MARRYING HIM WAS A MISTAKE

rived within t

hime, footsteps in the hall, a confident knoc

to answer, but

et

ned th

as not what I

ooked like he belonged in boardrooms and five-star hotels. His eyes glowing with intelligence, calcu

"Oliver Chen. Though I suspect you

d. "You're the one bla

njustice.'" He lowered his ha

No

Marcus call

s eyes. "We can talk here. Though your neigh

epped

self comfortable on Marcus's couch. Marcus hovered near the d

sked, gesturing to

social call,"

brother and I have been seeing each other for

used

expression didn't change. "Those tw

us fl

rom Oliver, arm

y wh

Jimmy? Why now?

oment. Then he leaned for

my firm to help him commit fraud. I didn't know what I was getting into at first-just ano

st a business. It was your father's legacy. Your identity. Your future. And Jimmy took it, piece by

ds hit l

ecided to be my

"Six months ago, I sent Jimmy my first demand. Return everything to you, or I releas

y he was

a year, Sandra. The affair rumors. The late nights. The way he looks through yo

n't hav

dmitting you'd made a mistake. And women like you smart, accompl

ed to s

said, "What

has seventy-two hours to transfer Banks Enterprises back to you. All of it. If he doesn't, I

f he do

to walk away with his reputation intact.

d too easy

to that?" I asked. "H

edom." Oliver moved toward the door

n came out sharper than I intended. "

ob. For the first time, something g

the plan," he said quietl

ient, yo

al." He glanced at my brother, who still hadn't moved from his

osed to make

ure it out on your own." Oliver opened the door. "I could've stayed anonymous. Could've

w no

pped into the hallway. "Your husband has seventy-tw

closed b

ood in silence f

ng," he final

k sinking into the couch. "That it's okay? Tha

and the tension fo

't know"

onths, Marcus. Eight months, and you never thought to

rcus sat beside me, head in his hands. "I didn't

ew something

nswer. He di

the press caught you with Oliver.

voice cracked. "Maybe. Oli

on't trust

t I trust." He loo

lieve him?

ils. The offshore accounts. Years of evid

said quie

are you go

ques

Demand the truth. Give

Oliver's deadline pass. Watch

r.

a talk with Isabel

linked. "

the fraud goes." I stood, grabbing my purse. "If I'm going to

ou going to

tos Oliver had compiled. Found one with a

nsulting. F

start

emerged from Marcus's building. If he was s

, Mrs.

ive me somewhere tomorrow morning. Early. Before Jimmy wak

her

nsulting. Fi

e in the rearview mir

y a word, just fixed my gaz

slowly. "

" I leaned forward. "T

ays,

e just aft

study. Through the window, I could see his silhoue

he driveway a

married. Focused, Driven, Beautiful in

find. Cold eyes, Lies. A stra

n't go

ck in the car and

ere

. Just...anywh

he city limits. Until the roads were empty and

pulled over a

e said gently. "

nded hollow. "If I stop

t. "You've been holding yourself togethe

n't kn

water from the console. "Drink this. Let

water but di

ow?" I asked. "T

ive years, ma'am. And I've watched you d

. That Sandra Morrison would've burned the world down before she

Sandra

ead. "This Sandra is tir

k the water. It

back?" I whispered. "What

o the wheel. "You're still breathing, Mrs.

AM. Jimmy's study light was off

m where Jimmy was presumably sleeping, and int

ust lay on the bed, still in my

. A text from an

ave 71

ding me the cl

this one from D

the drive? Now

Why did you r

nse came i

ded it. And because I'm tired of wat

one down and

ty-one

whether to save my m

out who I wanted to

rrison. Sa

one enti

xt thing I knew, light was streaming thro

AM.

Mrs. Banks. When

oriented. Then

sulting. Isa

ce, changed into fresh clo

hen, already dressed f

en I entered. "Y

dn't s

mug. "I have a meeting at eight. P

cou

for a moment.

nctory of course. He di

said. "Ju

ook..." He gestured vagu

han

case and headed for t

and

tur

etween us," he said carefully. "But w

o smooth I alm

said. "We

le

l away. Then I grabbed my purse and

g," I said, sliding

s, m

a touch of luxury. That morning, I wondered if all the very wealthy people really lived happily. If all was just a farcade and a cover up b

d that f

glass building on Fifth Avenue. All chro

n like I be

oked up. "Good day m

o see Isabel

ave an app

e me." I met her eyes. "Tel

professional smile f

phone, whispered

nt will be

the lobby

later, the e

Laurent st

ed animated, glittering from the sunrays, obviously over gelled I thought with a smirk

something flickered in the

d, crossing the lobby.

ere for ple

gestured to the ele

. "Lead