing both sides—lying to me and manipulating this naive girl.

And this girl—anyone with half a brain would realize a civil servant like Chris couldn't afford our lifestyle.

Disgusted by his web of lies, I hung up.

If this is the game he wants to play, let's see who the law and karma favor.

My daughter had mentioned earlier that Chris wanted to take her to Shanghai. Was the bastard planning to snatch her away?

Realizing this, I immediately called Leo to bring my daughter to the office.

For now, that house wasn't safe for either of us.