My husband told me he had a client thing on Saturday, then the Fan Cam put him forty feet tall above the racetrack with another woman wearing his jacket and his arm around her waist. Minutes later, one text from me would wipe the smile off his face and make him search the stadium in panic. But the woman wearing my Christmas gift was not even the most disturbing part of what Daniel had been hiding.

The Grand Marquis Ballroom was a sea of crystal chandeliers, silk tablecloths, champagne flutes, and high-society tuxedos.

At 8:00 PM on Tuesday night, Daniel stood near the bar, holding a glass of scotch, laughing effortlessly with three senior executives from his former logistics firm.

He looked sharp in a charcoal tuxedo, his hair styled perfectly, playing the part of the successful, rising star. None of the executives knew he had been quietly fired eight months ago; Daniel had been using funds from his illegal loans to pay off his corporate debts and keep up the illusion of employment.

“Ah, Daniel!” one of the elderly board members beamed, patting him on the shoulder. “Great to see you, son. We’re all looking forward to hearing your speech tonight.”

“Thank you, Arthur,” Daniel smiled smoothly, taking a sip of his scotch. “It’s an honor just to be nominated.”

Suddenly, the heavy oak doors at the entrance of the ballroom swung open.

A quiet murmur washed over the crowd of three hundred guests. Heads began to turn.

Walking down the velvet carpet was me.

I wore an emerald green floor-length silk dress, my hair swept up, wearing the diamond necklace my grandmother had passed down to me. Beside me was not a timid woman—I walked with absolute authority, flanked by Eleanor Ross in a sharp tuxedo suit and Detective Marcus Thorne in a polished formal uniform.

Daniel’s smile vanished instantly. His scotch glass wobbled in his hand as his eyes locked onto mine.

He excused himself frantically from the executives and rushed toward me, cutting through the crowd, trying to intercept me before I reached the main floor.

“Sarah!” Daniel hissed under his breath, stepping into my path, his face tight with anger. “What the hell are you doing here?! I told you I would meet you at my lawyer’s office tomorrow!”

I stopped, looking at him with a pleasant, polite smile that sent a shiver of terror down his spine.

“Why, Daniel?” I asked softly, my voice carrying just enough to draw the attention of nearby guests. “Are you embarrassed to be seen with your wife?”

“You’re making a scene!” he whispered furiously, reaching out to grab my elbow. “Get out of here before you ruin this night for me!”

Detective Thorne stepped forward, his massive frame blocking Daniel’s hand. “Keep your hands to yourself, sir.”

Daniel glared at Thorne, then looked back at me, realizing he was trapped in a room full of his peers. He quickly tried to smooth his expression back into a charming smile for the staring onlookers.

“Sarah, please,” Daniel pleaded in a low tone. “We can divide the assets however you want. Just don't do this here.”

“Divide the assets?” I laughed quietly, a sound as bright and sharp as broken glass. “You mean the four million dollars in life insurance you took out on me? Or the offshore account in Delaware?”

Daniel’s eyes went wide. He took a half-step back, his breath hitching.

At that exact moment, the event host’s voice boomed through the ballroom speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Please take your seats. It is time to present our Executive Leader of the Year Award!”

The crowd began moving toward their tables. Daniel tried to turn and slip away toward the side exit, but two plainclothes police officers casually moved into position, blocking the double doors.